Jesse is Queen’s Guide.

25
Jan

Jesse Negus, 18, has received the Queen's Guide Award, New Zealand's highest award for girls, and we are very proud of her!!

Teamwork, leadership and life skills have been recognised in a Whangarei teenager.

Jesse Negus, 18, has received the Queen’s Guide Award, New Zealand’s highest award for girls.

A Whangarei ranger in the Parihaka Girl Guides district, it has taken Jesse more than five years to complete the award.

District co-ordinator Kate Lindberg says the Queen’s Guide Award demands the highest standard of effort and personal achievement.

“In working towards this Jesse developed leadership, teamwork, communication and life skills as she also achieved her own goals,” she says.

Her tasks included more than 40 hours of community service, being a Guides leader, qualifying as a lifesaver, a 10-day voyage on the Spirit of New Zealand, and more than 12 interest certificates on subjects as diverse as vehicle maintenance and world religions.

Jesse says she is pleased she put in the effort to get the award.

“Everything I used to complete it gave me tools that I can use in other areas - leadership, organisation, outdoor skills, awareness of current events,” she says.

Jesse is currently working as a host with Dive! Tutukaka and plans to travel before studying in the outdoor education field next year.

As the first Northland girl to reach the level for many years, Jesse was presented with a handmade pendant from the Parihaka district during a recent end-of-year celebration.

She received the pendant from former regional commissioner Sybil Overton and several members of the Trefoil Guild who are previous Guide leaders.

The guiding district also recognised four girls, Keiran Hackett, Kalia Topia, Hazel Hislop and Carla Hamilton, for achieving the Guides Aotearoa Award.

Kate says the girls received the prestigious award for showing a high level of organisation, self-motivation and initiative.

Parihaka Girl Guiding district has about 75 members in Kamo Pippins, Kamo Brownies, Tikipunga Brownies and Whangarei Rangers.

The group is looking for adult volunteers, for more information call Kate Lindberg on 435-3601.

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