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Heidi Kraak
Proving that Girl Guides is not just about selling cookies, for the first time in Traralgon unit leader Amanda Clark’s memory the Traralgon Girl Guides branch has enough members to create a separate unit for teenage girls.
Ms Clark said it had been her personal mission when she joined the Traralgon Girl Guides almost five years ago to get to a point where the Guides could cater for the extra age group, known as the ranger unit.
“I don’t know if we’ve ever had a ranger unit,” she said.
“We’ve now got about 20 girls coming along and that is enough to be able to open the age-appropriate and development-appropriate units.”
Ms Clark said participants in the rangers unit would have more autonomy to plan the program themselves.
“They will take the reins a bit more,” she said.
“The girls will take the lead. I want them to register their own unit, name their own unit … and all that sort of stuff.”
Ms Clark said the ranger unit was typically for girls 14 and older, however, the Traralgon branch accepted girls 12 years and older.
Ranger unit participant Georgia said the new age group would allow the older girls to participate in activities and learning experiences more suited to their age.
“Now we can be a bit more independent and do things that we want to do,” she said.
“We’re really excited because we’ve grown so much … it’s been getting people aware that [Girl] Guides is a thing and it’s not just about cookies, but it’s about learning skills, developing friendships and building confidence.”
Georgia said the rangers unit would welcome new participants.
“If you’re looking to gain confidence, friendships and team-building skills, come along,” she said.
For more information about the Traralgon Girl Guides or the rangers unit, or to express interest in becoming a Girl Guides leader, contact jtulau@guidesvic.org.au.
