Years of devotion recognised

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 675, 25 February 1997, Page 5

Years of devotion recognised

Edith Beavis of Ohakune was presented with the Salvation Army's 'OTHER' award last Wednesday by Salvation Army public relations officer Graeme Cross of Wellington. The 'OTHER' award (so-named because it recognised the recipient' s concern for 'others' as well as their service to 'others') was a token of appreciation for Edith Beavis' s 15 year contribution towards the annual Salvation Army Red Shield Day Appeal by acting as coordinator of collections for the Ohakune and Rangataua areas. In the 1 5 years Edith has been co-ordinating the appeal a total of about $ 1 0,000 has been collected from the area. She is now finally retiring, after attempting to do so a year or two earlier. Collectors had become more difficult to find and she had been hoping another local co-ordinator could be found to take over her role before she retired. No one has yet come forward so, reluctantly she is giving up. It is unlikely there will be a door-knock appeal this year though collection boxes will be made available for donations at selected stores or can be sent using the special Red Shield Day Appeal envelopes. She told the Bulletin that in the 1 5 year' s she has been co-ordinating and collecting for the appeal, she has never struck an unkind word or any hostility. "People always seemed willing to give something towards the appeal even if it was the only a 50 cent piece they had and

if someone felt they had missed out on making a donation they would come into the shop (New World) and give it to me". The most amusing incident during her 'collecting' days was when she went to the Ohakune Motor Camp when run by Noel and Sue Shepherd. She went to the front door and was given a donation by Noel. As she made her way round the camping grounds collecting from the caravans, she knocked on the door of what appeared to be another house. Sue came to the door and was asked if she would like to contribute something whereupon a male voice from the lounge was heard to call out "I've already given them a donation"! The bulk of the funds collected will go towards community and family services as this, unlike the other four branches, receives no government support.