Ballarat Guide at Government House

Ballarat Girl Guide, Kaitlyn Brown, was amongst 12 Victorian Guides to be presented with the Queen’s Guide Award certificate at a special ceremony held in the magnificent gardens of Government House (a joint ceremony to also recognise Queen’s Scout awardees).

The awards were presented by:

• The Honourable Linda Dessau AC Governor of Victoria, President of Girl Guides Victoria
• Janelle Howell, State Commissioner Girl Guides Victoria

in the presence of The Right Honourable The Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell and his Guiding wife Lady Joan Baden-Powell, Guides Victoria State Team, Unit Leaders and invited guests.

Queen’s Guide Coordinator, Janet O’Meara, announced the individual awardees after stating:

“The Queen’s Guide Award is the peak achievement award for youth members of Girl Guides Australia. The Award is well respected in the community as a significant achievement. It provides an opportunity for girls for extraordinary personal development and greater self-awareness.”

Kaitlyn read the prepared Message of Loyalty to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of the 2019 award recipients, reflecting on the service and commitment shown by Her Majesty to her people in her longest reign as queen, and expressing immense pride at receiving the award conferred in her name. The certificate signed by The Queen includes her wishes for success and an acknowledgment that “the deep commitment that you have made to the principles of Guiding will help you to make your journey through life”. 

As an added bonus, Kaitlyn conversed with Michael and Joan Baden-Powell who conveyed congratulations.

State Commissioner Janelle Howell encouraged the awardees:

“Your ability to continue to dream and imagine in a youthful way is important because to make something a reality, to change the world and become the best you can be, you need to dream about it first”