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Last week I travelled to the Northern Territory along with Kerrey Williams, Deputy State Commissioner. We both signed the book of condolences to Her Majesty The Queen at Government House, Darwin, after making a call on The Administrator of the Northern Territory, Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AO. Her Honour is the Patron of Guiding in the Northern Territory and was a Girl Guide in her youth and maintains a strong connection to Girl Guides. Letitia Baldwin, Region Manager of the Northern Territory accompanied Kerrey and me.
It was my first time in the Northern Territory, even though I have worked with teams in this Region for several years. It was great to connect with so many Members in the Region and see Guiding in action in the Top End! |
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Yesterday I attended the National Memorial Service for The Queen at Parliament House, Canberra. I was invited in a different capacity but took the opportunity to represent Girl Guiding and signed condolences once more on behalf of our Guiding community.
Scouts Australia arranged the floral tribute to Her Majesty, who was their Royal Patron. This is different from our relationship with The Queen. While Her Majesty was a Girl Guide, it is her representatives, the Vice-Regals, who are our Patrons. |
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The Queen represents many things, and I reflect on her deep sense of duty and service to others. Symbols are important, and I recognise the complexities as we consider the ongoing realities of colonisation and the dispossession of First Nations peoples in Australia. We can hold all these truths as we reflect on our past and create our future.
It is important to give space and time for Guides to reflect on this historical event as they make meaning of this. Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
I found the Prime Minister’s words a powerful sentiment when he called for “a renewed embrace of service to community, a truer understanding of our duty to others, a strong commitment to respect for all”. This is what we aspire to in our Guiding Promise & Law. |
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Adult Award Nominations are Moving Online |
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The GGA Adult Good Service Awards and Membership Recognition System (Awards System) will change on Monday 26 September 2022. |
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What are the changes? |
Good Service Awards |
The individual Adult Good Service Awards will be continued. Guide Lines is where Members will find information about the Awards System and how to complete an Award nomination. Guide Lines will be updated on 26 September 2022.
The description of each Award is clearly differentiated and information on Guide Lines has been simplified.
A revised GGA Adult Good Service Awards Criteria Table has been developed and will be available on Guide Lines from 26 September.
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Online Nominations |
Nominations for Awards are to be submitted using an online process. This includes Good Service Awards, Bravery Awards, Thanks Badges and Certificates and Asia Pacific Region Awards.
Links for the online submission of Award nominations will be available on Guide Lines. This will result in a more user- friendly process to gather nominee information.
Nominations for Awards still need to be made confidentially without the knowledge of the person being nominated.
Guidance Notes and a Frequently Asked Questions document will be available to support Adult Members make an Award nomination. Please read these documents prior to making your first online Award nomination.
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Paper nomination forms will be discontinued. Award nominations already commenced on paper forms will be considered for a short transition period only. If you have already commenced a paper nomination form, please contact Lydia Morris via [email protected].
Our Guiding community is made up of incredibly dedicated women who provide selfless service. Let’s recognise them and celebrate each other. Go to Guide Lines and complete an easy online Award nomination form to help value our Members!
Please note: Applications for Years of Membership will continue to be made in accordance with existing processes. |
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Day of the Girl: A Global Youth Consultation |
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It’s time to plan your Unit activity to celebrate International Day of the Girl for 2022 on 11 October and this year Girl Guides from around Australia are invited to join in a global youth consultation!
WAGGGS have produced a fantastic activity pack to help leaders to launch and participate in a global youth consultation! |
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#GirlsSpeakUp Activity Pack |
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Get Moving this October! |
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Looking after our mental health is paramount. To raise awareness for the importance mental health plays in our overall wellbeing, join Julia Becker, Inclusion Lead, as she makes the pledge to move every day in October!
Make A Move has been designed to encourage wellbeing, as working and juggling the demands of everyday life can be draining and exhausting. Wellbeing is about feeling good and functioning well, and includes feeling physically and mentally well, spiritually connected, and believing that your life is worthwhile and has purpose.
During October, Julia will be pledging to move for at least 24 minutes, every 24 hours, to improve my wellbeing. As the Team Captain, Julia would like to challenge Guides all over NSW, ACT & NT to move for 24 minutes every day to improve their wellbeing.
You can sign up to the Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT Team here! Once you have signed up, share with your friends and family and get moving to raise money!
Let’s all get involved to Make A Move for Mental Health this October!
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Join the Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT Team |
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Join the Youth Steering Committee |
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Calling all Youth Members interested in raising their voice to government leaders! |
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What is the Youth Steering Committee? |
The Australian Government is forming a new Youth Steering Committee. It will support the implementation of the new Youth Engagement Model by enabling meaningful and ongoing conversation with Government to inform and develop successful youth policies. The committee will work closely with the Minister for Youth to provide advice and feedback on Government engagement with young people and youth programs and policies.
15 young people will be appointed to the committee. Committee members will be paid on honorarium to recognise contributions made over the committee term.
Guides aged between 12 and 25 can apply. No previous experience is required. Application close Wednesday 5 October.
Applications for the Youth Steering Committee can be submitted on the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition website. A stakeholder kit including promotional and social media materials can be found on the Department of Education’s Youth Hub. |
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Learn More |
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Have you heard about Hope in a Suitcase? |
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Hope in a Suitcase is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers who are each incredibly passionate about showing every child in the foster care system that they are loved and valued by their community.
Can you and your Unit show support? Could your next Unit meeting involve putting items in suitcases and sending them to worthy foster children? |
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Find out how you can help |
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Leading the Way with 0365 |
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Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT have been working on an Office 365 (O365) project to better service the administrative needs of our Units and Districts.
After a successful pilot in both the ACT & SE NSW and Twin Rivers Regions, last Friday, all Unit Leaders (including Assistant ULs and Unit Leaders in Training—ULiTs), District Managers (including Assistant DMs and DMs in Training) and Region Team members, including Region Managers and their Assistants, were given an Office 365 login to use for all official Girl Guides related communication.
Every Member that holds one of these positions was sent an email to activate their O365 id on Friday, 16 September. If you believe you missed out, please let us know by emailing [email protected] with your Name, Member Number and your main role in Guiding.
The O365 identities have been set up as [email protected] and the Members’ old role-based email addresses transitioned to shared inboxes, so that they won’t lose access to the existing emails. People can still email the existing role-based email addresses, and the inboxes will be there for succession planning.
There is information to help navigate the use of O365 in your role at www.girlguides-nswactnt.org.au/O365. The web page is a work in progress with more FAQ info to be added, as more questions are asked of the team.
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Acknowledgement |
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Last weekend I was notified of the death of former Northern Territory State Commissioner Carrol Lynch. On behalf of Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT we acknowledge her significant service. She will be fondly remembered by many. Please see our broader announcement to learn more about the life and contributions of Carrol. |
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View here |
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Twin Rivers Region |
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Maryann Herbert, Region Manager of Twin Rivers Region has finished her appointment. Maryann completed a 3-year term at the end of 2021, and was extended for a further 2 years, however due to family circumstances has decided to step back now and make space for the next chapter of Twin Rivers. We commend her on the decision and thank her for her service. She will be missed.
Maryann has done an incredible job and dedicated so much to the Region. We are forever grateful for her significant contribution and her resilience, tenacity and ‘can-do’ attitude. Maryann has had a particular flair for community-based marketing and PR, along with getting girls outdoors! Maryann brought an important perspective to Region Manager roundtables and positively influenced broader state decision-making processes.
The search is on for the next Region Manager of Twin Rivers. Are you ready for your next challenge? Consider coming as a pair or trio as part of a team! It might sound daunting, but you join a group of supportive women who will help you succeed!
Check out the role on the Opportunities page here.
If you would like to learn more about the role, please get in contact with Kerrey Williams, Deputy State Commissioner at: [email protected] |
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Yours in Guiding,
Emily Milton Smith
State Commissioner
Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT
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