Chief Commissioner
Helen Geard, Girl Guides Australia
Kit McMahon, NEO, and I have nearly concluded our‘ road show’ that involved visiting each State Girl Guide Organisation to talk with Board members, key volunteers and staff members. The hospitality we received was very much appreciated and it was great to meet so many wonderful supporters of Guiding. The visits proved a valuable opportunity to discuss a range of important issues and to learn more about the amazing work that is happening across Australia. A full report about the road show is being prepared for the GGA Board to consider and, once that process is concluded, I will report the outcomes in a future edition of my report.
Kit also went to New Zealand to meet with Girl Guide colleagues and Griffins, the producers of our Girl Guide biscuits. It was a very productive visit and builds on our relationship with New Zealand.
Two Girl Guide members from South Australia, Anna Baulderstone and Kit Mitchell, flew up to Sydney to participate in a TV program called Ready Steady Cook. The episode was aired on Monday 10 June 2013 and they were stars promoting Guiding and Girl Guide biscuits— well done to them both. For more information, visit the Ready Steady Cook website at http:// readysteadycook. ten. com. au /.
Robinette Emonson, State Commissioner Victoria, Jane Dent, State Commissioner Tasmania, Joan Bunker, International Manager, Miranda Cummings, Western Australia Olave Program Manager, and I will be attending the Asia Pacific Conference in Japan during July. Australian members of the Friends of Asia Pacific WAGGGS will also be attending part of the Conference proceedings. We will be providing updates during the conference via the GGA website and I will provide an overview in my next report.
In the lead up to the federal election, Girl Guiding across Australia came together to create Building Australia and Contributing to a Better Tomorrow.
The statement, which is signed off by all State Commissioners, State Executive Officers, the Chief Commissioner and National Executive Officer, has been sent out to some 250 leaders across Australia asking them to consider the needs of our wider community.
Importantly, the statement is based upon feedback from Girl Guiding and contains 14 key action points on not only what is needed for Girl Guiding’ s future, but all our futures. Briefly, the document says that Girl Guides across Australia care about their community, their nation and their world. The statement also describes how Guiding in Australia provides girls and young women with opportunities to develop life skills, leadership and contribute back to their community. The statement is available on the GGA website at http:// www. girlguides. org. au / news-events / news-coverage / building-australia-and-contributing-to-a-bettertomorrow. html.
The Chief Commissioner applications closed at the end of May 2013 and I am delighted with the calibre of the applicants. The election process will be conducted by the GGA Board and the formal announcement of the new Chief Commissioner elect will be made mid-August 2013.
In life you need a wishbone, to succeed in life you need 3 things— a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.
- Reba McEntire
Page 4 Queensland on the Go July 2013