10/08/2026
An Open Letter to the Past and Present Girls and Families of Traralgon Girl Guides
Dear Girls, Parents, Volunteers, and Friends of Traralgon Girl Guides,
As I prepare to finish my long 14 year chapter with Traralgon Girl Guides and attend my last week of unit meetings this week, I have found myself reflecting on the incredible journey we have shared together.
Leaving Traralgon Girl Guides is not easy, because this has never been just a place where meetings happen or badges are earned. It is a community. It is a place where girls discover their strengths, find their voices, build lifelong friendships, and learn that they are capable of far more than they ever imagined.
To the girls, thank you.
Thank you for your enthusiasm, your laughter, your curiosity, and your willingness to embrace every challenge that came your way. Whether we were camping, crafting, learning new skills, tackling outdoor adventures, serving our community, or simply sharing stories together, you continually reminded me why Girl Guides is such a special movement.
I have watched many of you grow in confidence, courage, and kindness. I have seen girls who were once quiet and unsure become leaders. I have seen teamwork overcome obstacles, resilience shine through challenges, and acts of friendship that truly embodied the Guide Promise and Law.
You have inspired me more than you will ever know.
To the parents and families, thank you for the trust you placed in me and in our Guiding community. Thank you for the countless lifts to meetings, the support behind the scenes, the encouragement you gave your daughters, and the many ways you contributed to making our unit successful. Girl Guides thrives because families believe in the value of empowering girls to explore, learn, and grow.
To my fellow volunteers and leaders, thank you for your dedication, friendship, and unwavering commitment to the girls. Working alongside people who give so generously of their time and energy has been a privilege. Together, we have celebrated achievements, navigated challenges, and created experiences that I hope will stay with our girls for years to come.
While this letter is a farewell from my role at Traralgon, it is not goodbye to Guiding, and it is certainly not goodbye to many of you.
I am excited to be beginning a new adventure with Bairnsdale Girl Guides, just down the road. While I will no longer be at weekly meetings in Traralgon, I remain very much a part of the Guiding community that connects us all. I look forward to seeing many of you again at camps and region activities, training events, and the countless opportunities that bring Guides together from across Gippsland and beyond. I look forward to meeting some of the girls as adults when they take on their own volunteer journey.
One of the wonderful things about Guiding is that no matter where we are, we share the same purpose: helping girls grow into confident, capable, and compassionate young people. I am proud to continue that journey with Bairnsdale while carrying with me the memories and friendships formed here in Traralgon.
The future of Traralgon Girl Guides is bright because it is built on something stronger than any one individual. It is built on the spirit of Guiding, on strong values, on caring families, dedicated volunteers, and most importantly, on the incredible girls who show up each week ready to learn, grow, and make a difference.
As I move on to this next chapter, I will carry with me countless memories: campfire songs, rainy adventures, late-night laughs, proud badge presentations, challenges overcome, and the privilege of watching so many girls flourish into confident young leaders.
Thank you for welcoming me, supporting me, challenging me, and allowing me to be part of your Guiding journey, whether you are a parent, a guide or a volunteer. The impact you have all had on me is something I will treasure for many years to come.
So rather than saying goodbye, perhaps it is better to say, "see you around the campfire."
Continue to be brave. Continue to be kind. Continue to challenge yourselves, support one another, and believe in your ability to create positive change in the world.
It has been an honour and a privilege to Guide alongside you.
With gratitude, pride, and very best wishes,
Gumnut
"Guiding is not about the footprints we leave behind, but about the confidence we help others find within themselves." ♥️
