Strict parking pioneer had heart of gold

New Zealand's first female parking warden was a staunch softie who gave away teddy bears to small children and smashed car windows to rescue babies, but also told gang members she would "smash their teeth out" if they didn't leave town.

Blenheim woman Lorna Clarice Harris died peacefully at Aberleigh Rest Home on May 4. She was 81.

Mrs Harris was well known in Marlborough as the region's first Ministry of Transport officer and the woman who rode a motorcycle from Picton to Blenheim to check that everyone was paying their parking fees.

Her husband of nearly 30 years, Cam Harris, said that even though she left the ministry more than 30 years ago, she was a stickler for the rules.

Laughing, Mr Harris recounted the time a couple of years ago when he took his wife into town. She was meant to wait in the car while he spoke to a sales assistant about buying her a new blouse, but when he turned around, she was gone.

When she came back, she explained that she thought a man had not put money in the parking meter, but had in fact discovered that the meter was in credit.

If a meter was about to run out and Mrs Harris could see an elderly person or a woman with young children hurrying back, she would feed the meter herself so they would not get a ticket, he said.

If she came across someone who had left a baby in a car, she would not hesitate to break a window to get the baby out.

Mr Harris said his wife was scared of no-one. She once told a group of gang members to get out of Blenheim or she would "smash their teeth out".

Mrs Harris also worked as a postie in Blenheim.

At her funeral, tales were told of how she would go the extra mile by taking mail up people's driveways when it was raining, and how Marlburians could hear her singing from a mile away.

Cantabrian Mr Harris met his future wife once while he was working in Blenheim, but it was not until she moved to Christchurch that a mutual friend set them up.

They married on May 17, 1980 and stayed in Christchurch for several years, where Mrs Harris worked as a social welfare officer.

After they retired, they returned to Blenheim, her home town.

Once again, Mrs Harris built up a reputation around town, this time for handing out teddy bears to passing children from her "bearmobile". She said she loved people, and especially bringing smiles to children's faces.

Until she went into care, Mrs Harris was dedicated to her bearmobile and voluntary work within the community. Mr Harris said it was her kind, loving nature that he loved the most.

She is survived by Mrs Harris, daughter Dale Creswell and grandchildren Rebecca Beloitti and Jason Creswell.

- The Marlborough Express BY RACHEL YOUNG 13/05/2010