Message from the Chief Commissioner

I know that sometimes you may prefer to be at home or playing with your friends rather than going to school, but just imagine if you never got to go to school or never got to learn how to read and write?

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is the leading global organisation working on development and emergency relief for children. One of their goals is to ensure that by 2015 all children will have access to, and be able to complete, primary education that is free, compulsory and of good quality. Girl Guides Australia has signed an agreement with UNICEF Australia to support this aim, in particular to help provide free and accessible education for girls in the Eastern Highlands region of Papua New Guinea.

Research and statistics show that girls who receive even a basic primary education are more likely to be able to support themselves in the future and also are far less likely to give birth to a child who dies before the age of five years. Schooling helps young people learn how to prevent disease and it reduces the poverty cycle. To achieve the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) it is imperative that all girls and boys receive a basic primary education as this will help to eradicate extreme poverty.


		Message from the Chief Commissioner
		New E-News name
		Making the most of winter
		New badges coming
		Centenary News: International Service Challenge Centenary Gold Challenge
		Save the Koala month
		Photo Board

In supporting UNICEF Australia, GGA has made a commitment to raise a minimum of $60,000 in our Centenary Year through the International Service Challenge. This is only $2 per member - a very small amount to help other young girls in a neighbouring country to have the opportunity to also learn to read and write. Already I have heard some wonderful stories from different States where Units have shown creativity and innovation in raising funds - such as the Guide Unit that held an Art Auction and raised over $700 - significantly more than $2 per member. Another State has challenged each of its members to '31 days of giving' and has asked everyone to put the few dollars they spend each week on ice creams, soft drinks or fries during the month of July to donate this money to UNICEF instead. So that State is definitely intending to raise far more than $2 per member.

This International Service Challenge though is not just about raising funds. We want all Guides to learn about how important it is that girls all over the world have equal access to education and why it is important. We want Guides to understand that education is a basic human right and to learn about what UNICEF does to improve the lives of children.
So if you haven't already started the International Service Challenge, ask your Leader about it or visit the GGA web site on www.girlguides.org.au and follow the link through the Centenary page. You will find exciting and different challenges to take part in as you learn about child's rights, girls' education, how your money will make a difference and what it is like to go to school in other countries.

I encourage all Guides to take part. By learning and taking action we can all make a difference in the lives of others ' 'together we can change our world'.

Lynne Price
Chief Commissioner

New name E-news

Our e-newsletter has a new name! It will now be called Guiding Light.
Congratulations to Mieke Burhhorn from 5th Brighton Guides (Victoria) for suggesting the winning name and thank you to everyone who voted for their favourite name.

Thank you also to everyone who took part in the Guides Say 2010 survey. You may have completed postcards with your Unit and/or participated in the online survey. As a thank you for sharing your ideas some lucky girls have won prizes.
The winner of a 12-month subscription to Total Girl magazine is Sharon Middas.

Winners of the 6-month subscriptions to Crikey! Magazine are Vicki Doherty, Sarah Grenfell, Jess Cross, Tess Donnelly and Norrie Albury

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Making the most of winter

Winter is here which for many of us means it gets dark earlier and the nights are colder. Think about the fun activities you can do at Guides during this time. You don't always have to be indoors after all, Guides enjoy exploring the outdoors. There are many fun things that you can do so rug up, grab and torch and try some of these ideas.

Spot lighting - use a torch to explore the area around your meeting place. What do you notice that changes at night? Are there any different animals? What can you hear?
Spot light games - use torches to play games such as tiggy or hide and seek.
Outdoor cooking - have a go at cooking outside. Find out about the different cooking methods you can use outdoors in your area.
Tracking - have a go at laying and following trails using torches.

Talk to your Patrol and your Leader about other activities you could try outdoors. Have fun!

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New badges coming

Keep your eyes open for our new badges which will be arriving soon. You may like to work on these badges when they have been released. The new badges include:

Adventure Achieve a Challenge (released mid-July)
Advocacy badges for Create a Challenge, Explore a Challenge and Achieve a Challenge (due to be released by the end of August)
Cooking Achieve a Challenge which will be under the Life Skills Achieve a Challenge (due to be released by the end of September)
Cycling Achieve a Challenge which will be under the Sports Achieve a Challenge (due to be released by the end of September)

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International Service Challenge

In Australia, we go to school and don't really think about what it would be like to not have the opportunity to learn to read and write which helps us throughout our lives. In some other countries, it is not always that easy to go to school. By taking part in the International Service Challenge, you'll learn about the importance of education with a focus on girls education in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) has adopted the Global Action Theme; girls worldwide say 'together we can change our world.' Taking part in this challenge is your opportunity to change the world by making a difference to others and opening doors for girls in PNG to have access to education.

Through activities, you will learn about UNICEF, the importance of a primary education and life in PNG. You will then be able speak out and make your voice heard to raise awareness and money to help girls in PNG to have access to education.

As part of the International Service Challenge, you're also encouraged to raise funds which will be used by UNICEF towards their project 'Protection of girls in school' Papua New Guinea."

When you complete the requirements of the challenge you will receive a badge that you can sew on your Guide bag or camp blanket. Participation in the International Service Challenge can also be used as part of the Centenary Challenge – either Understanding Others or Learning about our WAGGGS family.

Talk to your Leader and as a Unit or Patrol set a target for the amount of money you would like to raise. Look at the table below to see what your money could buy to make a positive difference to the lives of girls in PNG.

How can your money make a difference?

AU$14.36 = 10 children will be provided with a sketch pad and set of eight colouring crayons each.

AU$21.54 = 28 skipping ropes, promoting physical activity particularly for girls.

AU$57.44 = a school-in-a-bag with individual school supplies for 40 students and one teacher. Each student receives a carry bag, ruler, two pencils, exercise book, eraser, sharpener and box of colouring pencils -the basic supplies for a good education.

AU$86.16 = two volleyballs and two nets, enabling children to participate in team sports.

AU$280 = a school-in-a-box kit- a ready-made educational solution packed in a lockable metal box, containing equipment such as pencils, erasers, exercise books, writing slates, scissors and carrier bags sufficient for 80 pupils, and marker pens, posters, registers, and blackboard equipment for one teacher.

If every member of your Unit raised $2 - what could you ‘buy’ to help educate girls in PNG? What about $5 or $10 per member?

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Centenary Gold Challenge

Are you working on the Centenary Gold Challenge? The girls who complete this challenge by 31 December 2010 will qualify to attend one of the special Centenary Gold events. Information about these events are listed on the Girl Guides Australia website - www.girlguides.org.au If you would like to join an event talk to your Leader and make a plan to finish your challenge in time.

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Save the Koala month in September

Now is the time to plan for your Unit/District/Region to participate in the Save the Koala month in September.

Once again Guides are being invited to fundraise by selling the Australian Koala Foundation’s “Fatty and Friend tattoos”. Fund raising kits are available online at https://www.savethekoala.com/girlguides.html where you can also see the inspiring message put together by Abby McGuire – a Tasmanian Guide Leader who attended the Climate Change summit in Copenhagen on behalf of the Koala Foundation.

As valued Gold Sponsors of the Australian Koala Foundation, Guides or Units who raise $200 will receive a “Foster Koala” in a nearby Sanctuary. Click on the link above to order for September.

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Please send in any images you have of your Unit having fun during our Centenary year. We'd love to share the images with Guides around the country as we celebrate 100 years of changing lives. Send your images to us HERE!

Chain of Campfires

On 19 June Guides around Australia participated in campfires. As they were all held on the same day we created a chain of campfires around Australia. Were you able to participate in a campfire in your area? Did you learn new songs or join in with ones you knew? We would love to hear about your experience. Follow this link and tell us about it. Below we have photos from some of the campfires that were held.

Queens Park, QLD

Darling Downs Campfire
QLD: Darling Downs Region Campfire held in Queens Park on 19th June. Campfire leader was Christine Edwards.

South Australia Campfire

North Met Rigion Campfire

Modbury Heights, SA

SA: North Met Region Campfire at Maxlay Reserve, Modbury Heights, SA

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