The Phillip Island Girl Guides recently hosted a promise and awards ceremony.

The promise ceremony saw four new girls welcomed into the unit with a fun Harry Potter themed ceremony. Rose, Izabella, Nyharlia and Hayley each made their promise and officially joining the growing unit.

After the promise ceremony, the special award ceremony began.

In Girl Guides there are some major awards; the Junior BP (Baden Powell) Award, the BP Award and the Queens Guide.

In the club’s 11-year history only three girls have earned their Junior BP and BP Award so this year’s award presentation was a very special event.

The Junior BP Award is made up of a series of 12 challenges and activities and takes at least 18 months to complete.

The five girls who were awarded their Junior BP have been working on this award since 2020 and ran many unit meetings, including online during Covid and have all developed their leadership skills throughout this time. Congratulations to Matilda, Grace, Hazel, Anastasia and Laila on their fantastic achievement.

The BP Award is a series of 18 challenges and takes a minimum of 18 months to complete.

Charlotte is only the fourth girl in the Phillip Island unit to achieve this prestigious award.

She completed activities like a virtual unit sleepover on Zoom during Covid, where girls connected to cook, make face masks and do a talent show. Charlotte also ran many unit meetings and attended a leader camp where she didn't know anyone and had to make new friends.

Charlotte will now begin working towards her Queens Guide Award and if she completes it, she will make history by being the only Phillip Island Guide to ever earn this award.

The final award for the evening was in recognition of the voluntary service of the unit leader Sandra Hadrian, who has now volunteered for five years with the unit.

Without selfless volunteers, Phillip Island Girl Guides would not be possible and the unit is grateful to Sandra for her years of service.

If any girls are interested in joining Girl Guides, they meet Thursday 5pm – 6.30pm at the Scout Hall Dunsmore Road, Cowes.

Girls are welcome to come and try two weeks before committing to join.

Anyone interested in volunteering at Phillip Island Girl Guides can contact District Manager Chris Oliver on chris.oliver@guidesvic.org.au