Farewell to Brown Owl

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 530, 5 April 1994, Page 4

Farewell to Brown Owl

By

Michele

Monaghan

Waiouru Brownies are losing their Brown Owl. Sharon Aston has been taking Brownies since she was 14 (she is now 25). Some Waiouru people might also recognise her as their aerobics instructor of the past two years. Sharon' s off to live in Carterton after spending most of her life in Waiouru. She will be commuting by train to and from Wellington. She has worked as a wordprocessor/typist for Waiouru army camp since she was 18 and will be doing the same type of work in Wellington. Sharon says that the cold in Waiouru has never bothered her.

"I just need a change." It's not a change from Brownie leading, (she hates being called 'Brown Owl') as she says she will be "straight back in to it," when she reaches Carterton. Girls who were seven when Sharon took them for Brownies are now 17. Sharon saw an old Brownie of hers in the street the other week. "I nearly died. It makes me feel old," Sharon said. Another Waiouru Brown Owl is also leaving. Tracie Mott has spent 18 months with the Brownies and has also decided to move on. Several ladies have expressed interest in taking over where Sharon and Tracie have left off.