ROSEBUD’S Sarah Wallace has achieved Girl Guides Australia’s highest achievement award for a youth member, the Queen’s Guide Award.
Since becoming a girl scout cub in 2011 as a seven-year-old, Wallace has fully embraced the movement as a way to build confidence and skills, and gone on to achieve the Junior BP Award, the BP badge, and now the Queens Guide Award.
She is now the first person in her Rosebud unit to have ever achieved the top award in each section of guiding.
On Saturday, 3 September, Wallace was presented with her certificate at a ceremony at the Rosebud Guide Hall, and early in 2012 she will travel to Government House.
Wallace said her parents were both involved in scouts and guides as youngsters, as community involvement was a strong family tradition.
She said completing her badges, particularly the Queen’s Guide Award, had improved her confidence and speaking skills, and allowed her to travel and experience other cultures.
Wallace said the award was regarded within the community as a significant achievement and provided participants with an opportunity for personal development and greater self-awareness.
The Queens Guide Award is made up of several sections, which build skills in the area of outdoors, guiding traditions, and world guiding.
As part of the process, Wallace has participated in sustainability projects, run clean-up events, spent 12 months on exchange in America to compare the two countries’ approach to guiding, interviewed former guides now living in aged care, and created a history of guiding.
She has also had the chance to attend a leadership camp, completed an 11-hour online drawing unit, learnt how to do colour guard (synchronised flag waving) and performed at half time shows at football games, and in parades.
Wallace said she had found it challenging to complete the awards, but that her parents and family had been encouraging.
“My guide leaders have been amazing at helping me complete my badge and build challenges to complete,” she said.
Rosebud guide leader Samantha Bourke said Wallace was “truly an inspirational young lady” who had shown dedication and commitment to completing the challenging syllabus of the Queen’s Guide Award, despite the interruptions caused by COVID-19 lockdowns over the past two years.
“Sarah’s got a strong commitment to the community, evident in her passion for volunteering and now, as a year 12 student at Rosebud Secondary College, she is continuing as a unit helper at guides.”
Bourke said Wallace had an admirable focus on challenging herself and encouraging her peers to do their best.
“Her positive attitude, strong leadership skills, and determination have helped her strive for her best – and at the same time, she always makes sure to have some fun along the way,” she said.
Anyone wanting to know how to become involved in guides can contact Heather Barton at heather.barton@guidesvic.org.au or call 0418 974 994.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 6 September 2022
