Edition 01 | February 2015 | 100002222
Program Ideas: WTD 2015 Top 10
Our Leadership: the Board Explained
Manager and Consultant News
Graffiti Removal Day 2014
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:[email protected]
web: www.girlguides-nswact.org.au
FOREWORD FROM THE STATE TEAM
1
FROM GUIDE HOUSE
2
BRAVO2
FROM THE NATIONAL TEAM
3
PROPERTIES3
Postal address:
PO Box 950
Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
DISTRICT DYNAMICS
4
INTRODUCING LEANA LIVITS
4
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES: WTD 2015 TOP 10
Retail Department:
Unit 14, 77–79 Bourke Road
Alexandria NSW 2015
Phone: (02) 9317 4200
Fax: (02) 9669 6257
5–8
GONE HOME
9
OUR LEADERSHIP: THE BOARD EXPLAINED
9
MANAGER AND CONSULTANT NEWS
Retail postal address:
PO Box 6124
Alexandria NSW 2015
We love hearing what our Members are up to, so
please send your news to
[email protected].
10–12
GRAFFITI REMOVAL DAY 2014
12
INTRODUCING ‘OLAVE PROGRAM IGNITE’
13
CLOWNING AROUND: PRE REGATTA CHALLENGE 2015
13
UPCOMING COURSE DATES
Course
Location
Event Date Closing
Date
Fun Leadership for Youth
Camp Austral
27 Feb
6 Feb
Program Ideas & AG
Menai
28 Feb
6 Feb
If you are interested in advertising in The Waratah,
please contact Jamie Shepheard:
[email protected].
Trefoil 1 & 2 Rowing
RTS Tingira
28 Feb
6 Feb
Trefoil 3/Adult Rowing
RTS Tingira
28 Feb
6 Feb
Girl Guides NSW & ACT reserves the right to edit or
refuse articles or advertisements from any source.
Adult/Trefoil 3 Canoe/
Kayak
RTS Tingira
17 Mar
13 Feb
WA1501© Girl Guides NSW & ACT January 2015.
Becoming a Manager
Glengarry
07 Mar
13 Feb
Leadership Qualification
Coffs Harbour
07 Mar
13 Feb
Leadership Qualification
Glengarry
07 Mar
13 Feb
Deadlines
If you would like to be published in the March
2015 edition of The Waratah, please send your
contribution to us no later than 6 February.
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UPCOMING EVENT DATES
Event
General information you may wish to use
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Location
Event Date Closing
Date
State Olave Program
Camp
13 Feb
Conference
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ewardship Are
Council
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Sisters Around
the World Bundilla Scout 20 Feb
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20 Mar
Clowning Around:
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Sport &
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Adventure in the Garden
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Edition 1 | February Colour
2015 can not be changed from what is shown
The Australian 28 Mar
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Annan
Closed
Closed
27 Feb
6 Mar
I am so looking forward to an exciting year of Guiding in
2015. There will be many opportunities for me to meet and
support our Guides, Leaders, Managers and Trefoil Guilds as I
attend events, AGMs and Region conferences across NSW &
ACT. Please remember to invite one of the State Team to your
celebrations or to your special events during 2015 by emailing
or contacting us at Guide House.
Congratulations to both Sue Carr on her appointment as the
Assistant National Learning & Development Manager and
also to Emily Milton Smith on being awarded the prestigious
Queen’s Young Leader Award. This award recognises
exceptional young people aged 18 to 29 in Commonwealth
countries, which are taking the lead in their communities and
using their skills to transform lives.
I would like to extend a special thankyou to the Units and
Districts that participated in the Graffiti Removal Day and to
Charlotte and Mel at Guide House who provided them with
such great support to make this activity a successful event
for Guiding.
Big thanks also goes to Margaret Wood and the many Leaders,
their partners and friends who gave so generously of their
time and energy to ensure the Lord Mayor’s Picnic for young
disadvantaged youth and their families on New Year’s Eve was
a very memorable day for them—a big Bravo to you all!
The Girl Guides NSW & ACT Board ensures that our
organisation is effectively governed at all times. Please take
the time to read the special article on page 9 to learn more
about the structure of our Board and the role undertaken by
our Board Members.
There is always
much time
and thought
that goes into
every article in
every edition
of The Waratah.
I’m sure our
Members agree with me, that we all appreciate our State
Managers, Advisers and Consultants who have generously
shared their knowledge and talents, even over their holiday
break, to submit their contributions to The Waratah.
...FOREWORD
FROM THE STATE TEAM...
There are many opportunities in Term One to be involved in
community and Guiding events such as:
• Australia Day citizenship ceremonies;
• World Thinking Day;
• Wear your Guide Uniform to School or Work;
• Clean-Up Australia Day; and
• Your District AGM.
It will be a busy and fun-filled beginning to the year and I look
forward to meeting many of you at the World Thinking Day
camp, the Regatta and at Adventure in the Garden.
Gillian Garsia
State Commissioner
[email protected]
I hope you enjoy reading this information packed edition of
The Waratah—a big thankyou to our communications team
for the new look that includes more colour and great photos
to peek our interest in every aspect of Guiding. Thanks also
for our special centre lift-out of the Top 10 program ideas for
World Thinking Day.
Edition 1 | February 2015
1
FROM GUIDE HOUSE
Hello and Happy New Year.
I hope you have each had a refreshing break and are
re-energised and excited about the year ahead.
2014 was a year of consolidation in Guide House, bedding down
the many system and structural changes that were introduced in
2013 and early 2014. This has ensured that we can hit the ground
running in 2015—which is already off to a solid start.
Our focus as we lead into the year is the finalisation of the
2015–2020 Strategic Plan, then of course the business plans
that will ensure we achieve our goals. I know some Regions
have already commenced working with teams to set some
goals for 2015—a fantastic process to undertake early on to
ensure that you don’t get to the end of the year and wonder
what was achieved.
We will soon be commencing our end of financial year audit,
which leads us in to Annual Report and Annual General Meeting
(AGM) territory. If you are responsible for organising the AGM for
your District and are looking for committee nomination forms,
AGM invites etc – you may find the resources in the support
group corner section of our website useful. By the time you are
reading this, we will have also commenced distributing copies
of your IBF statements from 2014 (including interest that was
applied to your account from 2013) for assistance in finalising
your end of year accounts. These will be sent directly to the
nominated contact for each account via email or post, depending
on the contact details we hold.
BRAVO
Congratulations to Sue Carr OAM who has been appointed
Assistant National Learning and Development Manager. Sue is
currently the State L&D Manager for NSW & ACT and has been
involved with Guiding in a Management, Training and Governance
role since joining the organisation as an adult in 1980.
Congratulations also, to Emily Milton Smith on being
named 2014 NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year and recipient
of the Queen’s Young Leaders Award. Emily will travel to
Buckingham Palace to be presented her award by her Majesty
the Queen, then attend a week-long residential program at
Cambridge University.
BRAVO to all the following Guides, whose tireless work enables
the movement to flourish:
Newly qualified District Managers—Fiona Vickery, Vicki Hill.
Newly qualified Unit Leaders—Rebecca Carlier, Laura White,
Kate Hill, Tahnee Cook, Julie Prendergast, Lauren Hansen,
Stephanie Owen, Sharni Harrison, Eryn-Maree Taylor, Heather
Leasor, Grace Ferguson.
2
Edition 1 | February 2015
In this edition you will find an introduction to our newest team
member—Leana Livits—and her role as People and Culture
Adviser. Our Property Manager, Mel Condie will also tell you a
little more about the property manual that Districts received
recently. We do hope you find this tool useful. My genuine
thanks to our Constitution and Procedures Committee for all of
their work and assistance in developing the manual.
I do hope that many of you are able to join us for the State Forum
on 18 February 2015. If you are not yet registered and want to get
involved, please email [email protected].
Wishing you and your families a fabulous start to the New
Year. As Guiding resumes do take a moment to remind
yourself of the huge difference you are making in the lives
of the Girls in your Units and Districts—without your efforts
and commitment Guiding would be non-existent within our
communities. Thank you!
Peta Gillies
Chief Executive Officer
[email protected]
Newly qualified Outdoor Leader— Carroll Graham.
Long service milestones:
5 years — Abbey Tosounidis, Natalie Albrecht, Kate
Smellee, Leila Sabbagh, Leisl Van de Wyer, Amy Lenson,
Jacquelyn Osborne.
10 years — Joanne Myers, Ros Garlick, Desiree Heather,
Christine Van Lieshout, Lisa Sewell.
15 years — Susie Lewis-Jones, Sally Hodgson, Jan Howard,
Martine Robins, Heather McRae, Rosalind Walsh, Bronwyn
Gosling, Alena Hutchinson, Robyn Monteleone.
20 years — Monique Cohen, Jacqueline Compton, Kim Phillips,
Carroll Graham, Clare Hawkins, Karen Marsh.
25 years — Shirley Dhu.
35 years — Barbara Black, Kay Finch.
Our last report mentioned that Robinette was travelling to
Myanmar. While on holidays she shared a wonderful morning
with local Guides as they spent time (after their second camp)
with Guides from Osaka, Japan. They asked Robinette to say a
big thank you to everyone in Australia who has helped them
build their skills.
In 2015, the National Team is looking forward to the
opportunity to meet many of you, making our way around
Australia to many great events, including Tasmania’s Regatta,
Western Australia’s official centenary celebration and of course
the GGA international jamboree, the Great Bunya Gathering,
Queensland, in September.
Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), to think
about our membership of a movement that is active in 146
counties which provides us with 10 million sisters across the
globe working like us to make our world a better place.
This year’s WTD Theme is based on MDG8: Develop a global
partnership for development. The last in a series of WTD
themes focusing on the Millennium Development Goals and
the last element of our Global Action Theme, together we can
change our world. Your challenge is to see how far you can
expand partnerships in your Unit, District or Region.
This year WAGGGS has developed a very special board game
for us all to play, that teaches about our history, the five World
Centres, WAGGGS , WTD and the MDGs.
Don’t forget to take pictures and post them on the WAGGGS
WTD Facebook page to share with other members around the
world. We look forward to seeing them and hearing about all
the fun you have playing the game. Happy World Thinking Day!
Robinette Emonson
Chief Commissioner
Susan Campbell &
Miranda Cummings
Assistant Chief
Commissioners
FROM THE NATIONAL TEAM
Happy New Year! Before we launch into 2015, it’s a great
pleasure to report on the huge success of the Asia Pacific
Region Leader of Girls event Anything’s Possible, held in
Melbourne in December.
The 161 participants from 22 Asia Pacific Region countries
learnt a great deal from the event and girls in Units all over
the Region will benefit from these opportunities. Friendships
and sharing were nurtured by the hosts in a relaxed and
comfortable atmosphere. We are very proud of the young
women who led this team and the results reflect the enormous
amount of work done during the two years leading up to and
during the event. We were also very grateful for the work of the
International Program team.
The program was interesting and challenging at times ensuring
the engagement of all participants.
All those responsible for property management should by now
have received their respective Property Manual for their Guide
Hall/Facility.
This resource is the result of extensive consultation with the
Constitution & Procedures Committee, Region Managers and
other key stakeholders, and has been developed in an attempt
to demystify and clarify obligations in relation to property
management. These will simplify requirements, aiming to
provide District Managers and Support Groups with an easyto-follow resource to support the effective management and
maintenance of Guide Halls and other facilities. Monthly tasks
are highlighted, and the forms and checklists that are required
are ready referenced for ease of access.
Each folder specifically identifies with the type of landholding
that applies. Each one of these different agreement types have
separate conditions and obligations. The Property Document
Folder you received has been specifically assembled to meet
your particular obligations.
If you are responsible for a Guiding Property and have not
yet received your Property Document Folder in the mail,
please direct your enquiry in the first instance to your Region
Manager, some of whom preferred to distribute the manuals to
you directly.
In other property news, the Facility Hire Licence Agreement
for hire to private individuals has had a name change from
ADM 53 to ADM 52. Girl Guides Australia initiated this change,
clarifying the distinction between ADM 53a and ADM 53b
relating to medication and what is now ADM 52 for property
management. The correct form is available to download from
the property resources section of our website.
PROPERTIES
Once again, 22 February gives us a chance to celebrate the
things that make this organisation unique. World Thinking
Day (WTD) inspires us to focus our attention on the World
Melissa Condie
Property Manager
[email protected]
Edition 1 | February 2015
3
DISTRICT DYNAMICS
It is the start of a new and exciting year, filled with fun and
adventure both for you and Guiding in your District. Making the
most of your opportunities requires planning and enthusiasm
which Guide Leaders and Managers have plenty of.
Communication is the key tool for success and it is the essential
ingredient for the best outcome for all your efforts that you put
into planning and programming for your Guides.
• Leaders need to be proactive, if emails are unanswered
phone or arrange a face to face conversation to connect and
support all our volunteers and families.
Successful Districts have great communication with their
Leaders, Region, Parents, Guides and their local community.
•Email
Events and meetings are well attended when what you are
trying to achieve is clearly communicated to all parties and the
expectation of everyone’s role is understood. This is particularly
important when planning your AGM.
•SMS
Assessing and goal planning for 2015
Today we frequently communicate by:
•G-news
• District meetings with your Leaders as well as your Support
Group are essential at least once or twice a term.
•Waratah
•Phone
• Face to face conversation and meetings.
For communication to be effective we need everyone to be
proactive and to engage in this process in many different ways.
For successful communication we all need to:
• Update any changes to your contact details especially your
email address.
• Leaders need to ensure that they have accurate email/
mobile phone details for their Guiding parents for the easy
and quick flow of information.
• Clearly agree with your team everyone’s preferred time and
frequency of contact
• Assess how your District is going by using the District
Assessment form used in your Region or obtained on the
website.
• Set your goals and let others know what you are planning
to achieve in 2015.
• Send out the program for each term and advertise on it
special dates throughout 2015, giving Parents advance
notification to maximise attendance.
Remember to share your successes and this will continue to
build a strong profile of Guiding in your local community.
Gillian Garsia
State Commissioner
• Agree on the required etiquette of responding to the
communication.
INTRODUCING…
…Leana Livits recently commenced the new role of People
and Culture Adviser at Guide House. A role introduced as one
of the 2014 budget initiatives to help support our volunteers,
Leana brings with her some great experience. Read on to
learn more about Leana in her own words.
A note from Leana…
Having completed my university degrees in both Law and
Commerce, I worked as a commercial lawyer for a number of
years and moved into the conflict resolution space thereafter.
I also undertook a great deal of volunteer work throughout.
I have been engaged in a lot of negotiation, research,
problem solving, management and other matters; however,
have always been particularly passionate about perfecting
proficiency when it comes to empowering and encouraging
people to tackle issues, to build great working relationships
and to communicate proactively and constructively.
As People and Culture Adviser, I aim to work in conjunction with
stakeholders to develop and assist with implementation of
various policies and procedures for the betterment of Guiding.
I will also be working on child protection matters and
supporting volunteers with conflict management, grievances
and culture change.
My focus is to support the volunteers that make Girl Guides
NSW & ACT great, and to ensure that our organisation is one
within which volunteers, youth Members and all those involved
with Guiding can have a safe and invaluable experience, where
they can learn, thrive and have fun in the process!
If I can assist with any grievances, child protection or other
related matters, please request for your Region Manager to get
in touch with me, or if urgent, contact me directly on
02 8396 5200 or [email protected].
Leana Livits
People and Culture Adviser
[email protected]
4
Edition 1 | February 2015
As you ease into preparing your
program for 2015, don’t forget to
reference the extremely helpful
program pages the State Program
Team, led by State Program
Manager Kerry Rymer, put
together in the December edition
of The Waratah, 2014. We hope
you are looking forward to some
Guiding Good Times this year full
of fun, friends and adventure!
If you are new to Guiding,
February may not be front of
mind, but as the majority of
you know, 22 February is World
Thinking Day—a day of friendship,
advocacy and fundraising for 10
million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
around the world. Girl Guides and
Girl Scouts have been celebrating
World Thinking Day since 1926
and it has been an important
fundraising day since 1932. In the
next four pages we bring to you
our Top 10 Tips for World Thinking
Day (WTD) activities.
10 Attend or
organise a WTD
event.
In 2015 there is a State organised
WTD Camp: Sisters Around the
World, being held close to Sydney at
Bundilla Scout Camp. Open to Guides
aged 10–14. Guides will be given
the option to sleep indoors
or out and will take part in
six sessions exploring five
focus countries, Millennium
Development Goal 8, Free Being
Me and service activities.
PROGRAM
ACTIVITIES:
WTD 2015
TOP 10
For PJs, JGs, SGs, Guides that
cannot attend the state camp,
Olave and Adult Members, check
what your Region has planned and
find out what may be happening
at a local level in your District or
Unit. Your girls may be interested in
organising their own special way to
celebrate.
If you cannot attend any of these,
read on! Tip #9 may be just what you
are looking for.
9 Create a new WTD tradition for your Unit.
Guides all over the world have different
traditions for WTD—does your Unit? If
not, maybe this year is the year to start.
Here’s a couple of examples to get the
wheels turning:
• on 22 February at dusk many Girl Guides
and Girl Scouts from different countries
place a candle in their window
• every year on WTD, Rangers from a
Unit in Auckland, New Zealand, hike
to the top of Mount Eden before dawn,
set up a campfire and as the sun rises
over the sea, they raise the World Flag
and sing the World Song.
If you already have a WTD tradition that is
so amazing that you just can’t wait to share,
document your girls in action and share it
to our instagram @girlguidesnswact.
Why not work out with your Guides
a way they could communicate their
tradition to others as a challenge at one
of your Unit meetings in the lead up to
WTD? Perhaps you would like to submit
something that is pinable?
Email [email protected] and we will post it to our
Pinterest WTD pinboard!
Edition 1 | February 2015
5
PROGRAM
ACTIVITIES:
WTD 2015
TOP 10
Go old-school and do it all by hand, mix it
up with part computer generated—part
handmade; or create whichever way you
see fit. Once you have your card ready, head
to www.flickr.com/groups/2147833@N23/
and add yours to the collection of WTD
cards from around the world—be sure you
note which year and country they're from!
When posting your cards, WAGGGS asks
for just three things:
8 Create your own
Upload your greeting card to the
WAGGGS flickr group to share with your
sisters in Guiding all over the world.
1 No personal details please—we want
girls to be able to share their cards
safely, so please do not include any
personal information in your photo
descriptions, such as your family name
or your email address.
Set aside some Unit time to create a WTD
card to share with your sisters in Guiding
globally. Get crafty and creative, embrace
the essence of WTD and have your Guides
create a design unique to your Unit.
2 Label your cards with a year and a
country—everyone loves to see World
Thinking Day cards, but this group is
much more fun if we know which year
and country your card is from.
WTD greeting card .
Greetings from Norway
Greetings from the Netherlands
3 Official World Thinking
Day cards only—this group
is exclusively for World
Thinking Day greeting cards
from Girl Guiding and Girl
Scouting organisations.
Greetings from the Czech Republic
Greetings from Japan
All images courtesy: www.flickr.com/groups/2147833@N23/pool/
7 Share your WTD activities with the world .
Have your girls discussed how they should
document their WTD activities so they
can share them with the world? Who will
be responsible for photographs, words
etc. Will it be by Patrol or buddies? How
will you pick a photograph to use? Does it
capture the story of your celebrations?
Visit the WAGGGS activity log for WTD,
fill out the form and include a photograph
to let the world know what you and your
girls get up to this World Thinking Day.
Find the log at www.worldthinkingday.
org/en/activities10/map and show Guides
and Scouts all around the world how
you’re following the WTD traditions of
friendship, advocacy and fundraising.
6
Edition 1 | February 2015
6 Wear your Guide
uniform to work
or school .
This one almost goes without saying.
Wearing your uniform to work or school
is the perfect way to let everyone know
that you are proud to be a part of an
organisation that’s primary purpose is
to empower girls and young women to
grow into confident, self-respecting,
responsible community members.
Wearing your uniform to work or school
raises the profile of Guiding.
People ask questions and the answers
almost always amaze them. It is not
unusual to hear someone say “I didn’t
know Girl Guides were still around.” This
is a wonderful opportunity for you to
let them know that not only are we still
around, there is more to building than
they think!
Make sure you spread the word about
what we do to make this world the best it
can be for girls and women.
We are advocates, instigators of change
and provide services to the community.
Be sure to promote our strengths and
challenge stereotypes. Some people
still think that we are just about knots
and cooking!
You can download a letter from our
website explaining WTD to school
principals and requesting permission
for girls to wear their Guide uniform to
school. Look for the WTD page under the
pink what’s on tab.
4 Earn a GAT badge .
For Members aged 5–24, the GAT badge
is earned by completing a number of
activities listed in the GAT curriculum.
Six will earn you the basic badge, eight
the advanced badge and 12 will get you
the specialist badge. The activity pack for
the GAT Badge is available from WAGGGS
with over 100 exciting and informative
activities, including:
Millennium
Development
Goal 8.
The last series of WTD themes focusing
on MDGs, and the last element of the
WAGGGS Global Action Theme together
we can change our world, through which
Guides and Girl Scouts globally have been
taking action on the MDGs since 2009.
National: Member Organisations
forming partnerships with NGOs
and other Member Organisations
depending on the expertise of each
one, i.e the service we provide Fairfax
and the Smith Family at City2Surf and
other fun-runs.
Global: WAGGGS partners with global
stakeholders (UN WOMEN, Dove, UPS
and many more) that share our vision
for girls and young women.
You can download information and
activity packs from WAGGGS
www.wagggs.org to help you explore
MDG 8. One initiative that some of you
are already undertaking that embodies
MDG 8 is the Free Being Me program.
• Monitor the amount of packaging that
comes into your home in one week.
Count how many types of packaging
and what materials they are made
from. How much of this packaging
can be recycled? What can be done
to reduce the amount of packaging?
Discuss with your unit ways to improve
the situation.
rld
n of Girl Guides and
iatio
Gir
soc
lS
As
co
s
ut
MDG 8: Experiencing the power of
partnerships is a great way to celebrate
our worldwide Movement. The MDGs as
a whole represent a global partnership
for development and establishing
successful partnerships and is not
something new for our Members. Every
day, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around
the world are working in partnership at
all levels. Those partnerships could be:
Local: among other Units in Girl
Guides NSW & ACT or with other
partners in the local community, i.e
the Breast Care Service Project.
W
o
5 Explore
• Make up this home-made recipe for oral
rehydration solution, which is given to
children suffering from dehydration,
and give a small amount to the rest of
the group to taste. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt,
8 teaspoons of sugar and 1 litre of clean
water together until the salt and sugar
have completely dissolved.
girls worldwide say
together we can change our world
END
Edition 1 | February 2015
P O V E RT Y 2 0 1 5
7
PROGRAM
ACTIVITIES:
WTD 2015
TOP 10
3 Play the WAGGGS
WTD board game .
Excitingly, WAGGGS has created a board
game to help Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
celebrate WTD. Perfect for playing
2 Earn a WTD
Badge .
To earn your WTD 2015 badge you
need to:
1 Play the WTD 2015 game (see Tip #3).
2 Be the Change in your community with
a Take Action Project.
3 Share your #guidinglight.
There are four steps to Be the Change. Use
these steps to help plan your action:
See the change—wherever you live,
whoever you are – change your
community for the better. What needs to
change? Spot your opportunity and take
action.
Plan the change—armed with a vision for
the change you want to create, build a
detailed and realistic plan.
together at a Unit meeting, or as part of
a World Thinking Day party or special
event, the game can be downloaded from
WAGGGS: www.worldthinkingday.org/en/
resources/document/
view/25466. Designed
to be played in a Unit
meeting, you won’t
need much preparation
or equipment and
you shouldn’t need
more than one hour to
complete.
Older Guides may like
to challenge themselves
and play the game
somewhere unusual
time on (or near) World Thinking Day
• Choose a creative way to share your
Guiding light: a candle; a spark
from two pieces of flint; organise a
campfire; use a sparkler, torch or even
mobile phone, or capture the light
from the sun!
• Think of a message you would like to
share with this amazing worldwide
Movement you are a part of on WTD.
• Don’t forget to use hashtags if sharing
socially online—#WAGGGS and
#guidinglight. #GirlGuidesGoPlaces will
also link in to other Girl Guide NSW &
ACT conversations.
For more information visit
www.worldthinkingday.org.
action! Are you ready?
Share the change—tell the world how you
made a difference and inspire others with
your great ideas!
WAGGGS
To share your Guiding light take part in a
Guiding light ceremony:
WORLD
THINKING
DAY 2015
8
Edition 1 | February 2015
1 Fundraise .
If you only do one thing for WTD then it
should be this—raising money for the
WTD Fund!
There are many creative ways to raise
funds for the WTD fund, if you are after
some inspiration see
www.worldthinkingday.org.
• Your Guiding light ceremony can
be small and simple, or part of
your bigger WTD celebrations and
fundraising activities.
Make the change—put your plan into
• You can share your Guiding light
individually, with your Unit, or even
with your friends and family. Pick a
and post a photo to Instagram, or play a
progressive game, hike somewhere different
for each round of turns!
This fund is one of the best ways we can
help development in other countries
and make a difference throughout
the world. For more information on the
WTD funds see Kerry William's article
on page 10.
Special Note from the Program
Manager: Special thanks to the Guide
House Team who have assembled these
fabulous ideas while our International
and World Guiding Consultant and I
were both away on extended holidays. It
was lovely to return and find it all done.
Love your work!
Did you know Girl Guides NSW & ACT is
governed by a Board of Directors? In this,
the first of two articles, we hope to shed
light on the role and responsibilities of
our Board Members. Next month we
will continue the journey of discovery
with information on how you, an Adult
Member of Girl Guides NSW & ACT can
play a part.
As with any organisation that is
governed by a Board, our Board was
established to govern the organisation
of Girl Guides NSW & ACT on behalf
of its Members. In a nutshell, Board
Members of Girl Guides NSW & ACT
are responsible for setting strategic
direction and objectives for our
Organisation, and are legally and
financially accountable for the resources
and activities of our Organisation.
The Board is supported by a range
of committees, sub committees
and working groups which provide
information and recommendations
to help the Board make decisions in
the best interest of the Organisation
and its Members. The Board provides
the governance structure for our
organisation. Just as corporate boards
are accountable to shareholders, the
governing body of a not-for-profit
organization is obligated to ensure
that the organisation is acting in the
best interests of its stakeholders—our
Members.
Governance is different to Management
in that the Board’s role is to set strategic
direction and objectives (ie, where are
we going); Management work to ensure
we make it to the destination (i.e how
are we going to get there).
GONE HOME
It is with great sadness that Girl Guides
NSW & ACT received news of the passing
of Mary Cabrera on 9 December, 2014.
There was a thanksgiving service held
at Turramurra Uniting Church on 18
December, 2014, for all family and friends.
Mary was involved in Guiding for many
years. She was a Leader, Commissioner,
State International Adviser and helper at
State and International Camps.
Altogether, she was a great contributor
to Guiding in this state and elsewhere.
Mary had many interests, and always
contributed to them at a very high level.
Mary started and mentored the
Bangladesh Child Health Project (BACH
Project) which ran in the 80s and 90s.
Our Board is comprised of between 11
and 14 voting members and may include
up to three non-voting members.
Currently, these members include:
• the State Commissioner (Chair);
OUR LEADERSHIP: THE BOARD EXPLAINED
MARY CABRERA
• source information to assist them in
their role and decision making.
• act in good faith with due care and
diligence at all times in the best
interests of the organisation.
• ensure they and the organisation
complies with Australian law.
• two Deputy State Commissioners
(non-voting members);
• the State Treasurer;
• nine elected adult Members, one of
whom must be under 30 years at the
time of election; and
• up to three members co-opted
for their specialist expertise and
knowledge.
The Board performs many roles in both
Guiding and business contexts. These
include:
• Effectively governing Girl Guides NSW
& ACT;
• Developing the Strategic Plan for Girl
Guides NSW & ACT;
• Engaging with the membership and
other stakeholder groups inside &
outside of Guiding;
• Monitoring and overviewing
organisational performance and risk
management;
• Ratifying and overviewing specific
policies and practices; and
• Leveraging contacts and networking
opportunities to advance the mission
of the organisation
• unite in supporting and promoting
decisions inside and outside of the
organisation.
• maintain confidentiality by not
sharing their thoughts about Board
deliberations and decisions outside
the Board.
Our Board Members stand for a period
of three to six years. As a result there
are positions on the board that become
vacant most years. In the March edition
of The Waratah we will be calling for
nominations to join the board in
2015—so if you feel you could make a
positive contribution through service to
the Board, take action to bring change
at a local level and beyond, consider
nominating yourself.
Further information about the Board
structure and functioning is contained
in the Constitution, which may be found
under the Members section of the Girl
Guides NSW & ACT website at
www.girlguides-nswact.org.au.
Bev Orr
Board Member,
Girl Guides NSW & ACT
As part of their obligations, all Board
members must:
• represent Girl Guides NSW & ACT and
act collectively as one Board, not as
individuals.
Edition 1 | February 2015
9
INT'L & WORLD GUIDING
Welcome back to a new year of Guiding! We kick off the year
with World Thinking Day on 22 February, a time to think about
our sisters in other countries. I am looking forward to the State
WTD 2015 camp for Guides, Sisters Around the World, which will
be held at Bundilla Scout Camp, Winston Hills from Friday, 20
February to Sunday, 22 February. Registrations close 6 February,
so get in quickly, if not already full! The committee has been
working tirelessly on an action packed program with activities,
games and crafts from five focus counties, each from one of
our World Regions; Myanmar, Mexico, Greenland, Mauritania
and Kenya. Guides will also learn about Girl Guides and Girl
Scouts in these countries and Millennium Development Goals.
Free being Me activities will be enjoyed by Guides and Girl
Made will launch at an inspiring Guides’ Own. Take part in an
international night market, service project and a wonderful
campfire.
Celebrate WTD 2015 in your Unit by playing the WAGGGS
board game (downloaded from the WAGGGS website). It has
been designed to help girls learn about MDG8 and reflect
on the MDGs we’ve focused on for the last several years, plus
finding out a bit more about the origin of Girl Guides, WTD
and our World Centres. Make the Unit meeting a gold coin
donation night; this money can then be sent to Guide House
for forwarding to the WTD Fund, a fund administered by
OUTDOORS
2015 has many new challenges for the Outdoors! Continue your
preparation of Guides for The Great Bunya Gathering.
I am hoping that all that are going got great backpacks from Santa
for the event, suitcases with wheels will not last the journey to the
campsite. Remind girls about the need to walk at least 1.5–2km per
day. In steps that is approximately 1968–2624 steps.
Ensure Junior Guides get outdoors as well. Recently, The
Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, The Blue Mountains
Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah and the Royal Botanic Garden,
Sydney, joined with Disney to bring fairies off the screen and
into the garden. The Disney Fairy Trail in each of the gardens
emphasizes plant habitat and conservation and encourages all
to experience the rich environmental heritage found in them.
For more information on the trail, go to www.Disney.com.au/
DisneyFairiesTrail/index.php. Why not substitute this for a weekly
meeting? The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, has
extended hours during Daylight Saving Time. This could also
be a Saturday outing, take a picnic and dress up. What a top
time outdoors!
Reminders:
Camping – Notification to camp MUST be on the new
OUT01 form. If you are having difficulties downloading this
form from the Girl Guides NSW & ACT website or having
difficulties in completing the form, ask your Region Outdoors
Activities Consultant.
10
Edition 1 | February 2015
WAGGGS to help implement worthwhile programs for Girl
Guides and Girls Scouts in other countries.
Money for the WTD Fund can be sent to Guide House at any
time of the year. Check out the WAGGGS website for more
information on what the WTD Fund is used for.
Don’t forget to include World Guiding, one of our Fundamentals,
in your program planning for the term. There are so many
resources on the WAGGGS website about Girl Guides and Girl
Scouts in other countries, and you can also be directed to the
World Centres’ websites to find out more information about
the Centres, how they work and the services they provide.
Encourage girls to attend The Great Bunya Gathering being held
in Queensland this September. There will be Girl Guides and
Girl Scouts from around the world attending this Jamboree.
What a great way to meet our sisters from around the world
without leaving the country!
Until next month. Think World Guiding.
Kerrey Williams
State International and World Guiding Consultant
[email protected]
Adventure Activities – The form for this is OUT02 found on
the Girl Guides NSW & ACT website. If you are the instructor
with the appropriate qualifications, you cannot be an LIC.
Another Leader must be supervising the girls either waiting to
participate or not participating.
Outdoor Modules – You must be using the new modules, these
can be found on the Girl Guides Australia web page. Please
complete and submit the appropriate paperwork on time to
your ROAC and Guide House.
Skills instructors – If you are a water activity instructor a
log book is required to maintain qualifications. All other
instructors need to send a report to Guide House after any
activity session so that qualifications can be updated.
Adventure in the Garden – 28 March, 2015. The biggest event
on our calendar's happening at The Australian Botanic Garden,
Mount Annan. Registrations close 6 March 2015.
Life is great Outdoors – so get out there!
Carol Meiklejohn
State Outdoors, Environment & Earth Education Consultant
[email protected]
In 2015, there will be five Region Property Weekends. A massive
shout out to everyone who participated in 2014, the feedback
from participants and campsite committees has been nothing
but positive. A list of dates and locations for 2015 is on page 13.
In December the first NSW & ACT Olave Challenge was
completed. Congratulations to Lauren Brincat, who set the
bar high through completing challenges giving service to the
community and Guiding. Lauren challenged herself as an
individual—if you are looking for a challenge, check out the
Olave Challenge syllabus, the new year is always a good time
to set goals.
It doesn’t take much to make an Archivist happy; I was thrilled
to receive from Billie Green the official Log Book printed in
Scotland for SRS Duchess II. This title belonged to 1st Lilli
Pilli Sea Rangers and the book commenced on 24 February,
1969, and was kept by Marilyn Fiddick. The Skip was Mrs Hart
and there is a list of the 12 crew. There are numerous letters
complete with envelopes from H.M. Dockyard in Kent, England,
and copies of letters from Lilli Pilli asking for approval to use
the name. This was standard procedure for all Sea Ranger Units.
There are also many certificates gained at various Regattas
in the Log Book. This is the only book of its type held in our
Enjoy the first few weeks of Guiding for the year. As you ease
back into things, remember to prepare your Peer Group for
Regatta; organise car-pooling to the conference; collect those
bras; connect with local Senior Guides and support them to
complete their AGP-OP Link Badge; and think about what
service your Peer Group can do this year.
Kate Jenkin
State Olave Program Consultant
[email protected]
Olave Program NSW & ACT (Facebook)
Archives and it was a great privilege to receive it on behalf of our
Association. Thank you Billie.
Did you camp in the State Forest at Wallerawang in May 1958?
I recently received from Victoria’s Archivist, Jenny Mills; a
newspaper article from the Australian Women’s Weekly,
showing a full page photo of this camp held in the
school holidays– but no names!
Chesne Jones
State Archivist
Welcome to 2015! I wish all of our sisters in Guiding a very Happy
New Year.
Trefoil Guilds are now starting their activities and planning the
Annual General Meetings.
If you were able to get away over the holidays or just have an
earned break, I hope it was enjoyable for you.
NSW & ACT Trefoil Guild Gathering will be held at Stanwell Tops
from 1–3 May, 2015. The theme is Tattered Linen & Lace, a tribute
to our Colonial Women. Forms are now available; please ring me
if you want them.
Ron and I spent Christmas and New Years in Albury with our son
and daughter-in-law. It was a relaxing time; I did a lot of reading,
and of course shopping. Lots of sales!!
The countryside down south is so dry, rain is so badly needed.
Our thoughts are with the folk in Victoria, South Australia &
Western Australia who have endured terrible bush fires. It hasn't
been a good start to 2015 for them.
PROGRAM
Larissa Saywell— South Coast & Highlands; Mel Biddle —ACT
& SE NSW; Georgia Phillips—Greater Rivers, and Samantha
McGufficke—Central West. I wish these ladies all the best as
they continue their adventures in Guiding. Next month, with
much excitement, I will introduce you to the new ROPL's for
these Regions.
ARCHIVES
Reignite—the Olave Program Conference and a cheeky play on
words with the review’s implementation process—will be the
highlight of the Olave Program Calendar in 2015. Service is on
the agenda again, collecting bras for Uplift—an organisation
that redistributes them to less fortunate women across outback
Australia and the Pacific. Ladies, declutter your underwear
drawers and send your unwanted bras to the conference with
your local Olave Program Peer Group. The agenda will also see,
for the first time, the Region Property Challenge incorporated
into the program.
You may have heard of Region Olave Program Liaisons
(ROPLs). ROPLs are young women sitting on Region Teams
representing you; keeping you updated on Olave Program
matters; organising events; assisting the Olave Committee and
keeping the Olave Program going at a local level. Thanks and
BRAVOO women have now finished their terms, many thanks
and BRAVOO the following ROPLs that have finished serving
their terms:
TREFOIL
Welcome back to another year of Guiding. The Olave Program
will start to change as recommendations from the review are
implemented. For more information on the implementation
process—Olave Program Ignite—see page 13.
Enjoy 2015, and I look forward to catching up over the next few
months.
Rosalind Farley
State Trefoil Guild Manager
[email protected]
Edition 1 | February 2015
11
L&D
2015 is off and running for all involved in Learning and
Development. To begin the year the NSW&ACT Trainers have
met and held their annual Training for Trainers with a theme of
Endless Possibilities. Trainers spent time looking at where they
are at in relationship to the new Learning and Development
Qualifications.
Several Trainers received their WAGGGS Pin and are now
accredited with this new program—congratulations. Several
more of our Trainers have only to complete hosting of a
webinar and they too will be accredited. The theme—Endless
Possibilities—gave the Trainers the opportunity to explore items
in a box and develop a training course that could be used by
all in our Regions. Much imagination was used and expansion
of ideas took place. Guiding truly does give us endless
possibilities.
Now I urge you all to look at the possibilities for your learning
development. Add to your learning log so that it will be easy to
recall what you did and how you developed your skills, and how
they were actioned within the District.
Many Regions are in the process of planning gatherings/
workshops. Have you contributed ideas to these and have
you marked in your diary the pertinent dates? It’s not always
possible to attend everything but planning across the year can
enable us to attend what we can.
Personal Development, Guiding Skills, fun activities and
continued friendships all come from gathering together as
Leaders and Managers. Please ensure that from the endless
possibilities offered you choose to participate and actively
support Guiding and the Training Team.
Sue Carr OAM
State Learning and Development Manager
GRAFFITI REMOVAL DAY 2014
[email protected]
On Sunday 26 October, 2014, a number of local Guide Districts
participated in Graffiti Removal Day activities within their
own Guide Halls and assisted in projects within their local
community.
This is the third year Guides have participated in this project,
which is funded by the New South Wales Government in their
state wide commitment to reduce graffiti vandalism and
getting local communities involved in the removal, prevention
and awareness of graffiti.
The NSW Government has continued its partnership with
Rotary Down Under who have been collaborating with a
number of local government areas in reducing and removing
graffiti. The day was sponsored by Dulux, Selleys and
Brookfield Johnson with the program supported by Guides,
Scouts and NSW Police.
This year there were 270 sites nominated across the state,
three of these being Guide Halls. There were 55 Councils
directly involved and over 1900 volunteers covered
20,000 square meters of graffiti. An impressive
additional 900 volunteers from the previous year!
A big pat on the back to all those Guiding Leaders, girls,
friends and families who got involved on the day.
Every year proves better than the previous and with each
year that passes; we are finding Districts reporting a
reduction in graffiti on their Halls, therefore having no
need to participate in the next year.
12
Edition 1 | February 2015
In 2013–2014 we did the research, crunched the
numbers and talked to Guiding Members across
Australia. We used that data to create the Olave
Program Review Report, which has a number of
recommendations for improving the Olave Program.
The challenge is designed for
Units to have some fun before
Regatta starts and to get you in
the mood for the event. Points
will be awarded for the challenge
and added to competition point scores. This year’s challenge
will keep with the theme, Clowning Around.
The National Olave Program Committee has
considered those recommendations and created a
plan of action that we’re ready to implement. We are
committed to creating an Olave Program that:
There are two options. Units may choose one, or do both for
maximum points:
• Has a clearer framework;
1 Face painting challenge
• Makes better use of technology;
See who can do the best artwork as a Unit. You need to paint
at least one Member's face. Animal, clown, wherever the
brush takes you— take a photograph that we can judge.
• Is better known and understood in Guiding;
• Has great resources for individuals and peer
groups; and
• Creates pathways for individuals to develop
and grow.
Check out this video for more:
http://youtu.be/WtM_hAuWm2I
Olave Program Ignite will be happening over the
course of 2015—watch out for more information and
your chance to be involved!
Visit http://girlguidesau.engagementhq.com/admin/
projects/olave-program-review for all the updates, or
check out the Olave Program on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/olaveprogram.
2 Video your circus skills
Take a video of your Unit’s best circus skills.
Units should either bring the photos/videos printed or on
a USB to Regatta or email them to the committee prior to
Regatta - [email protected].
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Kate Jenkin
State Olave Program Consultant
CLOWNING AROUND
Pre Regatta Challenge 2015 –
Time To Get Creative!
W
INTRODUCING OLAVE PROGRAM IGNITE
Olave Program Ignite is the implementation phase of
the Olave Program Review project.
15
14 February
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Olave Program Region Property
Challenge dates for 2015
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Camp Austral
Kootingal
Kooree Cabin
Bebrue
Callemondah
17–19 April
5–8 June
21–23 August
11–13 September
30 October–1 November
2015
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Edition 1 | February 2015
13
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Saturday 28 March 2014
Where: The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, NSW
Time: 8:30-3:30pm (day time activities) or
8:30am Saturday 28 March 2015 –
8:00am Sunday 29 March 2015 (camping)
Contact: [email protected]
Registrations close 6 March 2015. Tickets start at $40.
Book before Friday 13 February and save.
www.girlguides-nswact.org.au
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