When the Australia Day awards were announced on Tuesday we brought you news about two locals who were honoured. David Scott received an OAM for medical service and Lorraine Vass an AM for koala and wildlife conservation.

In the days after Australia Day, the Lismore app was made aware of another former local who spent 30 years as the 1st guide leader of Clunes helping girls and young women enjoy their time as a guide while shaping their lives.

Helen Hargreaves was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on Tuesday in recognition for significant service to youth through Guides.

Helen moved to Ballina three years ago but the community work she has been honoured for was while she was living near Dunoon and leading the Clunes Girl Guides between 1988 to 2017, making Helen a local legend.

"The recognition is a bit overwhelming but a huge honour," Helen said, "It's strange to be acknowledged for doing something which was so much fun, that you enjoy doing."

Helen was a brownie then a girl guide herself as a child, then when she had her daughter knew she would enjoy the girl guides herself.

"When my daughter was old enough I knew she would enjoy it so I enrolled her."

"They were looking for volunteers to become leaders at that time so I put my hand up," Helen added.

It wasn't just in Australia that kept Helens connection with the girl guide movement. Her husband was a Trade Commissioner so they spent time in Peru, Venezuela and Singapore.

"The aims and principles are the same worldwide," Helen explained, "the programmes varied due to local conditions and customs but we are all part of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts."

Helen has seen many changes.

Science and technology now play a bigger role in the guiding life, enabling guides to remain connected and engaged, especially in 2020.

However, she thinks the social, face-to face activities in guiding are the most important. Organising 74 unit camps with the Clunes guides and mothers, sometimes as many as eight times a year, was one of Helen’s favourite activities. “When I arrived, I realised at once that the Clunes girls were outdoor girls. They would be packing up one camp, asking ‘When is our next one?'"

It is clear to see that Helen Hargreaves has touched and improved the lives of many a Clunes girl in her 30 years and is deserved of her award.