Mary Cooke, wife of the late David Cooke, died recently at the age of 98. Mary and David were NZCMS missionaries in South India 1960–1963. David was the Principal of the Noble Higher Secondary School in Machilipatnam, taking over when the school was at a very low ebb and seeing it considerably re-established as a fine institution under the umbrella of the Church of South India. Pupils were a mix of Christian, Muslim and Hindu, and a Boys’ Hostel enabled boys from out of town to take advantage of the good education being offered.
Mary and David travelled to India with six children for a four-year term and returned with seven children. It was a challenging experience for Mary born and brought up in Christchurch and with a large family in tow, but she rose to the challenge and found fulfilment in work as the Hostel sister caring for basic needs under the supervision of a local doctor.
After four years they returned to Auckland saying they felt they had gained more from their time in India than they had given.
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