The Rendall Family Scholarship Fund

Arthur and Florence Rendall were original pioneering settlers in Manawahe in the early 1900’s and this scholarship is a tribute to the legacy of their family and the generations that have followed.

Arthur and Florence had eleven children and as they grew up, they too continued to work the land in Manawahe and surrounding area through to Rotoma, creating a sustainable industry from native timber with one of the first sawmills in the region. One of their children, Norman John (Jack) Rendall met Grace Budwell at a local dance, and they too married and produced six children of their own while continuing to work the land and develop the sawmill business, clearing land from Manawahe to Rotoma following the trees and arduously moving the logs by Bullock team over many years.

One of the sis Rendall offspring of Jack and Grace was Maureen Rendall who along with her four sisters and brother remembers fondly the years growing up at Rotoma and going to school at Rotoma Primary School.

Maureen met her husband, John McDonald at a Church dance in Kawerau and the couple went on to have three children of their own and resided in Kawerau for 20 years with John holding an executive positing in finance and commercial with Tasman Pulp and Paper and ultimately Fletcher Challenge in Wellington and Auckland.

Their children attended Intermediate school and the two eldest for a time went to Kawerau College before the family left for Wellington in 1984.

It was their time spend in Kawerau and their respect for this community where their children went to School that has led John and Maureen McDonald to create this Endowment Fund Scholarship that will support tertiary education costs for one student every year studying in Engineering, Computer Science or a similar/related technical field.

It is a true reflection of John and Maureen McDonald and their quiet humility that they named this scholarship in recognition of Maureen’s pioneering family – The Rendall Family of Manawahe.

It is hoped that the recipients of this scholarship will draw of the great qualities that have inspired this gift to Tarawera High School – Hard Work, Resilience and Humility.