Our Junior School space at the foot of the new Girls’ School Social Stairs was a hive of activity as our girls gathered for a book reading of The Adventures of Mittens: Wellington’s Famous Purr-sonality by author Silvio Bruinsma. The picture book tells of the real-life adventures of New Zealand’s celebrity cat who made a special appearance much to the delight of our girls.
For those uninitiated, Mittens is a Turkish angora known for wandering far and wide around the streets of Wellington where his family used to live, entering offices and homes, getting in cars, and even sleeping on tables of folded t-shirts in clothing stores. In 2018, he was featured in the Wellington Advent Calendar and in 2020 he was awarded the Key to the City of Wellington from Mayor Andy Foster putting him in the same ranks of Oscar winners Sir Peter Jackson and Sir Richard Taylor.
Our girls were as eager as Mitten’s 70,000 Facebook followers to meet and find out more about His Royal Floofiness. Following the reading, Bruinsma patiently responded to the many questions the girls had on Mittens and finally indulging them in a group photo.
In response to one of the questions on the wondering nature of cats, Bruisma explained that Mittens had over the years put smiles on many faces in his daily adventure and is a wonderful example of social bridging, having brough people from all walks of life together. Mittens had in the past raised funds for the SPCA and Mental Health Foundation.
Mitten’s visit to our Girls’ School during the term coincided with the school-wide animal-themed mufti day. The funds raised from the day went towards SPCA which is celebrating its 150 years of service, helping advance animal welfare and prevent cruelty against innocent animals across Aotearoa.
