10th Newport Brownies had a special visit from the High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, Gioia Minghella-Giddens, last month as part of World Thinking Day.
World Thinking Day, held on 22nd February, is the annual celebration of the birthdays of the first World Chief Guide Lady Olave Baden-Powell and her husband Lord Robert Baden-Powell. On World Thinking Day, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers speak out about issues which affect them and their local community, fundraise for causes they care about and learn about other countries.
This year’s theme was leadership, inspired by the girls who kickstarted the Girl Guides when they took action some 110 years ago. Frustrated by the lack of a girl-only organisation, a group of girls visited a Boy Scout Rally at Crystal Palace in London and asked Lord Baden-Powell to create a girl-led space for them.
To celebrate World Thinking Day (WTD), several Isle of Wight Girlguiding units held special meetings filled with activities and remembering Girlguiding around the World. But for 10th Newport Brownies there was a special treat with a visit from the Island’s High Sheriff, Gioia Minghella-Giddens.
Not only was WTD celebrated but 2 of their leaders were presented with Chief Guide Awards by Girlguiding IW Commissioners Shirley Saunders and Lesley Clifford.
Achieving the Chief Guide Award were Charlotte Harris and Sarah Harris. Over a period of several years they have both undertaken international trips, completed first aid and Girlguiding leadership qualifications, have been confirmed into the Church, taken part in themed Ranger evenings and even tackled outdoor cooking using a box oven!
Another large undertaking was setting up their own business as performing and singing duo, ‘Double Take’. After finding their voices when they took part in a SW England Girlguiding Region singing competition it led them to joining Wight Strollers, competing in the Isle of Wight Music, Dance and Drama Festival and gaining a grade 4 singing exam. Currently they are working towards grade 5.
Charlotte said:
“The singing has been the most rewarding thing, giving us self-confidence and a passion for entertaining.”
All the Brownies were pleased to welcome the Island’s High Sheriff to their meeting but friends of 10th Newport, including the unit’s first member, were welcomed too. Gioia congratulated the Chief Guide Award achievers and others receiving awards saying that all the Brownies were the citizens of tomorrow and by having their Brownie leaders as role models they too could be leaders in the Island’s community.
Following the presentations everyone enjoyed songs performed by Charlotte and Sarah and candles were lit to remember Guides around the World.
Also receiving her Chief Guide Award on the evening was Harriet Townsend, a former Ranger and now leader of 11th Newport Guides.
Harriet said:
“When working towards my Chief Guide Award it was nice to work towards the different octants just by doing things I would normally do, for example learning to drive my car. The programme was undertaken over several years and was nice as it suited everyone differently. It was nice to be able to pick up and put down the various octants and then be able to come back to them after busy periods.
“It was also nice to see what everyone in the Ranger Unit had done towards their award and talk about this and share ideas.”
