Welcome to another exciting edition of Guiding News! This month we reflect on the vibrant and inspiring activities shaping the Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT comm unity.
This edition celebrates our commitment to empowerment, inclusivity, and growth, reinforcing the values that make Guiding a beacon of leadership and positive ch ange.
With updates from the Leadership Team, changemaking operational updates, exciting opportunities and events, steps towards advancing sustainability and inclusion, and Gone home news honouring our community, March’s Guiding News finds us looking ahead with a renewed focus on innovation, inclusivity, and growth.
This edition of Guiding News serves as a testament to the resilience and commitment of our Members. Let’s continue to empower, uplift, and lead by example as we sh ape the future of Guiding together. Happy reading!
Jamie Shepheard (he/him) Senior Manager, Digital, Marketing & Communication jamie@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
State Commissioner from the
From the State Commissioner
Hello Sisters in Guiding,
The past month we have celebrated World Thinking Day and International Women’s Day. These two dates in our Guiding calendar celebrate us as women and our organisation. I would like to thank and applaud the service you give to young women through empowering programs and events.
As we tell “Our Story” to the next generation of Girl Guides. We share the positive experiences, the skills and attributes which make us recognised as leaders in our communities. One example of a dedicated leader to our organisation is Elise Croft, who sadly passed last week. She was an Adult Member for 45 years embodying all that Girl Guides have to offer.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Janice Johnstone for her work and contribution to sustainability as State Lead. There is an amazing opportunity to continue to work to further evolve us into a sustainable organisation.
As part of our organisation’s move to become more sustainable, we are supporting the Girl Guides Australia partnership with Modibodi (read more on pages 24 & 28). We will soon be providing more information on how to cater for girls using these products at camps.
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I have been hearing great stories of Units increasing membership numbers. One Unit doubled their youth numbers through a bring a friend night. I hope we can spread the word about what is unique, and the benefits of Guiding is to both Youth and Adult Members.
Saturday 24 May 2025 will be AWOL (Adult Women on the loose) day. It will be in Sydney, utilising UTS facilities to host a day of reconnecting with some fun, a bit of learning, the AGM and an optional dinner. Save the date! Event details will be out soon.
Yours in Guiding
Jo Tonon (she/her)
State Commissioner
sc@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Empowering Girls, Strengthening Communities: The Guiding Commitment to Rights, Equality, and Empowerment
This month we celebrated International Women’s Day 2025 under the UN Women theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment .” State Commissioner Jo Tonon took a moment to reflect on the profound impact of the Girl Guides movement in fostering a future where every girl and young woman has the opportunity to thrive.
For over a century, Guiding has stood as a beacon of empowerment, instilling in girls the confidence to lead, the resilience to overcome challenges, and the compassion to uplift others. The essence of Guiding aligns seamlessly with this year’s theme—our mission has always been to create spaces where girls feel seen, heard, and valued. Through skill-building, community service, and leadership development, Girl Guides transforms individual lives while contributing to the greater good of society.
Rights: Ensuring Every Girl’s Voice is Heard In every activity, badge earned, and leadership challenge tackled, Girl Guides reinforces the fundamental truth that girls’ voices matter. By fostering a culture of inclusion, we champion their right to speak up, to advocate for change, and to participate fully in decisions that shape their futures. Whether it’s through environmental action, civic engagement, or simply learning to express themselves with confidence, Guiding gives girls the tools to exercise their rights fearlessly.
Equality: Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges Equality is not just an aspiration within Guiding—it is a lived experience. In our diverse and inclusive community, girls from all backgrounds come together as equals, learning from one another and developing a deep respect for different perspectives. We actively challenge stereotypes, encourage non-traditional skill development, and provide mentorship opportunities that open doors to leadership roles. By nurturing an environment where every girl believes in her limitless potential, we are laying the foundation for a more equitable world.
Empowerment: Cultivating Leaders for a Better Tomorrow Guiding is, at its heart, a movement of empowerment. From the youngest Pre-junior Guide to the most seasoned Volunteer, every Member is given opportunities to grow, contribute, and lead. We cultivate resilience and self-reliance, ensuring
that girls and young women leave Guiding with the confidence to shape their own paths. Through mentorship, skill development, and real-world experiences, Girl Guides transforms young girls into the change-makers of tomorrow.
A Future Where No One is Left Behind As we look toward the future, the call to action is clear: we must continue to create spaces where all girls—regardless of background, ability, or circumstance— can access the opportunities they deserve. The work of Guiding is not just about individual growth; it is about collective progress. By empowering one girl, we empower a community, a nation, and ultimately, the world.
This International Women’s Day, we reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that every girl knows her worth, has access to the resources she needs, and is supported in her journey to becoming a leader in her own right. Because when we invest in girls, we invest in a future of fairness, strength, and boundless possibility.
Together, through Guiding, we are shaping a world where rights , equality , and empowerment are not just ideals, but realities for ALL women and girls.
Board Chair from the
From the Board Chair
Greetings for March,
Our thoughts are with Members and their families in northern NSW and Queensland who once again have been affected by severe weather with floods and storms.
The Board held a bi-annual strategy day at Guide House last Saturday to review progress on the current strategic plan and discuss factors affecting our organisation. Strategic Plans run in cycles and we have already started looking forward as we will be creating a new Strategic Plan during 2026 to start in 2027.
Michael Yin from the Risk & Compliance Committee presented a risk workshop and we looked at three topics in depth. We also did a team building activity with a HR specialist. It’s wonderful to have professional expertise on some of our committees.
What do you do to enhance your leadership skills and knowledge? Do you talk openly at Unit, District and Region meetings about this topic? In Leader and Manager roles we quite often are so busy delivering Guiding that we forget about our own journey. We expect our Guides to be challenged, to be curious and continue to learn. We should be the same! I’ve been doing some online courses and webinars to build my skills in governance and chairing meetings. There is always something new we can learn. What’s your next opportunity going to be?
Last week we welcomed our new State Treasurer Bharti Desai to her first Board meeting and ratified Ro Derwin as a co-opted Director for the next 12 months.
This week we welcomed Jessica Pritchard to the Risk & Compliance Committee. Jessica used to be a Brownie some years ago (with fond memories) and now brings her professional skills to this committee.
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I’d also like to thank you all for your patience with recent compliance issues that have affected us all in relation to properties. Changes in legislation and regulatory requirements mean that sometimes we have to move quite fast. A good example of this is Tingira Water Activities Centre. The lease must be updated and analysis of this uncovered some other compliance issues and it’s taking time to resolve. So, the work to fix the boat ramp and the shed has had some delays. Properties are an ongoing risk that we need to manage. Thank you to the Guide House Properties team for managing the extra workload
I’d also like to thank the Region and District Managers and Campsite Committees for the analysis and feedback relating to all our properties across NSW, ACT & NT. The first six Regions have been through the Board meeting and in some cases, we have looked at how to grow Guiding in some of the locations and not close or relinquish a property. To that end we must work across teams to make the best decision.
Felina French – Membership Development Officer, has been out an about in Central West Region and held some “come and try” days at Parkes. Believe it or not but 45 girls turned up at Parkes and they have new Leaders and a full Unit again! This was a Hall that has been empty for some time. Felina then went to Grenfell. Glenda and Sandra did a great job to support their District for their ”Come and Try” event. Nine girls visited the first night and the 2nd night, 12 girls. So, a Junior Guide Unit has started again.
Felina also went to Dubbo. Dubbo District Manager Amanda & Leader Fiona also helped at Parkes. Well done to Shirley Russell at Parkes for energising the support. Great to hear you all supported each other. Dubbo also got six new girls visit Junior Guides and seven new girls visit Guides after a talk at school. What a fantastic outcome!
Is a property and asset or a liability? It all comes down to the local volunteer base and capacity to support and deliver Guiding – it can be a hard call.
The Board has made the decision to move the State archives and historic memorabilia from Northbridge Hall due to ongoing issues with air quality at the property and deterioration of some papers. We will be getting quotations for the next phase of work to co-locate the archives at our continued over page
State Office in Surry Hills. The Board has also approved initial analysis to digitise archives as we have archives in multiple locations in Regions as well as our own offsite records.
I went and visited my own District’s Unit this week to check in with a new volunteer and catch up with my Leaders and Guides. I watched the Guides having great fun in a team building challenge making scarecrows from recycled materials they had collected. The Leaders made it interesting by challenging the Guides to make the scarecrow taller than the tallest Guide in the team. The Guides were mixed up outside their Patrols, so they got to work with different girls. Three totally different scarecrows were completed and the chatter, laughing, and concentration in the room was great to see.
It’s important to remind ourselves why we contribute to Guiding. Visiting with my own District’s Guides, Leaders, & Volunteers this week helped energise me to keep contributing to this wonderful organisation.
Sue Belling (she/her)
Board Chair
boardchair@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Jamboree 2025 – Applications Close on 31 March!
We are only a short 200 days away from Jamboree and preparations are coming along very well.
A reminder to all, Bush 2 Beach Jamboree registrations close on 31st March 2025, including all participant fees. We ask all Unit Leaders, whether or not you can attend Jamboree yourself, to please encourage your Youth Members to register and attend. The Jamboree Bush 2 Beach website has a FAQs page with all your parents' questions answered, and resources like flyers and posters to encourage those last few to attend.
14+ Expeditions have recently been advertised with a vast array of opportunities for our older Youth Members to participate in and challenge themselves during their two-day, one -night offsite expedition. All 14-17yr old applications will be sent a nomination link in early April to secure their spot on an expedition.
All adult applications have been or are being verified by State Contingent Leader/s including Child Safe Child Friendly (CSCF) compliance, membership and qualifications. All adults will be allocated roles, be it on groups, subcamps or service team once final applications have closed. The 10-13yr old subcamps will be organised as Region or a combination of Regions. If you are interested in a subcamp role, please talk to your Region Contingent Leader. Adult roles will be finalised once registrations close.
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Introducing our Jamboree Mascots – Tilly the Kangaroo and Echo the Dolphin
Thank you to all who nominated names or encouraged Members to, we had an enormous about of entries and it was difficult for the team t o choose. As we begin to finalise programs, menus, policies and plans, Le aders are reminded the Pre-Jamboree Challenge is a great program tool for unit time. There are several skills even for girls not attending Jamboree. These skills will also assist with Camping Trefoil 2 and youth members attending further camps to achieve the required 6 nights under canvas.
Sally and Cassie
Co-Leaders in Charge jamboree@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Gear Up for Jamboree 2025 with Snowys Outdoors!
Get ready for your Jamboree adventure with an exclusive 5% discount on camping gear from Snowys Outdoors. Email service@snowys.com.au with the subject line “Girl Guides Australia 2025 Discount Code” to receive your unique code.
Win Incredible Prizes!
All Jamboree applicants (Youth and Adults) registered by 31 March will go into the draw to win fantastic camping gear, including:
• Event 12 Deluxe Shelter plus 2 walls (valued at $299)
• Gasmate Turbo Butane Stove and Pot Set (valued at $99)
• Sea to Summit Pot Cook Set (valued at $201.90)
• Sea to Summit Cutlery (valued at $39)
Don’t miss out—apply for Jamboree and claim your discount today!
Your Guide to a Successful Event
Why Hold an Open Day?
Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT is holding an exciting, state- and territory-wide youth recruitment campaign during Terms 1 and 2 of 2025. To maximize impact, we’re encouraging every District to participate in an Open Day on the same weekend—April 5 & 6.
With support from Guide House—including centralized advertising and promotional resources—this coordinated approach will help us reach more families, generate excitement, and grow Girl Guides together.
Hosting an Open Day in your community—whether as an ‘Open Day at the Hall,’ ‘Bring a Friend’ event, or ‘Give Girl Guides a Go’ experience—offers a fantastic opportunity to engage potential members and showcase the fun of Guiding.
This year’s focus is GROW! That means careful planning, engaging activities, and strategic followups are key. Let’s make 2025 a milestone year for recruitment!
How Will It Work?
Guide House will:
• Promote the Open Day online.
• Provide a centralized event page for people to find events near them.
• Share promotional resources for all Districts to use.
When Should We Hold the Open Day?
The last weekend of Term 1 is ideal. By this time, Districts know how many new Members they can continued over page
support and what Volunteers they need. Families can enjoy the Open Day, reflect over the holidays, and return for trial visits in Term 2. The event also aligns with natural Unit planning cycles.
For maximum attendance, schedule your event for a 4-hour window, such as 10am–2pm, allowing flexibility for families with other commitments.
Who Can Visit?
The Open Day is open to families who can drop in at their convenience. All children must be accompanied by an adult—this is not a drop-off event. Guides and Junior Leaders helping must be under Leader supervision.
What Activities Should We Include?
Select a mix of adventurous and quiet activities that appeal to different ages. Choose options that use equipment you already have rather than crafts requiring specific materials. View activity suggestions grouped by Australian Guide Program Fundamental on our website.
How Will We Know Who Is Coming?
Plan activities that can accommodate any number of attendees. If providing lunch, cater for a manageable number and freeze any extra food for future events.
What to Give Visitors
Provide attendees with a District flyer, a term program, and an ‘Introducing Girl Guides’ brochure. Consider creating small show bags with souvenirs or materials from activities.
Essential Equipment
• Display boards, banners, sunshade shelters.
• Photos (historical and current), PR kits.
• Camp blankets, Guide Handbooks.
• Flyers with meeting times, brochures, stickers.
• A sign-up sheet for enquiries. continued over page
Other Important Considerations
• Encourage Guides and Junior Leaders to wear their uniforms.
• Recognize volunteers with a certificate or badge.
• Prepare a run sheet to ensure smooth execution.
• Example Open Day Schedule
Gone Home
Elise Crofts OAM
1952–2025
Elise’s commitment to and passion for Guiding was outstanding and she will be fondly remembered by all who had the pleasure of knowing or encountering her.
Region Manager for North Pacific Coast from 2016–2021, Elise hel d many positions in Guiding, including Unit Leader, District Manager, Development Coordinator, Guiding Partner, Support Group Treasurer, and Trainer. Inside and outside of Guiding, Elise’s contributions to her community were many, exceptional, and varied, from work with her church through to working as a nurse in third world countries in the field of ophthalmology.
A private Committal Service will be held for Elise in Coffs Harbour with relatives and friends kindly invited to attend Elise’s Service of Thanksgiving to be held at Coffs Harbour Uniting Church, on Friday 21 March 2025, commencing at 2.30 pm. Livestream details on Keith Logue & Sons website. In lieu of floral tributes the family would appreciate donations to Médecins Sans Frontiéres.
Monthly Payment of Memberships Now Available.
We're delighted to announce that paying membership monthly successfully launched on February 20, 2025!
Monthly payment of membership is now available to all Members, except those wishing to use vouchers or Support Fund Applications. We are continuing to develop business rules, Q&A's, and training, and more information will be included in our next newsletter.
What is Monthly Payment of Membership?
A convenient and flexible monthly payment method to make your 12 month Girl Guides Membership even more accessible by way of 12 monthly instalments.
What are the benefits of Annual and Monthly?
We are pleased to offer flexible payment options to suit Member’s circumstances. Here’s how Member’s can invest in their Girl Guide Membership.
• Annual Investment: This option allows you to pay for the entire year upfront. By choosing the Annual Investment, you can also take advantage of using a Government Funded Voucher, like the Active & Creative Kids Voucher in NSW or the Sports Voucher in the NT. If you need financial assistance, you’re welcome to apply for support from the Girl Guides Support Fund. The Annual Investment is the cost-effective way to enjoy a full year of amazing Guiding experiences.
• Monthly Instalments: Choose ease and flexibility by paying in monthly instalments. You kick start your Monthly Instalments with your Debit or Credit Card. The remaining 11 instalments are conveniently debited on the 21st of each month, helping you manage your finances effortlessly while you enjoy all the fun Girl Guiding experiences throughout the year.
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Can a Member pay Monthly and use their Government Funded Vouchers or apply for support fund?
Due to system constraints, we are unable to apply vouchers or provide Support Fund Assistance when Members choose to pay by Monthly Instalments. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Should Members wish to use a voucher or access the support fund, the annual option is the most suitable choice.
Can a Member pay for just a few months, then leave?
While our 12-month Girl Guide Membership offers flexible payment options, it is designed to ensure that Members can benefit from the full range of experiences over the entire year. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive and enriching journey for all our Members.
Technically, Members can cancel payments mid-term; however, this will make them unfinancial and prevent them from attending any activities while unpaid. Additionally, cancelling affects their continuity of membership. If they decide to come back later in the year, they will need to rejoin and back pay for the missed months to reinstate membership continuity.
We strongly request you promote the Girl Guides Membership as a 12 month experience that can be paid annually or monthly.
Can we direct debit a bank account for monthly payments?
Unfortunately, not at this stage. Monthly Instalments can only be debited directly from Debit Cards or Credit Cards. We are continuing to investigate further options.
When will more training be available?
We're actively addressing new scenarios and developing comprehensive Q&As to assist you. These will be shared in our next newsletter.
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Key Reminders:
• We're committed to clear communication and support.
• We're working to prevent payment processing issues.
Your Feedback is Valuable!
We appreciate your patience and understanding during this transition. Your feedback is crucial. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.
Feedback can be provided to the Member Services Team at guides@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
outdoor Lead from the
From the Outdoor Lead
If you have any questions or concerns about anything in this segment, contact me at: OutdoorLead@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
A reminder about the OUT01:
This is getting more important as more Units are getting out and about.
When you send an OUT01 to your ROAC, please structure the subject line to include name; activity; date. For example: VBrown-canoeing-10 April.
This allows your ROAC, and me, to manage our in boxes, make sure we respond to more urgent requests quickly and approve the activities and camp in time.
Risk Assessments:
If you are arranging transport to and/or from a camp or activity, include details about the journey. For example: how long will it be; are there any breaks planned; is there a separate LiC for the journey; how will the Leaders keep in contact with each other; what is the process if there is an incident during the journey?
Virginia Brown (she/her)
Outdoor Lead
outdoor@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
From the Inclusion Lead inclusion Lead from the
From the Inclusion Lead
“ True belonging doesn’t require that we change who we are. It requires us to be who we are. ”
Brené Brown
Mardi Gras Fair Day 2025
Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT had the opportunity to host a stall at Mardi Gras Fair Day on Sunday February 16 in Victoria Park. It was a warm and busy day, and we had the pleasure of discussing Guides with so many interested members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our stall was next to the Scouts stall, allowing our organisations to chat and support each other over the course of the day.
The most exciting part of the day was the amount of women who came past the stall, and had a history with Girl Guides. We were able to share stories and bond over common memories. Thank you to every Guide who came past and said ‘Hi.’
For Fair Day, Girl Guides offered Abbie Jane from The Rainbow Shoelace Project space at our stall to support her efforts. The beads for the project are packed at Pax Lodge in London, and beads are also available at Our Cabana in Mexico.
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When speaking to Abbie, she shared the following about her experiences with Guides and Scouts: What’s something you learnt in Scouts that you still use today?
“Scouts and Guides both promote being kind to everyone and helping people no matter what. These qualities are something that have stuck with me my whole life, it has made me more determined to make a difference and to show others kindness no matter what. Scouts and Guides shows a sense of community and that is something I have learned to value more than anything.”
What would you say to current Girl Guides who might want to start their own project or make a difference?
“Making a difference takes time, and the most important thing is to simply be yourself. Authenticity is the most important thing when it comes to making a difference. As long as you have the drive and passion to make a difference and change the world, you will be able to achieve amazing things. It will be hard, there will be good days and bad days, but to make a difference it is important to know that the good will always out way the bad and the people you help will make the hard times worth it. Remember - by being kind you are making a difference to someone’s life every single day.”
I would like to thank Rose-marie Salem, Lydia Morris, and Alice Anderson for their assistance in planning and running the stall. I would also like to thank the Adult and Youth Members who came to assist. BRAVO!
Mental Health First Aid
At the recent Region Managers Conference, the Regions were encouraged to set up Youth Mental Health First Aid and/or Accidental Counsellor training sessions for 2025, particularly in preparation for the Australian Jamboree in September. Many of our Regions have been hard at work setting up these opportunities for their Members.
If you are interested in attending a Youth Mental Health First Aid or Accidental Counsellor training, please reach out to your Region for confirmation of their dates. Alternatively, please reach out using the Inclusion email, and I will do my best to point you towards your most suitable opportunity.
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Other Queries, Concerns, or Comments
If you have any other queries, concerns, or comments regarding the inclusion space, please reach out to the Inclusion Lead email: InclusionLead@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
THANK YOU for your continued support of inclusivity and acceptance in Girl Guides. SO MANY Guides benefit from the safe spaces that are provided in Units, Districts, and Regions due to the hardwork of our volunteers.
Yours in Guiding,
Julia Becker (she/her)
Inclusion Lead inclusion@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Lead from the SustainABILITY
From the Sustainability Lead
Mess Kits – “Making Choices for a Better World”
I know it is very easy to purchase individual packs of chips and biscuits BUT have you thought of including a small container in your mess kit list for not only camps but all Girl Guide events? It is so much better for the environment and cheaper to purchase in bulk and put into the containers while handing out snacks. The containers are also great for cut-up fruit. Cut-up fruit is more likely to get eaten and there is so much less waste than handing out whole fruit. This practice has been shown to work at large camps as well as small. Zip-lock bags are becoming very popular to hand out snacks or cereal portions but unnecessary.
Modibodi
Some great news - Girl Guides Australia have partnered with Modibodi. Modibodi underwear is not only good for young girls who are starting to navigate life with a period but a great alternative to singleuse disposable tampons and pads for everyone. Climate Change is the long-term shift (increase) in temperatures and weather patterns and is currently the most significant global threat to human life which women suffer the most impact. Electricity production and manufacturing are two of the top major contributors of greenhouse gases. Modibodi are doing their best to minimise their carbon footprint and have calculated that replacing single use pads and tampons with Modibodi underwear over a four year period will produce up to 77% less carbon emissions. To find out more about Climate Change check out the United Nations Climate Change Challenge Badge – not only does it give you activities for girls of all ages but information on Climate Change if you would like to learn more.
Thanks for doing your bit for our environment.
Janice Johnstone
Sustainability Lead
sustainability@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Lead from the Young Women
From the Young Women Lead
Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Update
The YAC had a successful development weekend during February, with impactful discussion and positive networking with the committee. The YAC also attended the Asia Pacific World Thinking Day event on behalf of Girl Guides Australia. The event had interactive activities of sharing milestones from “Our Story”, and Action story and a virtual campfire. The girls felt the event was an amazing opportunity and they felt empowered and connected with the organisation on a global level.
Olave News - The Olave committee have an upcoming position on their team! The Awards Position is a rewarding opportunity, If you’re interested or would like some more information please reach out to Fiona or the Olave Program Committee - olaveprogram@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Aimee Rassouli (she/her)
Young Women’s Lead youngwomen@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
From the Inclusion Lead AGP Lead from the
From the Australian Guide Program (AGP)
Lead
Hello! I have recently been appointed to the role of State Australian Guide Program (AGP) Lead. I come to the role with a long Guiding background having started as a Brownie when I was seven and progressing through Guides, Ranger Guides and Rangers. I have been a Senior Guide Leader in Northern Sydney Region for about 30 years and at present I also hold the role of District Manager and I am a facilitator for FLY. Over the years I have held numerous roles in Guiding – Assistant State Program Advisor, Youth Recognition and Awards Liaison, organised numerous Regattas (my favourite Guiding event!), assisted with Region events, leading overseas contingents and the Queen’s Guide Review Committee. It has been a very rewarding journey and I am looking forward to new challenges and supporting our State going forward.
Throughout my Guiding journey I have had the benefit of being offered many opportunities and challenges, these have enabled me to grow, learn new skills, gain confidence and establish amazing life-long friendships. I would love to see all our girls and young women do the same.
The first challenge I will be taking on is to work with you to look at how the AGP, and it’s fundamentals, work together to provide quality (and consistent) Guiding. How is the AGP being delivered in your unit? Do you consider the fundamentals when putting a program together? Where do you get ideas from? This will go hand in hand with ensuring our unit programs are girl lead and what this might look like.
I look forward to working with you all.
Jodie Chilvers (she/her)
Australian Guide Program (AGP) Lead agplead@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Modibodi and Girl Guides Australia Get
Period-Prepared
Navigating girlhood is tricky enough but managing your period while at camp or a sleepover is one of their biggest concerns, says 68% of girls according to the National Girl Research by Girl Guides Australia.
In fact, nearly 1 in 3 girls say their periods have stopped them from attending camps and sleepovers.
To give girls the confidence to be period-prepared, reusable leak-proof period wear brand Modibodi has partnered with Girl Guides Australia to change the conversation around camps and sleepovers – because Periods Don’t Pause Adventures!
Find out more and access the resources here .
property Manager from the
From the Property Manager
A Fond Farewell and Warm Welcome
Farewell to Kathryn
Our wonderful colleague and friend Kathryn is preparing to head off on maternity leave as she gets ready to welcome her beautiful baby girl – arriving any day now!
I would like to personally thank Kathryn for her dedication and the invaluable contributions she’s made to our team. We’ll certainly miss her while she is gone, but we’re so excited for this next chapter in her life.
On behalf of myself and the team at Guide House, we wish Kathryn the best and can’t wait to welcome her back and meet her new addition (who we’re sure is a future Guide in the making!).
Welcome Aishlin
While Kathryn is on maternity leave, I’m pleased to welcome Aishlin to the Property Team as our new Property Service Officer. Aishlin brings a wealth of enthusiasm and experience, and I’m confident she’ll be a wonderful addition to our team.
If you happen to speak with Aishlin when you call Guide House, please be sure to offer her a warm welcome! Joey, our Strategic Communication Officer, sat down with Aishlin so you can get to know her a little before you do call. See over page for your introduction to our newest member of the team!
Barbara Cuthbert (she/her) Property Manager
barbara@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Getting to know Aishlin
A Q&A Session
What are you most excited about your new role at Girl Guides?
I’m excited to join a movement whose core values align with my own. I feel honoured and proud that I get to work for an organisation that’s actively working to make a positive impact on the lives of girls and young women. I can’t stop telling my friends that I work at Girl Guides!
Any fun facts about you?
I’m a twin! My sister Celeste and I look so alike that sometimes even our friends get confused... but I promise I haven’t tried swapping places at work...yet!
Speed Round: This or That?
Q: Pineapple on Pizza – Y/N?
A: Yes!
Q: Early Bird or Night Owl?
A: Night Owl for sure.
Q: Spontaneous Adventure or Well-planned Itinerary?
A: Well-planned Itinerary but I won’t say no to a spontaneous adventure either.
Q: Cats or Dogs?
A: Cats
Karaoke Go To/Power Ballad?
Defying Gravity 100%. It’s just so good!
In Event News
in
Event News
Oars & Roars Regatta
We are so excited for Regatta this weekend. Entry to the campsite is available on Friday night from 5pm. Don’t forget to bring your money or card for the Guide Shop and Coffee Van.
Queen’s Guide Webinars
If you’re in Senior Guides, or are a leader or parent of someone in Senior Guides you may have heard about the Queen’s Guide Award. Want to know more about it? Youth Awards Coordinator, Ashleigh Hansen, will be running two information sessions. Monday 17th March will be aimed at providing an overview of the award and supporting new awardees to get started. Thursday 27th March will be focused on supporting current awardees with any questions that may have arisen, as well as going over the process to submit their work. Head to the What’s on page for more details.
Pre-Junior & Junior Guide Adventure Camp – Jumble in the Jungle
If you are registered for this event, we recommend joining the Facebook group. We will be sharing information soon about the activity waiver, webinar and The Guide Shop.
Way to Go Hiking Training
Registrations are closing soon for this introductory hiking training course on the last weekend of March. This course, or equivalent experience, is required for later hiking courses throughout the year. See the event page for more information.
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Dragon Skin
Senior Guides, Olaves and Adult Members are invited to the Scouts event, Dragon Skin 2025. Experience in lightweight hiking is a must for this 4-night hiking competition. Youth Members should check with their Unit Leader or the Leader in Charge if they are unsure if their level of experience meets the requirements for this event.
Fun Leadership for Youth (FLY)
Come FLY with us this April! If you would like to soar to new heights, build your leadership potential, experience personal growth, challenge yourself and above all have FUN, then this leadership development weekend is for you. Open to 15-17 year old Members and Junior Leaders. Download the flyer from the event page. This course is perfect for Members completing their Queens Guide Award.
Looking forward to seeing you at an event or course soon!
Lydia Morris (she/her)
Event Manager events@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
If you have feedback, or wish to make a contribution, please send an email to communications@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au.
