14 Jul 2009
Students grapple with danger
Recovering anthrax-poisoned bodies and retrieving neutralising agents from wells surrounded by landmines are just two of the challenges 60 Manawatu and Rangitikei high school students have had to overcome. The tasks form part of the Sir Peter Blake Trust leadership week.
A three-day leadership programme, held by the Trust, together with the army and air force, began at Ohakea air force base on Sunday. Yesterday, the students, who had been selected by their schools, were put through their paces in a series of activities designed to test their leadership potential.
The anthrax and landmines were not real, but the leadership skill required to complete tasks was anything but pretend. Today it gets competitive - the pupils will be bused to the Raumai weapons range west of Ohakea for a series of exercises. Air force squadron leaders and event organiser Mike Cannon said that unlike yesterday's activities, there would be no appointed leaders for group activities. "Who comes to the fore naturally when they arrive at a task? Generally they'll be someone bigger, stronger [and] faster." Squadron Leader Cannon said. The most successful team would get to return in a helicopter - weather permitting, he said.
The Trust is supporting a number of events around the country this week, and has flown in patron Lady Pippa Blake from Britain for a 10-day visit to New Zealand. Lady Pippa, who spoke at a dinner for the young leaders on Sunday, said "It's very exciting to see what's happening around the country...it's great to come down here and see this initiative set up."
Dressed in a yellow Team New Zealand America's Cup jacket, Lady Pippa looked on as students, dressed in nuclear, biological and chemical suits, worked their way through a scenario involving anthrax poisoning. Trust general manager Vicki Watson said leadership week programmes around New Zealand made use of the leadership expertise of organisations such as the army and the air force. "Where else could you put up those biological suits?" she said.
- Manawatu Standard, 30 June 2009
