AWARD FOR BRAVERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23073, 25 June 1938, Page 25

AWARD FOR BRAVERY

GIRL GUIDE MEPAL DROWNING CHILD SAVED CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY The highest honour obtainable in the Girl Guide movement, has been awarded to a 15-year-old Paeroa Girl Guide, Miss Alice Campbell, and a certificate signed by the Chief Guide, Lady Baden-Powell, presented to Miss Campbell's eight-year-old Brownie sister, Claire, for outstanding bravery. The Auckland provincial commissioner, Mrs. R. J. Coates, visited Paeroa on Thursday to present the bronze medal to Miss Campbell and the certificate to her sister, those who were present for the ceremony including Girl Guides who had travelled from far distances for the occasion. The incident occurred last August, when a small child fell into the Ohinemuri River and eight-year-old Claire, who happened to be present, jumped in after her. Unable to effect a rescue, Claire wasted no more • time, but ran home for her older sister, who, on reaching the river, found the drowning child now in mid-stream. She brought her unconscious burden to the riverbank, where she immediately applied artificial respiration, learned in her Girl Guide company, thereby saving the child's life. The doctor who was later called stated that if Miss Campbell had not applied artificial respiration immediately ■ his own services would have been too late. The bronze medal, which was sent out by the English Guide authorities as soon as they were informed of the facts, is believed to be the first to be awarded in New Zealand. It is given for gallantry in life-saving only when : grave personal risk is taken. An outstanding feature of the bravery and modesty of Miss Campbell lay in-the fact that when she attended a meeting of her company some dajs later she made no mention of her experience, and it was not until about a week later that the story became known.