Gruelling jamboree for eight local Girl Guides
Just back from a gruelling eight days at jamboree, four Warragul Girl Guides have lots of tales to tell, about their challenging experiences and new-found friendships at the Queensland camp.
It was an action-packed camp with 1400 Girl Guides in attendance.
Amongst this number, there were 91 International Guide Leaders and Guides, from 10 countries. All 1400 attended a huge opening and closing campfire ceremony, witnessed by Aboriginal elders, various State Girl Guide Commissioners, and the Australian Girl Guide Commissioner Robinette Emonson.
The Warragul Guides camped in Queensland bell tents, on dirt floors, with no electricity and had to bucket-cart water for cooking and washing up dishes.
Food was prepared on barbecue hotplates, and eskies provided fridge and pantry storage.
Abseiling, canoeing, paddle boarding, high ropes, archery, croquet, art, photography, aqua balls in pools, circus tricks, mud obstacle course, running of the colours, and a day off-site at 'Australia Zoo' or 'Dream World' kept the girls busy.
A moonlight canoe on the beautiful Lake Somerset was a bewitching experience, too, at the end of a hot and dusty day.
It was a real 'back-to-basics' camp; no internet, 16 portable toilets for 400 campers, sitting on the ground for every meal, and lots of tent care work and bedrolling.
International Guides and Guide Leaders camped with the Warragul girls, and some lifelong friendships have formed, with pen-pals and invitations to each other's camps.
There were opportunities for subcamp night parties, visiting friends in other subcamps around the lake, but no way to call home or check on the news. There was the daily threat of a wild Queensland afternoon storm, and the Warragul girls' subcamps were hit twice; so challenges for storm proofing bell tents and camp gear were ongoing.
The four girls were accompanied by a Warragul Guide leader to Jamboree.
Their families worked with them all for a year prior to camp, to raise 100 per cent of the cost for Jamboree and air travel.
Some further funds were gifted to the local contingent from the Lions Club, Warragul Evening Group CWA, Club 88, and Baw Baw Shire council, who all offered sponsorship to promote the local youth as leaders and change-makers of the future.
A successful trivia night was held, with many gifts and donations from local Warragul shop-keepers;. Palmerston St kiosk stalls; a monster garage sale; personal fund raising challenges by each girl; and good old Girl Guide Biscuit sales, all added up to $4997 dollars.
There's not much a Girl Guide can't do. The girls and their families have thanked everyone who supported them in this camp of a Guide lifetime. Jamboree 2018, Sydney, ... here come some more Warragul Girl Guides.