Called ‘A Place To Grow’ and launched in conjunction with Girl Guides Month in May, this grass-roots campaign highlights the diverse experiences on offer at Girl Guides and its relevance for the young girls of today.
Now in its 99th year in Australia, Girl Guides in NSW and ACT has over 7,400 members and 540 Units.
Guide leader at Auburn-Lidcombe since 2007, Ruth Miller (Guiding name ‘Kungala’) started in Guides as a six-year-old in 1995.
“I have continued with it because Guiding is so awesome,” she said.
“It’s given me so many opportunities to try new things, develop different skills and even travel overseas as I attended a Guiding Jamboree in London.
“I have made so many friends through Guiding.
“The girls call me Kungala as a mark of respect and there’s nothing I enjoy more than teaching them new things.”
State Commissioner Sarah Neill said a recent research project revealed that 90 per cent of girls joined the organisation before the age of 11 and its members felt Girl Guides was the perfect antidote to the complex and pressured lives of young people.
“Our research showed that young girls join for the things they need most at this stage of their lives – fun, meeting friends outside of school and developing new skills,” she said.
Zoe, aged 11 says: “Girls are encouraged to be curious and also participate in interactive activities while doing Girl Guides. At Girl Guides, we learn new things like for example; at Auburn Lidcombe we learnt how to make cauliflower fried rice!
“Girl Guides connects girls to girls all around the world.”
More info at aplacetogrow.com.au
Where to join up
• Auburn-Lidcombe Girl Guides meets in the Guide Hall on Olympic Drive, just past the old tennis courts, on Mondays, 6pm-7.45pm. The Unit has nine girls, aged seven to 14 years, two Leaders and one District Manager. For further info, call Ruth on 0404 666 952.
• Guildford Girl Guides meets in the Guide Hall at 20 Kay Street, Guildford on Tuesdays, 6.30-8pm, for ages 10 to 14, and 6-7.30pm for ages five to nine. They have 17 youth members, two leaders and one District Manager. For further info, call Erin on 0431 234 979.