Guides usher in new era

Hedland Girl Guides is set for a revival this year after being dormant for more than a decade.

The group, for children aged five to 17, held its first meeting at the JD Hardie Centre in South Hedland, this week, a far cry from its closure in 2009 because of a lack of volunteer leaders.

Girl Guides WA State commissioner Linda Elezovich said there had always been interest in a Girl Guides group in the town.

“We have had a number of Girl Guides units in Port and South Hedland over the years,” she said.

“We were regularly contacted by parents in the Hedland area about getting their daughters into Guides, so we knew there was a demand. However, Port Hedland has somewhat of a mobile population, so it hasn’t always been easy to find a leader who can stay in town and run a unit longer than a year or so.”

As part of the program, local girls will be brushing up on their leadership skills, self-respect and confidence, with activities varying from week to week.

“We offer girls a two-week trial, which enables them to participate in all activities and really experience Guiding before making the decision to join,” Ms Elezovich said.

There are more than 40 girls on the group’s expression-of-interest list.

The Guides will meet at the JD Hardie Centre, in South Hedland, on Mondays during the school term for two hours.