HARRISON, RUTH ELIZABETH (BETTY) nee BRANT

 

Betty Brant was born on the 20 May 1917 at Hawera, the daughter of William Herbert

and Venice Augusta Brant nee Ciocheto.� Venice was of Italian extraction.

 

Educated at Hawera Primary, and� at Hawera High School, Betty would liked to have

trained as a teacher, but her parents could not afford the fees.� Before her marriage to Kenneth Bruce Harrison in 1939, Betty worked in the Hawera Star office, and for Horner and Burns (now Halliwells).

 

At eight years of age, Betty joined Brownies, and was a keen Girl Guide.� In later years when her son became a senior scout, Betty served on the scout committee, and while serving on this, she volunteered to help maintain the discipline with the Tangahoe Cub Pack.

 

The scout den was sited in the area which is now the RSA car park.� She found some boys smoking in the old borough council yard, and had a brain-wave.� She took along a black covered notebook which she used for sale of eggs, gave the boys a tongue lashing and threatened to write their names in the book and show it to the committee if they misbehaved.� "The black book bluff worked wonders" she said.

 

A few months later, the leader left, and Betty became Akela for the pack, and in 1986, was presented with a 30 years long service badge for her continuous leadership of the 1st Tangahoe Cub Pack.� In 1981, Betty was awarded the scouting silver tiki, and in October 1988, was awarded a Hawera District Council Citizenship Award for her services to the scouting movement.

 

A highlight of her years of experience as a cub leader has been the fellowship of other leaders in the movement.� "I have also enjoyed the boys, and the interest they bring," she said.�

 

Betty led the cub pack right up to when she died on the 17 February 1992 at Hawera aged 74 years.� A sister was Phyllis Vesterby.

 

SOURCES

Article "Hawera Star" 15 Aug 1986

Fay Norgate, Hawera (daughter)