Unsung Heroes: Girl Friday on job seven days a week

Helen Hugglestone raised $7800 for St John by running in the London Marathon. Photo / Richard Robinson

Helen Hugglestone has worked for the YMCA on and off for the past 20 years. She describes herself as a Jack of all trades, "a Girl Friday, I suppose".

And her job as office manager in the Auckland City centre is certainly a busy one. But it is the extra jobs that Mrs Hugglestone takes on that inspired work colleague Amelia Farras-Knowles to nominate her for the Herald's Unsung Community Heroes series.

"Helen is awesome. She's a traditional Kiwi, I suppose, really strong and honest. She bends over backwards to help the YMCA members."

This assistance comes in many forms. Mrs Hugglestone visits members in hospital, and drives others to doctors' appointments. She'll sit in on the consultation if needed, as a support person.

She not only knows the members' birthdays and sends cards, she also knows the names of their children and grandchildren. For really big birthdays, such as 90 years, Mrs Hugglestone makes sure that all the staff at the Y sign the card as well. For some people, this is the only card they receive.

Fundraising to send needy children to one of the YMCA camps also comes into Mrs Hugglestone's remit. "But it's not just me. All I do is coerce money from our members so we can do these things. And the members are great, there's over 1000 of them at this centre, and some have been members for over 35 years.

"To find children who would benefit from a week in camp, I ask around the local schools. And the Guardian Angels Trust at Auckland Hospital will nominate kids, especially those with a sibling with cancer. That way both the parents and the children get a break."

Mrs Hugglestone does her share of fundraising out of work hours as well. A keen marathon runner, she raised 3000 ($7800) for St John by participating in the London Marathon while she and her husband were in England.

Staff at the YMCA benefit from Mrs Hugglestone's kindness. She's the one who bakes the coconut glazed cake for staff events and who always has a needle and thread handy for occasional wardrobe malfunctions.

And when asked what it is that has kept her in the job, she replied: "It's the great people who pass through here."

She is one of them.