The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Daring Helen goes out with a bang
ONE OF Angus Council’s employees took a step into the unknown when she retired from the authority.
Community learning and development officer HelenWallace’s feet hardly touched the ground when she left her work on Friday, but that’s because she was dangling 30 feet up on an abseil as she parted ways with her employers in style.
Helen (62) told her boss that she wanted to “leave from the roof ” when she retired, a comment which was probably taken in jest.
However, the straight-talking community worker meant what she said as she ignored the wind and rain and abseiled from the roof of Angus House in Forfar with a smile on her face – twice.
“It was fantastic,” said Helen, who waved goodbye to 22 years of hard work.
“My boss asked me what I wanted to do for my retirement, and I’m not a party person, so I said I’d like to leave from the roof.
“I haven’t done a free abseil before but I have abseiled with community learning development before – not like this however.”
Helen’s work has taken her across the globe and allowed her to meet and help a wide spectrum of people.
It’s no surprise, then, that she faced yesterday’s challenge with no fear, using her previous experience of similar outdoor educational events to good use and raising money in the process.
“It was different from a normal abseil,” added Helen. “You had to slide off the roof and hang.
“There were no nerves though, it was just exhilarating. It was fantastic.
“I’ve worked here for 22 years, firstly with community learning and development and then I moved to the local community planning team.
“I have had some of the most fantastic experiences working here. I have been in the Arctic Circle with young people, been on multi-national excursions with four countries, I’ve visited Spain and Finland and helped migrant workers.
“I officially retire on Monday and I’ve got lots to do as a volunteer so I’ll be busy.
“I’m also a presenter with Radio North Angus.
“I’d just like to say thank you to the people here for all the experiences I’ve had. If I hadn’t done this job I wouldn’t have had them.”
Helen’s adventure was carried out under the watchful eye of Gavin Brebner, of the local authority’s outdoor education team.
Gavin has worked with the council for over six years but said it did not come as a shock when Helen said she wanted to abseil off the roof of the council offices to say goodbye.
Gavin said: “It didn’t surprise us in the slightest – Helen is always willing to try something.”
Tom Davidson, Helen’s colleague and area manager for the community planning team, said: “Helen’s job involves her helping people to learn how to improve their own community. She has been very committed to that.
“She has made a great difference to communities acrossAngus and will continue to do so in her retirement.”
Helen’s abseil also helped raise money for Kirriemuir Day Care, an organisation close to her heart because of the care it provides to her mother-in-law.