One of two Phoenix palms in the grounds of Gracefield School. The school was founded in 1939 in the Lower Hutt suburb of Waiwhetu.
Both palms were planted to commemorate the tragic death of Robert Fitchett, a school pupil who was hit by a bus on the pedestrian crossing in front of the school on 23 November 1944. Beneath a flagpole very close to the two palms there is a plaque commemorating Robert (see photo below), but the school has no exact record for the planting date of the palms[1]. They appear to have been planted a few years after Robert’s death: an aerial photo[2] from 1958 clearly shows a plan view of the two palms in front of the main school building; their size at the time of this photo suggests a planting date of circa 1950. The palms are a significant local arboreal feature closely associated with the school. For about a decade prior to 2023, the school logo (see image below) featured the palms as background to a representation of a student. This was replaced in 2023 with an image without the palms, but this change was part of regular ‘rebranding’, not because of opposition to the palms per se [3]. When the school became aware of potential hazards from falling palm fronds, they opted to educate pupils, parents, and staff, including the placement of yellow circular signs with ‘Look Out! Fronds May Fall’ on both palm trunks (see photo below). No one has yet been hit by a falling frond, and despite the palms requiring regular maintenance, the palms should continue being a visible part of the school and its identity into the foreseeable future (Lloyd, M., 2023).

Acknowledgement: Michael Brown first M. Lloyd to the palm’s existence and also sourced the aerial photos allowing estimation of planting date (see reference 2). Thanks to Kelly Barker for providing extra information.

References:
[1] Personal communication, Kelly Barker (Principal), April 4, 2023.
[2] Hutt City Council historic aerial photos.
[3] Personal communication: Kelly Barker (Principal), April 4, 2023.