WelCom April 2024
Shirley Duthie
On 1 March, 1949, children and staff from Ss Peter and Paul Primary School travelled by train from Waterloo Station in Lower Hutt into Wellington and then on to Plimmerton Beach on Wellington’s West coast for a twice weather-cancelled school picnic. For the children it was an exciting adventure and the site of the picnic had been carefully chosen for its safety record.
The younger children were playing on the sand and in the shallows and some of the 50 swimmers recall the water as warm and shallow with the older girls well out from the shore seeking sufficient depth to swim. At about 1.10pm, at mid-tide, a rip seems to have quickly developed between some of the girls and Fr John Summers who was supervising them in the water. The day turned to disaster as Fr Summers and the stronger swimmers helped bring girls ashore with many telling how they dog-paddled to safety.
Tragically, two 12-year-old girls, Josephine Voltz and Maria Burke, could not be revived despite ‘two hours of artificial respiration and oxygen after the ambulance arrived’, as described in the Coroner’s statements.
Seventy-five years later, on 2 March 2024, those who were lost, those who suffered and all those who were touched by the tragedy were recalled at a poignant Day of Remembrance at Ss Peter and Paul School, Lower Hutt. Many mentioned the pain the survivors and grieving family members have lived with. The psychological understanding of grief in 1949 meant they were denied any chance to talk of their experience.
Survivors spoke of the terrible toll the experience had on their Sisters of the Mission teachers, especially the principal Sr Mary Luthgarde and Fr John Summers. Survivors also drew attention to the bravery of several 12-year-old girls – for example, Beryl Knox and Elaine Whittaker – who saved lives through their strong swimming ability.
If Beryl and Elaine are available to make contact, or have family members who recall the incident, it would be appreciated if they would get in touch with the writer of this article at sjmduthie@gmail.com.
Those at the memorial day were most grateful for the hospitality and empathy from the staff of Ss Peter and Paul School and for the beautiful Garden of Remembrance in which Maria and Josephine, along with other staff and students who have died while associated with the school, were remembered.
