Leaders Honoured
Local Leaders from Huntingdale, Mundaring, Bunbury and Australind have been honoured for their volunteer work. Unice Robinson (below right) was presented with the Senior Citizen of the Year Award at the City of Gosnells Australia Day Awards. Maggie Hegney (top right) was recognised for her significant contribution and outstanding service to the community over a number of years in the Shire of Mundaring. Then in National Volunteer Week in May, Robynne Mummery (left) was awarded Volunteer of the Year (Southwest region) for her work with Bunbury Earth & Ocean Girl Guides, her school P&C and other community organisations. Congratulations to these amazing women, who have contributed to Guiding and their local communities in so many ways! Special congratulations to Dr Brenda Hamlett (bottom left) on receiving a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her outstanding contribution and significant service to Girl Guides. Brenda's involvement with Guiding as an adult began in 1967 as a Guide Leader in the United Kingdom at the 4th Wallasey South Guide Company. During her Bachelor of Science and Education studies at Durham and Bristol Universities she continued as a Leader before heading to Sierra Leone to teach for several years, where she continued being a Leader. In 1975, Brenda became a Trainee Trainer for Girl Guides UK and then the following year travelled to Bunbury in Western Australia. There, she continued her career firstly as a teacher in mathematics and physics, then worked at TAFE and then finally at Edith Cowan University. She married Bill Hamlett, had two children and expanded on her role in Guiding by becoming a qualified trainer in 1976. In 1986 she qualified as a Diploma Trainer, which led her to train overseas. Over the last 50 years Brenda has held many roles within Guiding both in Western Australia and Australia. These include: Unit Leader, District Leader/ District Manager, Region Leader/Region Manager, Australian Training Adviser, WA State Commissioner, Director - Board of Girl Guides Australia, Chair of GGWA State Council, Vice President of GGWA, Member of State and National Training Team, Guiding Partner/Learning Partner and Member of Asia Pacific Training Pool with WAGGGS. She has also served on many committees. Her commitment to Guiding is outstanding and this honour is well deserved (information about Dr Hamlett AM supplied by Dianne Hodgson).
12 - Wagtale June 2021
