WelCom February 2022
A new Educational Trust has been established to honour the memory of two Polish sisters who were among the Polish refugee children offered refuge in New Zealand in 1944.
Irena and Teresa Ogonowska were deported from their home in eastern Poland in 1940 and suffered extreme privation and traumatic experiences. They were eventually re-united and finally found a safe and secure home in New Zealand.
The sisters were educated in New Zealand Catholic secondary schools and both chose teaching as their profession. They were committed and passionate teachers all their adult lives with a strong faith in overcoming life’s obstacles. Teresa taught in Wellington and on the Kāpiti Coast and Irena taught in Canterbury.
The Ogonowska Education Charitable Trust has been established to support students who may be facing challenges, by providing grants.
St Mary’s School, Christchurch is the first recipient of a Trust grant to meet the 2022 attendance fees of a student nominated by the school.
‘St Mary’s School is grateful to receive support from the Trust’, says David O’Neill, principal of St Mary’s. ‘Many migrant families have struggled with the impact of the Covid pandemic on employment and the grant from the Trust means that one of our deserving students, Han Nguyen, can continue with her education at St Mary’s school.’
Trust founding chairperson, Gordon Noble-Campbell, the son of Teresa Ogonowska, was inspired by his mother’s childhood journey of survival and her commitment to teaching.
‘Both my mother and her sister were life-long teachers and recognised the importance of education in providing young people with a sense of place in their communities and in laying the groundwork for their adult lives,’ says Gordon.
As founding chairperson of the Board of trustees, Gordon feels that the Trust will enable educational opportunities in difficult times. ‘Given the challenges facing many families in providing educational opportunities for their children, the Trust will provide a needed and welcome support.’
The Trust is a registered, charitable Trust. Donations and support for the Trust are welcome. To find out more, visit www.oect.org.nz
To contact the Trust, please call Gordon Noble-Campbell on 021 612 451.
The Trust has been established with the support of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington and Cardinal John Dew is its patron.