LAV lift to School, "cool"

19 November 2007

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

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 the New Zealand Defence Force held for children aged 8-13. 

Eighty plus 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 there.

“Any opportunities we can give 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 as well as the presence of a TV camera and photographers outside the school gates.

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

The budding artist said it was a bit windy and cold but it was great to see everyone at school from on top of the LAV.

Chief of Army Major General Lou Gardiner said it was great to see the response of kids and 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 about the 90th anniversary of Passchendaele. 

Ends

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