Edition 11| December 2015 | 100002222
A look back at Guiding
good times in 2015,
getting ready for 2016,
and other Guiding news.
CONTENTS
The Waratah is published by Girl Guides NSW & ACT
and welcomes contributions from its Members.
The office of Girl Guides NSW & ACT can be found at:
Guide House
Level 2, 55 Holt Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: (02) 8396 5200
Fax: (02) 9211 5911
email:guides@girlguides-nswact.org.au
web: www.girlguides-nswact.org.au
ABN: 21 366 241 150
The liability of its members is limited
FOREWORD FROM THE STATE TEAM
1
FROM GUIDE HOUSE
2
FROM THE NATIONAL TEAM
3
BRAVO3
GUIDING GOOD TIMES 2015 Postal address:
PO Box 950
Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
5-8
MANAGER AND CONSULTANT NEWS
10-11
PROGRAM IDEAS: GETTING READY FOR 2016
12-13
UPCOMING COURSE DATES
Event Date Closing
Date
Learning Partner Connect Yagoona Guide 12 Dec
20 Nov
Hall
Summer Sailing School
RTS Tingiria
11 Jan
9 Dec
Retail Department:
Unit 14, 77–79 Bourke Road
Alexandria NSW 2015
Phone: (02) 9317 4200
Fax: (02) 9669 6257
Retail postal address:
PO Box 6124
Alexandria NSW 2015
Course
Location
Adult Canoe/Kayak
Lake Gininderra 9–10 Jan
College
Glengarry
6–7 Feb
Leadership Qualification
We love hearing what our Members are up to,
so please send your news to
communications@girlguides-nswact.org.au.
Deadlines
If you would like to be published in the February
2016 edition of The Waratah, please send your
contribution to us no later than 8 January.
Girl Guides NSW & ACT reserves the right to edit or
refuse articles or advertisements from any source.
15 Jan
Becoming a Manager
Glengarry
(pt 1)
Learning Partner Connect Glengarry
6–7 Feb
15 Jan
7 Feb
15 Jan
Low Ropes
Glengarry
6 Feb
15 Jan
Conduct an Expedition
Nattai National 27–28 Feb
Park
5 Feb
UPCOMING EVENT DATES
WA1511© Girl Guides NSW & ACT November 2015.
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9 Dec
Event
Location
Summer Sailing School
RTS Tingira
Event Date Closing
Date
11–14 Jan 9 Dec
Vispera
Sydney
16 Jan 16
Closed
Olave Program
Conference
Mt Keira
5–7 Feb
15 Jan
27–28 Feb
5 Feb
27–28 Feb
5 Feb
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Weekend
22 Feb
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Edition 11 | December
2015can not be changed from what is shown
14 Feb
18–20
March
TBC
21 March
9 April
18 March
In November, Girl Guides in NSW and the ACT received
advice that Gillian Garsia had resigned from the position
of State Commissioner. Therefore Renée Bianchi and
Kate Moore also complete their term as Deputy State
Commissioners. Consequently the Board of Girl Guides NSW
& ACT took the step of immediately appointing an Acting
State Commissioner as required by the Constitution. The
baton was passed to me. Whilst I may have accepted this
role somewhat reluctantly, I wish to assure the Guiding
community that I will do my very best to serve you while
fulfilling this interim position.
I wish to convey the Board’s appreciation of the work that
Gillian, Kate and Renée have done for Guiding over many
years and especially during their term as the State Team.
I do believe no one will ever know how much time and
energy our volunteers expend in delivering Guiding at all
levels and I wish to acknowledge the huge amount of work
they have done so that we can enjoy Guiding both in our own
Units as well as our big State events such as The Great Guide
Sleepover.
I am very grateful to be able to advise that Renée Bianchi has
accepted the role of Acting Deputy State Commissioner. Her
knowledge will be invaluable. The Board has appointed Kate
Moore as Chair of the Member Management Committee.
Over the coming months the Board will continue the
process of reviewing our organisational structure and work
on ensuring the governance structure meets the needs of
Guiding. This will include a re-evaluation of the position of
State Commissioner. In order to do this, two appointments
have been made.
1 The role of Chair of the Girl Guides NSW & ACT Board.
Anne Kerle is already in this role. Anne is a passionate
advocate for country and regional Guiding. She has
been a director of the Board since 2013, and has a wealth
of experience both in Guiding, having held leadership
roles in the Central West of NSW and Alice Springs, and
professionally as a member of a number of Government
Boards and Advisory Committees.
...FOREWORD
FROM THE STATE TEAM...
I am very grateful to both Anne and Rosemary for taking on
these roles. As Acting State Commissioner my goal is to have
in place a new State Commissioner by the Annual General
Meeting in May 2016.
As the year comes to a close it is a good time to reflect on
the wonderful opportunities Guiding offers young women
through events such as GirlMade, Adventure in the Garden,
The Great Guide Sleepover and the Jamboree, but also to
remember the everyday challenges which the AGP offers
through our Unit meetings where our girls are encouraged
to grow new skills.
A big BRAVO to our volunteer Leaders who willingly deliver
Guiding each week and to all those who support them;
District Managers, Region Teams, State Committees and
our administration staff. It is only with your enthusiasm and
energy that we can achieve our goal of empowering girls
and young women to grow into confident, self-respecting,
responsible community members.
Renée and I take this opportunity to wish you all a very
happy holiday season with family and friends, and we look
forward to meeting many of you over the next few months—
especially at activities such as the District Managers’ and
Region Managers’ weekend in February.
2 The role of Girl Guides Australia Director appointed from
Girl Guides NSW & ACT. Rosemary Derwin is currently
the Honorary Treasurer for Girl Guides NSW & ACT and
as a committee member on the Girl Guides Australia
Finance and Risk Committee. Rosemary is highly skilled
and passionate about Guiding and has held a variety of
leadership and governance positions.
Elizabeth Starr
Acting State Commissioner
Renée Bianchi
Acting Deputy State
Commissioner
Edition 11 | December 2015
1
FROM GUIDE HOUSE
As the year draws to a close we have our last two strategic
priority areas to cover off: streamlined business and financial
sustainability.
People are often surprised to learn that income generated
from membership fees only equates to around 20% of the
cost of running the organisation. Other activities, such as
donations, fundraising, state property income, retail and
events equate to around 29% of the running costs, with the
remainder—a significant 51%—being generated through
investment income. Our Finance Management Committee
(FMC) and investment fund managers work hard to ensure
that our investments are earning as much income for us as
possible, however as we all know the investment market
is far from stable.
Our strategic objective around financial sustainability is
therefore to be financially secure and sustainable through a
more diverse range of contemporary income streams. This
will enable the organisation to actively invest in the ongoing
development of Guiding while also supporting our volunteers
in accordance with our best practice principles. To do this,
key activities that will evolve over the coming years include:
developing and implementing a fundraising strategy that
incorporates multiple state-based campaigns; and identifying
and establishing corporate partnership and sponsorship
opportunities. By 2020 our goal is to have increased income
generated through fundraising by 20%, and to have at least
three formalised partnerships in place that provide long term,
mutually beneficial outcomes for the organisation.
As well as increasing our income streams, I’m sure you would
all agree that we need to make sure that the way we spend
the income—our business operations—is as efficient and
effective as possible.
Our objective in relation to streamlined business is to develop
and deliver user-friendly, integrated business systems and
processes that support our membership and enhance our
organisational capability and capacity. To achieve this, our
focus will be on further utilising technology to enhance our
volunteer experience, refining processes to ensure volunteers
have access to clear, current and contemporary operating
policies and procedures and ensuring our operating structure
reflects the diverse and changing needs of our membership
base. We have already managed to achieve one of the target
actions through the launch of electronic banking for Districts
earlier this year—always good to have a few early runs on
the board!
The strategic plan in its entirely is an ambitious one and I’m
sure at times will bring its own share of challenges. However
the Board and Management believe in it, and are absolutely
committed to seeing it come to fruition. We look forward to
reporting our progress along the way, as well as opportunities
for you to participate and get involved.
After a huge year, I don’t doubt that you are very much
looking forward to the end of year break! My genuine thanks
and BRAVO to each of you for all of your efforts throughout
2015—efforts without which Guiding would cease to exist.
The time, passion and commitment that our Volunteers
give never ceases to amaze me. I wish each of you and your
families a wonderfully refreshing and safe break.
Until 2016—all the best,
Peta Gillies
Chief Executive Officer
peta.gillies@girlguides-nswact.org.au
Guide House will be closing from 12.00pm on Friday 18
December, reopening at 9.00am on Monday 4 January, 2015.
If you have any urgent matters arise during this time, please
contact your District or Region Manager. They will know what
to do and who to contact in case of emergency.
2
Edition 11 | December 2015
We take this opportunity to personally thank each of you for
your significant commitment to Girl Guiding throughout 2015.
In whatever capacity you choose to make your contribution,
we want you to know we appreciate your efforts and the part
you have played. While great Guiding happens every day, 2015
can also be defined by the highlights, which include the Great
Bunya Gathering, Guiding at the House, Spark! Re-igniting the
Olave Program, World Thinking Day, the ANZAC Centenary
Challenge and Girl Guides Western Australia 100th Birthday to
name just a few.
A hallmark of a vibrant and forward-looking organisation is
that from time to time, it steps back to look in depth at what it
is doing to guarantee the relevance, quality and outcomes of
its work. This year Girl Guides Australia (GGA) has undertaken
a number of reviews including Adult Awards, Australian Guide
Program, Olave Program, Risk Management and Policy and
Procedures. We have been delighted by the engagement
of Members across Australia who have so willingly given
their time to answer surveys, attend feedback sessions and
caravans, as well as working with girls to add their voices to
the conversations to ensure our research is robust, thorough
and informative.
and address issues of violence. We were delighted to be joined
by the Minister for Women, Senator Michaelia Cash, along
with other interested parliamentarians and a number of young
women including local Girl Guides.
FROM THE NATIONAL TEAM
Reflecting on the year that was makes us feel very privileged
to be a part of Girl Guiding in Australia. Across our vast
country, in many and varied ways, we know our volunteers
are providing inspiring and relevant programs for girls and
young women in leadership and personal development. Our
Member Organisations, the State Associations, play a vital
role in supporting, managing, growing and leading Guiding,
and together we are doing all we can to empower girls and
young women to grow into confident, self-respecting, responsible
community members.
GGA CEO Kit McMahon has recently returned from London
where she was both a participant and guest speaker at A
Movement of Ideas for Growth Results. This World Association
of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) Roundtable event
with representatives from 52 countries was an opportunity to
empower Member Organisations with knowledge and tools for
membership growth and for them to engage with each other,
external experts and speakers. Additionally it was an invaluable
opportunity to make and strengthen existing connections for
further collaboration.
We have also welcomed back our four representatives who
attended the WAGGGS forum, Friend, Fun, Freedom, Future, held
in Oman. This was a joint project between WAGGGS’ Global
Program Team and the Arab Region, and was an exciting
opportunity for our delegates to explore new ideas and work
collaboratively with other Leaders from around the world.
We believe 2016 is going to be amazing for Girl Guiding and
we look forward to it with great excitement. We wish you, your
families and your Guiding communities the very best for the
festive and holiday season, and again thank you for being a
part of Girl Guiding.
Robinette Emonson
Chief Commissioner
Susan Campbell &
Miranda Cummings
Assistant Chief
Commissioners
BRAVO to this edition’s newly qualified Leaders and Adult
Members who have marked long service milestones.
10 years — Michelle O’Connor, Dianne Gates
Newly qualified
30 years — Ann Gibson, Margaret Harrison
Outdoors Leader — Laura Humphries
35 years — Sue Carr, Cynthia Murphy
Unit Leaders — Kirsty Warren, Helen Hardie
Long service milestones:
BRAVO
GGA is proud of the partnerships it is developing, and
International Day of the Girl Child provided an opportunity to
strengthen our ties with UN Women by celebrating the day
together in Canberra. The theme of the event, The Power of the
Adolescent Girl, was a perfect platform to highlight the amazing
work Girl Guiding is doing to empower girls and young women
20 years — Jennifer Bearman
40 years — Rhonda Beach, Cheryl Waller
50 years — Ann Miles
55 years — Anne Cain
5 years — Anja Kennedy, Heather Pinning, Michalla Baumann
Edition 11 | December 2015
3
Visit Our State Properties in the New Year
What, when….and where? Planning exciting Guiding activities for the new year can be a logistical challenge, and
securing an appropriate venue is no mean feat. Make the job a bit easier by booking a Girl Guides state property.
Note that rental prices will remain the same for 2016.
Here’s our list of some excellent properties to host your 2016 Guiding events.
Glengarry
If you’re looking for a place to host a camp, but don’t want to
venture too far from Sydney, this must be the place.
Glengarry sits on the fringes of the Ku-ring-gai Chase
National Park, North Turramurra. The secluded bushland
property has covered accommodation and campsites,
making it ideal for indoor or outdoor District camps. We’ve
recently installed outdoor table and chair settings within
our campsites shelters, so you and your Guides will have an
adventurous but comfortable stay.
Email for availability.
RTS Tingira
Get your sea legs to this floating property! RTS Tingira is
situated on picturesque Hen and Chicken Bay in Cabarita,
and is the hub of Girl Guides water and boating activities. It’s
perfect for your next District or Family Day, especially if your
Guides are happy to get their feet wet.
There are still a number of weekends available for boating.
Get in quick!
Call or email to make a booking.
Araluen
If you’re looking for somewhere noice, different, or unusual,
Araluen Lodge is an excellent venue for District camps in
early 2016. The quiet Snowy Mountains property is located
just 200m from Lake Jindabyne. In summer and autumn
months, your Guides can indulge in a variety of outdoor
activities such as hiking, biking, and horse-riding.
Call or email to book your summer or autumn visit
to Araluen.
Contact details:
Donné Levy
Property & Events Co-ordinator
donne.levy@girlguides-nswact.org.au
(02) 8396 5257
4
Edition 11 | December 2015
015
p2
in g d ay ca
m
sist
e
orld
We have so many memories of
Guiding good times this year. As we
near the summer break our thoughts
turn to the journey that was in 2015
and all those whose interactions, help
and patronage has made all that we
do possible; making the world a better
place for girls. We’ve dusted off the
old Pensieve and plucked a few of our
favourite memories from the year,
splashing them across the following
pages for all to enjoy! Reminisce, and
if you’re feeling a little sentimental
yourself, we’d love you to reciprocate.
Send through your awesome
photographs and amazing tales to
communications@girlguides-nswact.
org.au or share to the Girl Guides
NSW & ACT Facebook page.
in k
th
At Guide House we cannot believe that
we’re at the end of 2015 already.
It seems as if it was only yesterday that
we were preparing for Adventure in the
Garden. Jumping on the cliché train, we
guess it really is true what people say:
time flies when you’re having fun, and if
you love what you do you’ll never work
a day in your life!
round the w
rs a
w o rl d
So many
Guiding good
times in 2015!
Our biennial World Thinking Day camp was considerably drier than
our 2013 effort and almost 200 Guides raised money for the World
Thinking Day fund and learnt all about International and World
Guiding and the amazing things achieved through the United
Nation’s Millennium Development Goals.
Adventure in the Garden at The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan was held
on a glorious autumnal day. Thankfully we had Hamilton on board as sponsors; the
10 litres of sunscreen they donated was put to some really good use!
Edition 11 | December 2015
5
GUIDING
2015
GOOD TIMES
Micheala Collins
Winner – Olaves
Sophia Stefoulis
Winner – Guides
Jessica Becker
Winner – Junior Guides
Rachel Schmitzer
Winner – Senior Guides
Grace Lee
Empowerment Champion
The GirlMade Project was launched at World Thinking Day
Camp Sisters Around the World and was amazingly successful
for a program in its inaugural year. With a view to be held
biennially GirlMade was developed by the State Program Team
as a result of recommendations put forward by Girl Guides who
participated in the Imagine More 2013 Youth Forum.
W
y
de of?
ma
ou
the
ei
m
s Em
powerm
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nt
Edition 11 | December 2015
M
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15
6
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ls m
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20
The
The GirlMade Project theme in 2015 was empowerment—what
are girls made of ? Entries were open for five months and each
Region held an exhibition of submissions. From these Region
exhibitions, finalists were selected and shipped to the State
exhibition held in Sydney and the 2015 category winners
(shown above) are now on display at Guide House.
Winner – Olaves
What are
GirlMade showcases the diverse creative and artistic talents
of the girls and young women of Girl Guides NSW & ACT.
The project is open to all Guides and Olaves who are active
financial Members of Girl Guides NSW & ACT and there are five
categories for entry: Pre-junior Guides (ages 5–7); Junior Guides
(ages 7–10); Guides (ages 10–14); Senior Guides (ages 14–17) and
Olaves (ages 18–30).
Micheala Collins
SPEAK
OU
T
The 2015 Youth Forum—Speak Out—
was held over the Queen’s Birthday long
weekend. Senior Guides and Olaves from
across NSW & ACT came together at
Girl Guides NSW & ACT’s State Training
facility Glengarry to have fun, make new
friends and change the world—all in
one weekend.
15
0
2
nd
ke
e
e
ing W
v
a
C
l
nua
An
years
The Caving Weekend, under the watchful
eye of Pam Bedford and the amazing team
she pulls together, celebrated 25 years of
speleological splendiferousness!
Edition 11 | December 2015
7
GUIDING
2015
GOOD TIMES
Speaking of magnificent milestones,
Rejectamenta notched up 21 years of
service in 2015! 122 Guides and helpers
from 21 Districts collected clothing
discarded by the 78,614 participants in the
City2Surf fun run. 9,270kg of clothing was
donated to The Smith Family.
2015
The Great Guide Sleepover
Booking out in record time this year
was RTS Tingira’s Dolphin Day.
Pre-junior and Junior Guides
experienced canoeing, rowing and
power boat rides alongside special
land-based activities.
The Great Guide Sleepover continues to
be the largest event on the calendar.
1040 participants bunked down for a
night under the stars in homemade
bedrolls on the concert lawn at Sydney’s
Taronga Zoo. Not only does the event
educate about animal conservation,
it also features activities and advocacy
information with a little help from
UNICEF and the Office of the Children’s
Guardian; Keeper talks; a disco and a
moonlit cinema under the stars. This year
we presented a cheque to the Taronga
Conservation Society for $25,828.71.
8
Edition 11 | December 2015
Summer shutdown
Looking for some last minute Guiding gift ideas? Girl Guides
NSW & ACT's Retail Manager has picked out some of her
favourites and we’ve listed them below. Shop online, give
Retail a call or pop in to the Alexandria Shop, Sydney… but
hurry—our Guide Shop’s last day of trading for 2015 is
Thursday 10 December!
This summer our retail arm will be closed for stocktake and a
New Year break. Last day of trading at Glengarry's Trading Post
will be Saturday 5 December, and the last day of trading
at Alexandria and through the online Guide shop will be
Thursday 10 December.
RETAIL
Guide Shop
The online Guide shop and our Alexandria shop will reopen on
Tuesday 19 January. Dates for Glengarry Trading Post are still to
be confirmed, and will be advised in G-news and online.
Aluminium Torch
Season’s Greetings/Christmas Cards
$5.00 for a pack of 5 or $15.00 for a pack of 20 assorted
cards. The cards feature illustrations of Girl Guides with
an Australian take on the festive season, complemented
by special finishes like shiny tree trimmings and glittering
sparkly sand on the beach! Cards are A5 in size and feature
the message: Best wishes for the festive season and a happy,
healthy New Year.
$5.00 each. Requires 3 x AAA batteries (not included).
Let this pocket-sized gem be your Guiding light!
Christmas Badge
$0.80 each. A great
Guiding keepsake your
girls can sew on their
camp blankets evoking
memories of what a
great year Guiding was
in 2015!
Christmas Guide Brooch
$8.00 each. Each brooch is
unique and handmade
and yours will be selected
at random.
Christmas Lucky Dip
$2.00 each. Let us do the
thinking for you!
Each of our Christmas
lucky dips contains a
random Christmas-themed
novelty item and two retro
Christmas badges.
Can’t find what you are looking for online?
Drawstring Bags
$4.00 each. These drawstring tote bags are available in Guide
pink and bright Guide yellow and are perfect as mess kit bags,
wash bags, shoe bags or to keep smalls separate when out and
about enjoying Guiding good times!
Chances are you have met our Retail Gremlins! We have
experienced intermittent issues with the search function and
product lists appearing in our Online Shop, causing newly added
products to sometimes not appear. If you’ve seen something
online and can’t find it again, please contact the Alexandria
Guide shop on (02) 9317 4200.
Edition 11 | December 2015
9
INTERNATIONAL
It’s the end of the year and also the end of my five year term as the
NSW & ACT International and World Guiding Consultant! I’ve had
a wonderful and enriching experience in the role.
I’d like to thank the State International and World Guiding
Committee: Mae Reed, Belinda Anderson, Karen Mitchell,
Lorraine O’Hare, Sarah Rees, and Amanda Cooper, and to Wietske
Bruinsma, who’s been on leave this year as she is developing the
growth of Girl Guides in the Solomon Islands. I also want to thank
past members of the committee: Lynda Hurford, Sue Folpp, Sue
Randall and Emily Smith. Without their continued support State
International and World Guiding events would not happen.
Girl Guides, and in particular World Guiding, opens many doors.
In the last five years we had terrific State events: two World
Thinking Day (WTD) Camps, two Friends of World Centres (FOWC)
Fundraisers, IGNITE: Global Guiding Expo and two EXPLORE:
Global Guiding Days. These events raised funds for the WTD
Fund, FOWC and the Irene Fairbairn Fund (IFF). Members have
shared their amazing experiences with others such as being a
TARE in India, learning to speak fluent Spanish after four months
in Mexico, volunteering at World Centres, making a change at the
United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women in New York,
attending Stop the Violence workshops and World Conferences.
We’ve also heard about different camping & outdoor experiences
in other countries.
I’ve interviewed and/or checked references for many Youth
and Adult Members who have applied for events in all
WAGGGS regions. I have issued WAGGGS Introduction Cards
for Members who were selected for events and to Members
who have visited Girl Guides and Girl Scouts while holidaying
in countries such as Turkey, Japan, Germany, France and
Cambodia. Our State Members have welcomed our sisters
L&D
2015 seems to have flown past. It doesn’t seem that long ago I
accepted the role of Learning and Development Manager and I
have almost completed a full year!
This is a wonderful opportunity for me to thank all the people,
including yourselves, who have supported me this year. It has been
a wonderful experience and I am looking forward to 2016 and
implementing the changes we have made to training courses.
I would like to thank all the people who put a training courses
together. Firstly our trainers—without these dedicated ladies there
would be no training courses. They bring a wealth of knowledge
and spice it up with fun activities to make the whole weekend an
enjoyable experience.
Thanks to Tracy Byers and the staff at Guide House, who ensure we
have all the resources we need for a training course.
Our catering teams are also invaluable and I thank them for giving
up a weekend to feed us with beautiful food.
Thanks also goes to the teams in the Regions, the Region Learning
and Development Advisers for hosting the training courses and
10
Edition 11 | December 2015
from other countries into their Units when they’ve holidayed in
Australia and learnt from them.
There are so many people to thank! In this role I’ve been
supported by two State Commissioners; Belinda Allen and
Gillian Garsia, Members of our State Program Team and Guide
House staff, in particular, Lisa Harris (huge thanks).
I’ve attended five GGA Management Meetings, State Program
face-to-face meetings, Region Personnel Conferences and last
year went to Melbourne for the Friends of Asia Pacific WAGGGS
gathering. In Melbourne, I attended the inaugural Asia Pacific
Region Conference for Leaders of Girls and met members from
this region (and a Malaysian Princess).
I hope you all get the chance to apply for an international event
or volunteer at a World Centre, attend an International Jamboree
and make friends with a Girl Guide or Girl Scout from a different
country, or bring the World of Guiding to your own Region and
District events, or Unit meetings. I encourage you to join the
FOWC for just $10 a year to hear all about life at our World Centres,
contribute to the IFF to support our Members who are selected for
international events, donate to the WTD Fund to help our sisters
in poorer countries and for a one-off fee join the Friends of Asia
Pacific WAGGGS.
Look out for the International and World Guiding Committee at the
IGNITE: Global Guiding Expo pop-up stall at next year’s Regatta!
Wishing all of you the very best for the end of year break and
World Thinking Day next year.
Don’t forget to think World Guiding!
Kerrey Williams
State International and World Guiding Consultant
program@girlguides-nswact.org.au
providing accommodation for the trainers and trainees.
This certainly helps to make a successful weekend.
Last, but not at all least, to all the Leaders and Managers who
attend the training courses, thank you for making the effort.
From reading the evaluation forms, I can tell you all enjoyed the
experience.
This year we had 131 Leaders attend Qualification Training, and 27
attend Becoming a Manager Training. I look forward to signing
all these certificates to show you have completed your passports.
Thank you ladies for taking on this commitment.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, enjoy
the last month of 2015 and the parties with girls and families.
Have a break and come back ready for another exciting year
with Girl Guides.
Elizabeth Baker
State Learning and Development Manager
trainingadvisor@girlguides-nswact.org.au
The girls were attending the Ranger Moot at Mona Vale during
December 1938 and January 1939, when on 8 January, 1939, they
were enrolled as Rangers by the Commissioner for Rangers, Miss
Meek. Miss Meek, on hearing of their leadership plight, offered to
be their Leader if they would meet in the City of Sydney. They all
agreed as they worked in the City—so began the 1st City Rangers.
Meetings were held in the Cottage Weavers rooms in the Rocks
area. According to the Log Book, Miss Meek was Captain and
Miss Savage the Lieutenant. Between April and July 1939, weekly
subscriptions were three pence per girl. They held a Ranger
Dinner on 11 May, 1939, and they learnt First Aid on the first two
weeks in June 1939. On 20 July, 1939, they had a Theatre Party
instead of a meeting.
The Log contains handwritten stories of their various outings and
camps which make for a very interesting read. One I particularly
like is the Push Bike Hike on the October long weekend in 1940. A
group of two Guides and four Rangers with their bikes left Central
Station bound for Mount Wilson.
Need a small gift for girls leaving your Unit. Why not consider
something for the Outdoors! Backpacks, sleeping bags and
stretchers fit the bill but are quite expensive. So why not a
microfibre towel?
The Guide Shop and all the camping stores, such as Kathmandu,
carry them. These gifts would also be great for those girls doing
their Duke of Edinburgh. A cutlery set is another useful gift, and
again most camping stores have them.
If you are into making things, consider a sit-upon, an emergency
first-aid kit, a proper mess kit bag or a special pillow case signed
by the girls in the Unit. Any of these will certainly add to their
memories of Guiding.
After the holidays are over and you are thinking about your 2016
program, keep in mind the wide range of adventurous activities
being offered at or close to our Guide campsites. For example,
archery at Glengarry, Bebrue and Queanbeyan, or canoeing at
Bindaree and RTS Tingira. Tree Tops Adventure Park is located
near Camp Austral and close to Random Cottage are all kinds of
hiking opportunities in the Blue Mountains.
ARCHIVES
They would change trains at Richmond for another train to
Kurrajong. This train was called Pansy and was a familiar site in
the Hawkesbury District until 1952 when Pansy ceased operation,
and the line from Richmond to Kurrajong was closed. Alas, when
they arrived at Kurrajong one of the bikes belonging to a Leader
was missing. This bike had a name – Mercury! It was nightfall
when they reached Kurrajong Heights and stopped for tea. By
this time there were only two bikes able to be ridden and still
many miles to ride up and down hills on a dirt road.
The two cyclists reached Bilpin at 11.40pm, with the rest of
the party following a short time later. Their tiredness quickly
vanished when they found a dance in full swing, so they joined in
dancing until 1am, and then slept out under the stars. At 6am the
next morning, the group were up and cooking breakfast prior to
moving on.
The rest of the story unfolds and there is a page titled Casualty
List as well as a poem about the hike written by Mavis Manson,
one of the intrepid Push Bike Hikers. I particularly liked the
General Casualty List – squashed tomatoes and eggs, tired legs
and feet and countless scratches and bruises.
Monday saw the group on the return journey:
On arrival at Kurrajong we made ourselves presentable as best we
could –the train came and we were on our way home after a very
enjoyable weekend.
Chesne Jones
State Archivist
Then there is the Scout Air Activities Centre in Camden, this is
sure to be a hit. Why not camp somewhere different in 2016?
It can be a Guide or non-Guide property. Your Region Outdoor
Activity Consultant (ROAC) has a list of approved sites. There
are adventurous activities out there to be had and you can
make these happen for your girls.
OUTDOORS
Our wonderful archives have just received the Log Book for the
1st City Rangers 1938–1945 from Dorothy Newland. The first six
of these Members were originally from 1st Arncliffe Guides with
one from Bexley Guides. Their Guide Leader was Miss Olga Wood,
and as Guides they met in a concrete garage beneath an old
cottage in Arncliffe. On leaving Guides they joined 1st Arncliffe
Ranger Company who met in St. David’s Church Hall at Arncliffe.
Unfortunately there was no Captain (Leader).
Reminders:
The following activities are not approved or covered by Girl
Guides Australia insurance: cross bow hunting, paintball,
unguided caving, bungee jumping and DIY flying foxes.
Paperwork for camps and activities needs to be sent to the
correct people in the correct amount of time as per the
paperwork. This is usually three to four weeks in advance for
normal Unit activities.
Life is great outdoors—so get out there.
Carol Meiklejohn
State Outdoors, Environment & Earth Education Consultant
cmeiklej@ozemail.com.au
Edition 11 | December 2015
11
PROGRAM
IDEAS:
2016
GETTING READY FOR
January
Vispera
Okay, so registrations have closed, but
we are still excited and cannot wait to
see what creative gems come out of
this summer camp!
You’ve got the calendar from the last
edition of The Waratah and you’re
getting excited. You’ve dusted off
last December’s Waratah with its
tips for preparing a Unit Master Plan
and thumbed through the pages on
planning in your Leader’s Handbook.
March
Mad Hatter Regatta
This event is great if you’ve got
Guides looking to progress to
Senior Guides and they need a
little injection of excitement and
adventure to ensure they hang
in there. Get them linked and
registered. It’s also an opportunity
for Olaves to recruit Senior Guides to
their Peer Groups.
April
9
If you thought Adventure in the
Garden was awesome—it just
got cooler. This event features the
unbelievably amazing Dr Karl (thank
you University of Sydney’s Science
Alliance) and workshops by inspiring
young women like the Robogals.
If your Patrol creates the best Rube
Goldberg Machine they will win a
telescope! Other activities include
building a Mars Rover and searching
for ET, along with a bunch of old
favourites that have helped cement
this event in the annual calendar.
Leaders, bring your loudest Dr Karl
style shirt. In the ultimate mark of
respect and to say thank you, we want
as many of you as possible donning
Dr Karl style shirts just before he
comes on stage.
12
Edition 11 | December 2015
18–20
Follow the white rabbit through
the looking glass for a weekend of
boating, camping and nonsensical
frivolity. Just don’t be late.
The groundwork is done. You’re
psyched. You’re ready. Don’t wade into
the waters of procrastination—read
on. Put down the shiny things and see
what we’re excited about in 2016
Science in the Garden
16–19
SC ENCE
garden
in the
9 April 2016
August
The Great Guide Sleepover
27–28
2016 is the 20th year that the Great
Guide Sleepover is being held in
one form or another. It began as
sleepover on the Opera House steps
with Mission Australia in a bid to
raise awareness of and funds for the
homeless. It is from these beginnings
that the tradition of the girls sleeping
out under the stars in bedrolls comes
from and to this day they continue
to do so on the grounds of Taronga
Zoo with guest speakers, advocacy
activities, a disco, and moonlight
cinema under the stars.
2012
2014
Celebrating 20 years is big. Keep an
eye on all Guiding communications
for some special announcements
about the Great Guide Sleepover
in 2016.
2010
2011
2015
2012
2013
November
Moot
12–13
Following its reboot in 2014, Moot
is back. Now on the calendar as a
biennial event, Moot is a lightweight
standing camp and outdoor activities
weekend. For Senior Guides and
Olaves, Moot is awesome and should
be on every Guide's must-do list.
November 12–13: save the date… you
won't regret it.
Edition 11 | December 2015
13
presents
SC ENCE
garden
in the
9 April 2016
Adventure in the Garden just got cooler
Guest
l
a
i
c
e
p
With S Kruszelnicki
Dr Karl