Being woken up in the middle of the night to answer a call regarding the Legion of Frontiersmen doesn't bother Val Baker - she's only too happy to help.
And it is this kind of attitude that has seen the 52-year-old receive the highest honour from a Canadian branch of the
organisation for fostering international relationships.
Ms Baker, who has been part of the Legion of Frontiersmen for 27 years, said she was surprised and honoured to receive the badge.
"I just was gobsmacked," she said.
The Katikati woman is the overseas liaison officer for the New Zealand command and also heads the Katikati J Troop with the Legion of Frontiersmen.
She said she was called at least once or twice a year in the middle of the night from the United Kingdom or various other countries around the world.
"People ring me up to get advice or to help clarify an opinion," she said.
"I think I'm privileged to think that they value my input - a lot of these guys that ring up are older than me."
She attributes her knowledge of the legion to her family connection - her father Doug was the longest-serving and highest ranking member in New Zealand, with 66 years in the service, and she had been around it her whole life.
In 1986, Doug, who died in 2006, was appointed Brigadier for Life and deputy Commandant-General by then Commandant-General Patrick Hall of the UK Command.
Ms Baker said her father had provided her with a wealth of knowledge that she now uses in her dealings with overseas legions.
"I went as a kid to the legion dances," she said.
Her twin daughters, now 17, have both been involved for the past five years and want to continue their grandfather's legacy, she said.
"It's in my blood and it's in my daughters' blood," she said.
Ms Baker has received the badge and award, which she has to find room for in her growing collection of certificates in her office at Baker Timber Supplies.
