Award To Lone Guide Captain

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30887, 21 October 1965, Page 2

Award To Lone Guide Captain

“Guiding has been my whole life, and the work I have put into the movement has been repaid many times over,” said Miss Helen Bell, founder and captain of the 3rd North Canterbury Lone Guide Company, yesterday.

Miss Bel! is the first guide in New Zealand to receive the Star of Merit, awarded for service under great difficulties, showing fortitude and courage.

Miss Bell has been in guiding for 35 years, first as a brownie in her home town of Hastings, Sussex. She worked with companies all over England and in the Continent, assisting in the pioneering work after the war in Germany, before coming to New Zealand in 1948. For three years she was in the St David's Church company in Colombo street and after a six-year stay at home in England, she returned to Christchurch in 1957. When Miss Bell was in hospital for some time she began another sphere of her guiding activities, as a Lone Guider. Three years ago she founded her present company which has members all over North Canterbury and Marlborough. Sets Assignment Each month she sends out assignment books giving theory lessons and setting tasks for her country girls. “Everything has to be set out and explained explicitly, and I have to be very careful not to make it too much like school work.” Miss Bell said. “I get some really wonderful work, and parents and teachers are very helpful. Much of the girls' every day activities goes towards their badges. Guiding gives a girl everything she could want from home nursing to horse riding. And even if you cannot be active or attend local activities, you can always do it by correspondence.” Painting, reading, and native birds are Miss Bell’s

other interests, but guiding keeps her very busy. “It takes at least 65 hours’ work to make up the book each month, and last year I compiled the New Zealand Lone Guides’ Handbook which tells the best way to put the theory across to the girls,” she said.

“When you are a guide you are never without friends. The guides here have been wonderful to me, and I am most grateful for their kindness and friendship.”