ORGANISER WITH A LIKING FOR SPEED

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 2

ORGANISER WITH A LIKING FOR SPEED

A young woman with a fancy for speed, whether it be in fast racing cars, by shooting swift arrows or watching quick-moving stage shows, has been appointed national organiser for the New Zealand Players’ Foundation. Miss Helen Davidson does not let the pace’ of life leave her standing Miss Davidson might also be called a “born organiser,’’ in a complimentary way. She sizes up a situation smartly, sees how a job should be done, gets on with it and wastes no time.

Summing up her present occupation, Miss Davidson described herself yesterday as a direct link between members of the New Zealand Players’ Foundation and the company’s management. For six months of the year she will live in Wellington, the company’s headquarters, and for the rest of the time she will visit foundation committees in the 30 centres throughout New Zealand, where the company visits on tour. Next week she will go to Invercargill to organise a committee for the foundation: early next year she will visit Ashburton and Alexandra for the same purpose. Motor Racing

Before joining “The Player®,” Miss Davidson was secretary to the Levin Motor Racing Circuit and here again her work was mostly organising. Her interest in car racing began when she was given the opportunity to do “a bit of typing” on Saturdays for the New Zealand Grand Prix in Auckland. She liked watch

ing the sport, enjoyed the typing and soon became full-time assistant secretary for tjie organisation working, at times, 12 hours a day.

Wnile secretary of the' 1 Levin Motor Racing Circuit Helen Davidson joined the Levin Motor Racing Club and was soon in office as secretary as well as taking an active part in trials. For six months she was on the staff of the Vocational Guidance Centre in Christchurch and while she was in the city she belonged to the Christchurch M.G. Car Club, competing in trials. Most of Miss Davidson’s “trialling” has been as a navigator.

but she hopes to buy her own car soon. Then someone else will be working out the speed and the course; Helen will be behind the wheel, with her foot on the accelerator. As an archer she has only been shooting for one season, but she has already drawn a bow at the Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin and Christchurch Archery Clubs. Because she is seldom in one town for long enough to join a club, Helen Davidson has become an affiliated and unattached archer in the meantime. Interest in Theatre When a B.A. student at the Auckland University, Miss Davidson was a member of the Auckland Repertory Society and the Auckland University Drama Group, playing a variety of parts for both organisations. Here her appreciation of theatre as an art and a box office attraction developed. It was almost inevitable that Helen Davidson would be the successful applicant for the job. which the New Zealand Players advertised recently for someone “experienced in organising and interested in the theatre.” “Free and Easy.” the comuany’s present production. Miss Davidson says is one of the most fastmoving and brightest shows she has seen. She has attended three performances. Tuneful Revue “This is a classic intimate revue and includes all the most attractive points of a good show.” she said. “It is very colourful with 32 wonderful se*s and 146 costumes among 14 players. Although it is a different type of oroduction from ‘Salad Days’ it is just as tuneful.” Cooking ■ and embroidery are Miss Davidson’s hobbies. She calls herself a “garlic and oil” cook and has a preference for Chinese dishes when entertaining friends But in her present Wellington accommodation she is restricted to pressure cooker meals—and pressure in this instance means convenience rather than speed.