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20 November 2024
By Bronwyn Hastings
Horsham Girl Guides’ Marion and Rodney Smith’s 55 years of volunteer service to the organisation was celebrated last week.
The couple’s service was among hundreds of years given by Girl Guides, their leaders and committee members alike, which were highlighted at the Horsham group’s annual meeting.
Region manager Leigh Younger awarded the pair, saying alongside Mrs Smith’s service to Guiding in Horsham, she had been a personal support.
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“Marion has been recognised for a lot of awards in her time, but these 55 years of dedication to Girl Guides is unsurpassed in my lifetime,” she said.
“She’s always there for me to call, because she is a former region manager, to ask questions.
“We also talk about solid support from partners and family as Girl Guide leaders, and Rodney has been doing that behind the scenes, too.”
Mrs Smith recalled highlights, including a camp at Sea Lake with 450 Guides and Scouts, where seven inches of rain fell.
“We had to send for help mid-afternoon – we needed gas-blower heaters to dry clothes and bedding, and Rodney brought those from Horsham. We eventually evacuated camp and spent the night at the sports centre,” she said.
Mr Smith said it was an honour to be able to support the organisation.
“It’s the same as what I do with Lions – I’ve got 57 years up on Lions, too, and it’s been a wonderful lifetime so far,” he said. District manager and leader Wendy Rowe’s 10 years of service was recognised.
Mrs Rowe said she had enjoyed watching the Guides grow and share their skills with others across the region.
“I am also really pleased to have gone from one to two units of girls. When I started there were 10 girls, now there are 20,” she said.
Girl Guide and junior leader Julia Hastings has been a member for 10 years, starting as a Brownie Guide in Dimboola aged six.
She said a Jamboree at Ballarat was a highlight in that time, as was being the first Brownie in Dimboola to gain her Junior BP award.
She is now working on her Queen’s Guide award.
Several other Girl Guides and committee members were recognised for their respective years of service.
The entire November 20, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
