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Photo by Rob Naysmith

Anne Lester Remembered

Bruce Topham —

Last Friday morning, some 2 years and 3 months since we sadly farewelled Anne Lester, our former Halswell School Librarian, we held a service to dedicate the lawn and library deck in her memory.

Many of our senior children are the book enthusiasts they are today, because of an encouraging word from Anne or a special book reserved just for them. She is affectionately remembered, respected and admired by all Halswell children who were fortunate enough to know her, and her colleagues still hold many many special memories.

The fact that we have a library is in no small way due to Anne’s tactical and strategic thinking. During our rebuild some of those involved in building school’s like ours were encouraging a distributed library, that is a library spread throughout the school with each of the Learning Centres having a collection of books. At the time news of this thinking sent Anne into action. Her first point of call was to contact the National Library, who deployed advisers our direction. Within 48 hours, I was in a meeting with them. The rest is history and we made the best decision for today’s children and future generations, but the outcome may have been different without Anne’s initiative. She has left us a real legacy, which will enhance the lives of Halswell children into the future. Added features on the Anne Lester Lawn, include the Quarry Stone and the historic Halswell School bell, plus a friendship seat donated by the Cookbook Committee.

When future generations sit on the library deck or seat, in the shade of one of the trees, or lay on the lawn; may they take time to immerse themselves in a good novel, and drift into another world, for this is what Anne would have wanted. The lawn is to be a quiet space, an extension of the library, a place to read, reflect and smell the flowers. This is a special place dedicated to Anne’s memory that will in a small way help ensure her wonderful free spirit lingers at Halswell forever.