If Helen Scoles ever entered Mastermind with Cromwell as her specialist subject, she would be a dead cert.
Born and bred in the town, for the past 24 years she has fielded all kinds of curly questions, first as a volunteer then a staff member at Cromwell’s information centre. She has a vast knowledge of the area and what she doesn’t know or can’t find out would probably fit on a postage stamp.
So it was the end of an era last week when Mrs Scoles — the Cromwell i-Site team leader — called it quits. The 65-year-old’s trademark good humour peppered all her encounters and is a prerequisite for the job, she says.
"You need three main things — a good basic general knowledge, patience and a sense of humour. Every day is different so it’s not like working in an office where you get the same old, same old.
"The first person through the door dictates what your day is like and 99% of the people that come through the door are wonderful."
She started her career as a volunteer in the Cromwell museum and in October 1992 the town’s first dedicated information centre was opened in the same building, in the mall.
"Back then, visitors wanted to know did we have public toilets and did the town have a money machine. They’re still coming in looking for the toilets, even though they might’ve just walked right past them ..."
"And it was more about dispensing information at the start, I suppose, but after three or four years we got into doing bookings. When the travel agent closed down here and there was no-one to book the buses and such like we became agents and just kind of moseyed on from there."
One of the main questions asked by visitors these days is the location of free Wi-Fi. The other main inquiry is what jobs are available. Weather and road closures are also popular queries. Mrs Scoles first became involved as a member of the Golden Oldies netball team, which manned the museum and then information centre to raise funds for trips to overseas tournaments.
"I got into the Golden Oldies by accident, really. I was invited to go on a trip with them as a replacement for someone that had to pull out and stayed on after that. My father was a great believer if you live in a community you got to work for it, so if you joined something, you didn’t just go for the good times, you went for all times."
When the group was unable to keep staffing the information centre, the Central Otago District Council took over and she was successful in gaining a job there.
The new i-Site building opened nearly two years ago in Murray Tce, after nine years’ wrangling by the council.
Visitor numbers have increased massively over the years. In 1992, the first year the centre was open, 17,997 people came through the door. In the last financial year, 84,319 people visited the centre.
With the big fruit sculpture taking centre stage, visitors are left in no doubt about one of the area’s main industries.
"Year round, people come in and want to pick cherries and other fruit, even in the depths of winter."
Mrs Scoles does not intend to slow down in her retirement.
"I’ll spend more time with family and friends but I’ll continue to do whatever I do in the community. "
As well as belonging to many community groups, she has signed up to deliver meals on wheels and be part of community patrols. There are many career highlights, she says.
"I’ve met lots of good people, been some amazing places and done lots of things I would never have done, like jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane at Luggate. I sent a text to these guys: ‘just been skydiving’ and no-one believed me."
"I opened my mouth when I should’ve kept it shut" is all she will say about how her skydiving adventure came about.
Mrs Scoles’ service was recognised nationally two years ago with an award at the annual i-Site conference.
She was described as a great ambassador for the area, someone who went above and beyond the call of duty, who never left a traveller stranded and who calmly sorted out stressful situations.
Cromwell Community Board chairman Neil Gillespie agrees with that description.
"Whether it’s historical information or present-day things, Helen knows it. She has a wealth of knowledge and will be greatly missed."
"This community is made up of some very special people and Helen’s one of the best," he said.
Random questions fielded
• What’s the name of the bus company with the driver called Richard who bought the golfers over from Queenstown last week ... He comes from Christchurch?
• We’ve got an injured chicken on our property — the neighbour’s dog attacked it — can you come and pick the chicken up?
• A friend told us there’s a painting signed by Helen Clark in one of the toilets along the rail trail. Do you know which one it is? (Answer: The men’s toilet at the Chatto Creek Hotel.)
• I’m travelling around New Zealand with my pet rabbit. Do you know where I can pick some green grass to feed it?
• Do you know the phone number for Bob? He’s about 50 and has got a daughter called Kerry and he lives somewhere in Cromwell.
• Would you book the train for us? We want to get it from Cromwell to Christchurch.
• Can you give us directions to where the fireflies are?
• Will you witness a will?
