Wyong District Girl Guides are celebrating a rare occasion, with one of their members receiving the prestigious Queen’s Guide Award.
Cassie Elbourn is the first member of the Wyong District to earn this award since 1978.
The award is the highest honour a Girl Guide can receive and can take up to four years of work to achieve.
The Queen’s Award requires the Guide to challenge herself and connect with her community through advocacy and volunteer work as well as setting personal goals and following through with them.
“Not many girls receive this award, around 25 to 30 receive it every year, and they attend a ceremony at Government House in Sydney,” said Girl Guides NSW Assistant Regional Manager, Kirstyn Taylor.
“It’s quite fantastic because not many girls get this opportunity and not many take the time to complete the requirements of the award,” she said.
“It’s also a team effort as the girls have to prove to themselves and their group that they have the ability to complete the requirements of the award,” Taylor said.
To mark the occasion, an awards ceremony was held on April 1 at the Wyong District Girl Guides Hall, and Federal Member for Dobell, Emma McBride, and Wyong MP, David Harris, attended to offer their congratulations.
At the ceremony, Katherine Gardner also received the Junior BP award, which is earned by completing two challenges from six different categories including promise and law, outdoors, patrol system, service, guiding traditions and world guiding.
Harry Mulholland