Southside Girl Guide leader praised for 50-year service

A DUN Laoghaire Girl Guide leader has received a 50-year service award in recognition of the five decades she has given to the Irish Girl Guides (IGG).

Gill Buckley heads up Tivoli Guides, which holds its weekly meetings in the Presbyterian church hall on York Road. She was presented with her 50-year service pin at IGG’s National Council, which was held in The Plaza Hotel, Tallaght, recently.

Gill has maintained an involvement in Girl Guides for so long because she enjoys spending time with the girls and seeing them develop their skills through a variety of activities while having fun. She also enjoys the friendships she had with her co-leaders.

“It is great being part of an organisation that is worldwide,” she said. “And when I lived abroad, it gave me the opportunity to get involved in something I was familiar with and meet the local girls and their families. I have also been a Guide leader in England, Canada and Namibia.”

Friendship is at the heart of Guiding worldwide, according to Gill.

“I see friendships developing and many continuing after they leave Guides,” she added.

“It is particularly great to see the Guides getting to know girls from different schools who they probably would never have met otherwise.

“I see them working together as individuals, as a team and gradually developing leadership skills. There is also the opportunity for travel to experience the international aspect of Guiding.”

Gill has witnessed many changes to Guiding over her five decades as a leader.

 “It is less formal now but the fundamental core values remain the same,” she reflected.

Gill’s daughter was a Guide and Ranger and helps out occasionally as a Unit Helper. Gill does not hesitate to recommend other girls and women to get involved in Irish Girl Guides.

“It is such a great organisation,” she added.