Leaders needed to revive Surf Coast Girl Guides

THE Girl Guides are trying to revive the Surf Coast branch of the worldwide movement, and are looking for female adult volunteers to lead it.

Long-time Winchelsea Girl Guides leader and Surf Coast district manager Yvonne Orchard has issued a callout for women keen to join an enthusiastic, self- motivated team working with girls aged between five and 15 in Torquay.

Training will be provided free and begin immediately, with the Guide leaders to eventually provide leadership development opportunities for girls and young women, as well as becoming members of a worldwide organisation with travel opportunities.

Ms Orchard, who celebrated her 50th year as a Guide leader in 2019, said the Surf Coast Girl Guides ran until about five years ago, when the unit’s leader moved away.

“We’d like to get them going again down in Torquay if we could.

“I have tried now and again since then.

“There’s a lady down there who’d like to help the Guides, but we’d need someone to help her.

“I’ve actually had inquiries from parents with girls [in Torquay], but none of them were willing to put their hand up to be a leader.”

She said the Guides were seeking “enthusiastic” volunteers interested in working with young girls and “providing a program to help them grow and becoming good citizens”.

The unit would meet once a week for about 90 minutes to two hours during school terms, with possible camps on holidays and weekends.

Training is provided online or in person by Girl Guides Victoria, with applicants required to undergo a police check and a Working With Children check.

“I love working with children, it’s been my career – I was a teacher and a childcare worker,” Ms Orchard said.

“I love Guiding, I love camping and getting out in the outdoors; it’s really good for girls to make them more resilient.”

For more information, email Yvonne Orchard at [email protected] or phone 0448 672 630.