Brown Owl Kathy gives last hoot

AFTER more than 35 years of enriching the young minds of the Brownies that passed through the doors of the Queensburgh Girl Guides, Kathy Farquhson retired as the guide leader last Friday.

“My daughter was a girl guide and I went along to one Christmas meeting, where the Night Owl in charge was putting on make-up on more than 20 girls and I decided to help out. Shortly after that I was asked to temporarily take the pack over… that was 37 years ago,” laughed Kathy.

She began her journey with the guides at the Queensburgh Scout Hall back in 1977 and admitted that she was at first daunted at the massive task at hand as she knew nothing about it, but her daughter gave her sound advice on what to do.

“The reason I chose to stay so long was simply because I loved doing it. It is both a challenging and rewarding position as we, the leaders, are given a basic programme and have to make up our own challenges and games.

“These games then teach the girls life skills, but in a fun and creative way. I believe in recycling a lot and I teach the children that if they want to give someone a gift, it would be more meaningful if they made something,” said Kathy.

A storyteller at heart, Kathy shared the story of how the name Brownies came about, a beautiful tale of two little children who wanted to see a house fairy (known as Brownies) and through a few lessons taught by their grandmother, learnt to help around the house by doing good deeds and expected nothing in return.

The brownies, a girl guide organisation, is now 100 years old and each of the girls that takes part in the programme makes a three-fold promise. The first is to promise to do their duty to God and their country, the second is to help other people and the third is to keep the Brownie law, to be truthful, to be obedient and to be cheerful.

All the time and effort Kathy has put into her groups, has all been volunteer work.

“The reason I am stopping is simply because I am now 77 years old and I don’t drive and am reliant on transport. My aim is to develop their self esteem and I make sure they don’t use the words ‘I can’t’ as there is no such thing.

“The reward I get is starting with a child that is sure she can’t do things and after the three year course they have grown into themselves and become excited to see what more they can learn when they move on to join the girl guides,” said Kathy.

There are currently 10 girls in her group and she met with them once a week for one and a half hours. Kathy boasts five of her own badges, the enrolment badge, the warrant badge, the camping permit, 35 years of long service and a special bronze award for going over and above the regular duties of a Brown Owl, the title of a Brownie leader.

“It’s not a job, it’s a vocation,” smiled Kathy.

With all of her new-found free time, she will sew more, catch up on her reading, relax and watch DVDs, continue with her beadwork and continue to make her own clothes. Later in the year she will travel to Johannesburg to visit her son.

“I have given of myself for 37 years and the feeling of achievement and self worth you receive is the best feeling. What I have learnt is that life doesn’t have to be a taking experience as the more you give, the more you get and the more you get the more you are able to give,” said Kathy.

To join girl guides, contact the organisation on 031 708 4280. Their office is open every Tuesday and Saturday.