September 2025 marked the inaugural presentation of the Rosaria Campbell Award for Excellence in French Teaching, and the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata was delighted to welcome Priscilla Lynch to Le Quesnoy for a week discovering the special connection between this town and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Award is named in memory of Rosaria Campbell, an extraordinary linguist, educator and person, who spent the last few years of her life leading the transformation of Te Arawhata’s 19th-century chateau into Aotearoa’s tūrangawaewae on the Western Front.
Prior to her role at the heart of Te Arawhata, Rosaria taught French in New Zealand and served as National Language Advisor for French with Tui Tuia Learning Circle – an entity based within the University of Auckland and designed to support and nurture language teachers across the motu.
The Award is a collaboration between Te Arawhata, Tui Tuia and the Campbell family. It has been conceived not only to provide an annual opportunity for an excellent educator to visit Te Arawhata, but also to pay tribute to Rosaria’s extraordinary contribution to the continuing connection between France and New Zealand.
The Award was also made possible by the generous support of the Embassy of France in New Zealand and the New Zealand Association of French Teachers (NZAFT).
Priscilla Lynch was an extremely deserving first recipient of the Award. Head of Languages at Auckland’s St Mary’s College, Priscilla is known for her tireless commitment to supporting French learning across New Zealand. She currently serves as the NZAFT’s Auckland regional officer and is seen as an unwavering supporter of students and teachers alike across New Zealand’s French learning community.
Priscilla arrived in Le Quesnoy on Tuesday 23 September and immediately got stuck into life at Te Arawhata, joining a tour of the ramparts and then attending nearby Maubeuge’s annual “Réunion des Colporteurs” – local cultural institutions’ opportunity to present their pedagogical offerings to the region’s educators.
Priscilla followed school visits to the Museum by both local students and those from back in New Zealand; took part in Le Quesnoy cultural events like the annual Dairy Festival and the 25th anniversary celebration for the Association Le Quesnoy-Nouvelle-Zélande; and attended classes at three schools in the region in order to further connections between France and New Zealand.
From here, Priscilla will spend a little over a week in Paris, where she will discover some of Rosaria’s favourite places and experiences while also rediscovering some of her own favourite haunts from previous visits. The team at Te Arawhata are thrilled to have a return journey already in the calendar, as Priscilla will bring a group of St Mary’s students to Le Quesnoy in April 2026.
Before she left the Museum, Priscilla was kind enough to write a few words about her experiences in Le Quesnoy, which we share with you below.
How can I begin to describe the week I have had the privilege of spending in Le Quesnoy, at Te Arawhata – le Musée Néo-Zélandais de la Libération?
For a New Zealander travelling to the north of France for the first time, the overwhelming feeling when you step through the doors at 18 Rue Achille Carlier is one of home away from home.
From the carved seat that greets visitors on arrival, to our flag flying proudly alongside le tricolore, stepping into Te Arawhata feels like stepping into a piece of Aotearoa after the rush and bustle of Parisian streets and crowded métro platforms.
The welcome from both Kiwi and French voices throughout the town – but especially at Te Arawhata – warms a tired traveller immediately. And everywhere, there is a powerful sense of connection. The bond between France and New Zealand, forged more than 105 years ago in Le Quesnoy, remains tangible and strong.
Inside the museum, this connection is evident. We see the silver fern and the oak tree intertwined, and we hear the songs of native birds from both countries echoing together. Spaces throughout the museum stir deep emotion – enveloping visitors in stories of courage, sacrifice, and enduring friendship.
Standing on the town’s ramparts, where New Zealand soldiers once scaled the walls armed with nothing more than a 10-metre ladder and immense courage, was a humbling experience. Many of these men were little older than the students we teach today, yet they achieved the seemingly impossible – liberating the town without a single civilian life lost. Their bravery is felt in every stone of those ancient walls.
The spirit of connection extends well beyond the museum’s walls. During my visit, we met with local schools and community groups eager to collaborate with Te Arawhata and build links with students in New Zealand — despite the 19,000 kilometres between us. Visitors from around the world express their appreciation as they explore the museum and reflect on this shared history, leaving messages like a collective korowai of gratitude.
Liberté, amitié, avenir – freedom, friendship, and future. These words perfectly capture the essence of the relationship between Le Quesnoy and New Zealand: born from the bravery of the past, alive in the friendships of the present, and filled with promise for the future.
The New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata would once again like to extend our gratitude to the Campbell family, Tui Tuia Learning Circle, the Embassy of France in New Zealand and the New Zealand Association of French Teachers (NZAFT) for making this Award a reality. A special thank you goes to Simon McGinley who drove the creation of the Award, without whom this special project of remembrance would not have been possible.
We also wish to thank Céline Lemaire of the Lycée Jeanne d’Arc, Laetitia Paenaart of the Lycée Jessé de Forest, Laurence Tep of the Collège Eugène Thomas, Xavier Carpentier of the Château de Ruesnes and all of our other wonderful local partners for their enthusiasm and warm welcoming of Priscilla.
