Girl Guides Western Australia has been honoured with a prestigious community spirit award at the 32nd Belmont and Western Australian Small Business Awards, recognising decades of dedication to empowering young women across the state.
A Night of Recognition
On October 29, before an audience of 420 guests, the volunteer-led organisation was formally acknowledged for its outstanding community spirit and contribution to developing girls' confidence and skills. The awards ceremony celebrated small businesses and community organisations making significant impacts throughout Western Australia.
Business awards founder Carol Hanlon expressed her delight at seeing Girl Guides WA recognised in the Community Spirit Award category. "The empowerment of girls and young women through the Girl Guides is important for team building, skills development and self-confidence, which I support and advocate for," Ms Hanlon stated.
She added personal testimony to the organisation's value: "My own daughter was a Girl Guide and went onto to also be Guide Ranger, so I witnessed first-hand the benefits and skills girls gain through being involved in Guides."
Seven Decades of Service
Brenda Hamlet, chair of Girl Guides WA, brings nearly seventy years of experience to her role, having first joined as a seven-year-old Brownie in the UK. Now celebrating her 76th birthday, Ms Hamlet credits the organisation with providing life-changing opportunities.
"Guiding has given me opportunities I never would have had otherwise — I've worked in West Africa, Asia, and even Mongolia, all through this movement," she shared. "I got off the plane not knowing where I was, not speaking their language, and there's this smiling face of a woman in a uniform that I recognised, and we instantly have that bond. That's the sort of thing that happens wherever we go in the world."
Expanding Reach Across Western Australia
With approximately 1,250 youth members and 350 adult leaders, Girl Guides WA delivers programs focusing on personal development, leadership, practical skills, physical wellbeing, and community service. While most members reside in the Perth metropolitan area, the organisation maintains strong presences in Albany, Bunbury, Geraldton and the north-west.
For those in remote regions, Girl Guides WA offers online Lone Guides programs, ensuring accessibility regardless of location. The organisation provides programs for girls aged five to 18, while women aged 18 to 30 can join the Olave program, which focuses on building social networks, improving physical and mental health, and developing confidence.
Ms Hamlet noted that the award helps raise awareness about their ongoing work. "People often say, 'Oh, do you still exist?' — so this award means a whole room of people now knows we do, and that we're doing a great job," she explained.
"We run programs aimed to empower girls and young women to become potential leaders in their community," Ms Hamlet emphasised. "It's about personal development, service to the community, and a sense of trying to develop where they want to go in their lives and what's important to them, how they relate to the environment and how they work with other people."
Financial Support Expanding Access
While largely self-funded through membership fees, Girl Guides WA has benefited significantly from the WA Government's KidSport subsidies, which now help cover registration costs for eligible families. The organisation also provides its own financial support for members experiencing hardship.
"Since KidSport was extended to Scouts and Guides, families with health care cards can have registration fees covered," Ms Hamlet confirmed. "It's made a huge difference" in making their programs accessible to more young Western Australians.
The Community Spirit Award proudly sponsored by PerthNow represents significant recognition for an organisation that has been shaping confident young women since its establishment, with historical photos showing Girl Guides WA active as far back as the 1950s.
