19 November 2007

It was an adventurous start to the school-week for 10-year-old Caitlin MacDonald of Whitby on Monday morning.

The Adventure Primary School pupil won a ride in a NZ Army light armoured vehicle (LAV) as the third prize in Operation Warpaint, an art competition for children aged 8-13 run by the New Zealand Defence Force.

Sixty or so students lined the driveway as the Primary’s coolest new school bus dropped off Caitlin, her brother Connor (7), two of her friends and Caitlin’s mum.

Caitlin’s uncle, a Sergeant in the Royal NZ Air Force was also along for the ride in the LAV.

Caitlin said it was the best way she had travelled to school and that everyone would be talking about it for a while.

“I was really surprised to see everyone outside and waving, it was so cool,” Caitlin said.

One of Caitlin’s friends Jessie Chote (10) said the ride in the LAV “was bumpy and loud but heaps of fun.”

Adventure Primary School Principal Greig Mercer said it was an exciting morning for the school and they were happy to have the NZ Army along.

“Any opportunities we can give the kids we’ll jump at it,” said the Principal of the 375-pupil school for years 0-8.

And the kids certainly were jumping at the arrival of the LAV and the presence of a TV camera and photographers outside the school gates.

Caitlin and her friends wore matching camouflage pants to go in theme with the LAV ride and whilst Caitlin’s friends, Jessie and Caitlin (10) and Connor were in the back of the LAV, Caitlin was able to ride in the turret.

Cailtin said it was a bit windy and cold but was great to see everyone at school from up top.

The Chief of Army Major General Lou Gardiner said it was great to see the response of the kids and the parents to the LAV and that the Operation Warpaint artwork was a popular display at Defence Headquarters.

Caitlin said art is her favourite subject at school and that her prize-winning painting would go up on a shelf with some of the other awards that she has won.

Over 350 entries were received for the Operation Warpaint competition which aimed to raise awareness of the 90th anniversary of Passchendaele.