A BRAVE GIRL

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12304, 19 April 1937, Page 3

A BRAVE GIRL

IN CHARGE OE HOME AT 12 The story of the pathetically simple bravery and complete self-efface-ment of Liuea Garner, aged 12, of Sydney, is one to soften the hardest In her hands, still tiny, rest the security, happiness, and health of five people—her father (unemployed), two brothers (aged 10 and 8), and sister (aged 6). Six months ago, Mrs Garner, for two years a bed-ridden cripple, died. With determination peculiar to those in straightened circumstances, she had managed the small house in Gipps Street, Balmain, fro'ra her bed. Linea, then only 11, was her capable and willing lieutenant. Now she is the captain—in fact, the whole crew. The complete running of the house, except the washing, which is done by a kindly neighbour, rests upon her shoulders. Her first duty after rising at dawn is to prepare breakfast for the family. She bathes and dresses her younger brothers and sister, then takes them to school with her. At lunch time, she brings them home, prepares their meal, and takes them back again. When schoolcomes out, her housework begins, and she completes whatever washingup remains, cleans, polishes, and sweeps, darns and mends. Dinner at night, she confessed, taxes her resource. “I try to give something different as often as I can,” she said, "but sometimes I cannot think of anything new.” Even so, she can master steaks, lamb’s fry, fried onions, gravy-mak-ing. potatoes and other vegetables. It does not occur to this browneyed, fair-haired, child-housekeeper, with the happiest and most friendly smile, that she is doing a responsible and highly commendable job. “I never worry about doing the work,” she confided shyly. Sometimes, when I have to mend a big tear in the boys’ trousers ,or something like that, I start worrying, but somehow everything seems to get done. Whenever there is a lot to do, I just get in and get it finished — that’s the best way.” To quote the Rev A. G. Rix, of St. John’s Church of England, Birchgrove, who helps the family all he can: “While we have such girls Australia has not much to worry about.”