Welcome to Girl Guiding in 2019!
I hope you have enjoyed time over the summer break to enjoy the outdoors, share time with family and friends and re-charge so you are ready for 2019!
It is now time to explore all that Guiding offers and look to how you can make a difference in your world and in the lives of those around you. As adults in Guiding we are instrumental in providing opportunities for our members to grow in confidence and life-skills, build their leadership skills and empower girls to be amazing!
The 2018 initial findings of the University of Exeter/WAGGGS study indicate:
80 percent of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts worldwide say being part of the Movement has given them the aspiration to make a difference in society.
Whether you are a Leader of girls or a Leader of adults, you have a role to play. We each influence those around us and as Leaders we are role models. We need to be conscious of how we lead and continue to grow our leadership skills.
The theme for World Thinking Day 2019 is LEADERSHIP. World Thinking Day, celebrated on 22 February, is our chance to be inspired by the history and impact of Guiding globally with a focus on leadership. Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are LEADERS and have been practicing their leadership skills for the past 110 years when that determined group of girls wanted to share in the fun of the Crystal Palace Rally!
WAGGGS have created an excellent resource for World Thinking Day 2019. The game, Leadership: 110 Years of Adventure will take you on a journey through time by combining experiences of the past with the chances and choices of our present and future.
AND don’t forget: the World Thinking Day fund gives us the chance to help provide more life changing opportunities for girls everywhere. There are ideas on how to raise funds as you play the Leadership game. Please send any funds you raise to your State office.
Some CONGRATULATIONS and THANKS:
CONGRATULATIONS are extended to Margaret Devlin and Fiona Bennett, members of Girl Guides Victoria, who have been awarded the Silver Kangaroo Award by Girl Guides Australia. The Silver Kangaroo is awarded for significant contribution to World Guiding.
The award acknowledges Margaret’s sustained contribution, commitment and dedication to Victorian, National, and World Guiding over many years. Margaret’s appointments in Girl Guides Victoria, Girl Guides Australia, and the Olave Baden-Powell Society have enabled her to share her passion and contribute to Guiding locally, nationally and globally.
The award to Fiona acknowledges her long term contribution, commitment and dedication to Girl Guiding in Victoria and tangible and sustained involvement with WAGGGS, in particular in the areas of finance and risk.
Thanks is extended to Dawn Borchardt as the Girl Guides South Australia nominated director on the Girl Guides Australia Board as she finished her term on the Board. We welcome Heather Barnes as the new Girl Guides South Australia nominated director.
I look forward to the year ahead, to meeting as many of you as possible and receiving updates on how you are playing this great game of Girl Guiding.
Have a great year! Fill it with exciting Guiding opportunities – it is #TimeToLead!
Rosemary Derwin
Chief Commissioner
