Australia+Day+2012

= Coonabarabran Guides Australia Day Breakfast 2012 =

Coonabarabran Girl Guides hosted their 11th Australia Day Breakfast last Thursday. The morning began with the Guides sharing highlights and images of their activities for 2011 including service activities, camps and learning about our community and world. media type="custom" key="12247326" align="right"

The Guest Speaker for the event, Mr Bob Sutherland, really impressed the audience with a virtual tour of the ‘Sculptures in the Scrub’ situated just out of Baradine. Giving insights to the inception of the idea and features, the project background and plans for future development Bob’s presentation inspired those in the audience who had not yet visited our local tourist attraction to do so and gave a new perspective to those who had already delighted in the sights out in the Pilliga.

District Leader, Vivian Evans, presented Certificates of Appreciation to 3 local volunteer organisations that have assisted Coonabarabran Girl Guides over recent years. With major work required on the upkeep of the Guide hall, including restumping of the hall, and to support our active Guides who are participating in camps at Lake Keepit, Grenfell and a State Jamboree in Canberra just in the upcoming term considerable funds are required. The District support group, Leaders along with the Guides and their families work hard on fund raising through a variety of projects throughout the year and appreciate further support to reach their targets.

The first certificate of Appreciation was presented to Mrs Bev Rayner on behalf of the 100+ volunteers of Coonabarabran’s Driver Reviver for 'Assisting in raising funds for major repairs to the Coonabarabran Guide Hall'. The volunteers, which include past and present Guides and their families, do a great job keeping our roads safer through encouragement of breaks for drivers. In a recent report our Coonabarabran Driver Reviver was open for 62 days for 2011 and had a total of 5015 travellers assisted by this valuable service.

Mrs Vicky Poyser accepted a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the many Coonabarabran ADRA Volunteers for 'Raising funds to assist young girls & families in need, to engage fully in Girl Guides'. The work the ADRA volunteers do sorting, cleaning and mending the clothes for resale in our community is to be highly commended. Not only is it of benefit to our environment in terms of recycling, it provides affordable clothing and ADRA contribute to many youth focused organisations within our community.

The Coonabarabran Rotary club have supported Coonabarabran Girl Guides for many years – both financially and through active joint participation in a variety of activities such as Shoe shining, guest speaking at our AGM, supporting our young Guides who have had the opportunity to travel to major events overseas and ongoing recognition of our organisation. Mr John Sawyer accepted the Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the Coonabarabran Rotary Club ‘For ongoing support of the Coonabarabran Girl Guides’.

Guests were then invited to join in an Aussie Breakfast of egg and bacon rolls, lamingtons & a ‘cuppa’ which they enjoyed whilst chatting with friends and family.

The Coonabarabran District support Group would like to extend a special thanks to our Guest Speaker Mr Bob Sutherland, Mr Milton Judd for taking photos and to our many guests who enjoyed us for the early morning celebrations of Australia Day. A big thanks to the leaders, parents, Guides and family members who worked behind the scenes prior to the even t and on the day, setting up marquees, preparing the breakfast and packing up so early in the morning.


 * Congratulations to Mrs Bev Rayner (AKA Brown Owl)**

Later in the evening Coonabarabran Guides raised the flags at the official Coonabarabran Australia Day event. Past and present Guides and Leaders were delighted to see Mrs Bev Rayner receive the Coonabarabran Senior Citizen of the Year Award. Often better known as ‘Brown Owl’, Mrs Rayner has contributed to Guiding in our Community for over 30 years and still does. Now taking a lead role in coordinating the Driver Reviver along with Mrs Lynn Abbot, we think she is a wonderful ongoing contributor & driving force for Coonabarabran. Bravo Brown Owl! media type="custom" key="12260324"

Be Prepared

Photos by Milton Judd

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