Girlguiding Gwent Awards Ceremony - Celebrating dedication and achievement

The end of March saw Girlguiding Gwent come together for a heartwarming awards ceremony, a vibrant celebration of the incredible dedication and achievements of its members. The event was expertly run by Girlguiding Gwent County Commissioner, Dawn Waddell Clayton.

Girlguiding Cymru President, Tori James, and Girlguiding Cymru Deputy Chief Commissioner, Sarah-Jane Burns, Helen Murdoch , awards committee chair, were all proudly in attendance, adding to the special occasion.

Su Madurasinghe from Girlguiding Gwent was presented with the Girlguiding Silver Fish award by Helen Murdoch at the Girlguiding Gwent Awards evening. You can read more about this here.

Janet Newbury from Girlguiding Gwent was also presented with the Girlguiding Cymru Silver Dragon award by Sarah-Jane Burns at the Girlguiding Gwent awards evening. You can read more about this here.

The ceremony recognised a wide range of contributions, from long service to the successful completion of qualifications. Here are the well-deserved award recipients:

5 Year Long Service Awards:

  • Terri Jones – For 5 years of dedicated service as a Rainbow Leader in Fairwater.

  • Sarah-Jane McErlaine – For 5 years of commitment as a Ranger Leader in Caerleon.

  • Pauline Llewellyn – For 5 years of guiding young girls as a Brownie Leader in Ponthir.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Bronze:

  • Julia Purzkasz – Chepstow

  • Kiera Box – Cwmbran

  • Daisy McErlaine – Caerleon

  • Luccia Boggiani-Lloyd – Newport

  • Isla Brown – Monmouth

  • Charlotte Chesson - Chepstow

10 Year Long Service Awards:

  • Leela Luke – For a decade of inspiring Brownies as a Leader in Caldicot.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Silver:

  • Mille George – Newport

  • Charlotte Calway – Castleton

  • Poppy Bond – Newport

  • Isabel Grand – Castleton

  • Sian Davies-Fletcher – Monmouth

  • Bronwen Cottam – Newport

Young Leader Qualification:

  • Kiera Box – For completing the Young Leader Qualification while being a Unit Helper in Llanyravon Rainbows.

  • Arwen Roberts – For achieving the Young Leader Qualification as a Unit Helper in Llanyravon Rainbows.

Leader Development Program:

  • Freyja Raske – For her commitment to growth as a Leader in Malpas Rainbows.

  • Efion Parry – For dedication to leadership in Risca Rainbows, Brownies and Guides.

  • Keira Joseph – For her development as a Leader in Malpas Brownies.

  • Pauline Llewellyn – For her ongoing commitment to leadership as a Leader in 1st Ponthir Brownies.

Going Away With Scheme:

  • Esme Jones – Leader in Blackwood Rainbows and Guides, County LDP Mentor and Division Events Coordinator – Esme was also recognised for being a finalist in the Caerphilly Gavo – Young Volunteer of the Year 2024.

30 Years Long Service Awards:

  • Sally Sullivan – For an incredible 30 years of dedication as a Guide & Rainbow Leader in 2 Rainbow units and Division Rainbow Advisor in Newport.

  • Chris Hutchinson – For 30 years of guiding as a Rainbow & Ranger Leader in Chepstow, and her ongoing roles as County DofE Adviser & County Queens Guide advisor.

Other Girlguiding Qualifications – Walking Scheme Level II:

  • Kate Barnes – Leader in Monmouth Rangers and County Inclusion adviser – Kate's achievement in the Walking scheme was also noted alongside her integral role within the DofE Team.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Gold:

  • Chloe Gorshkov – Chepstow

  • Katherine Pearce – Newport

  • Charlotte Pearce – Newport

  • Leo Cartman – Newport

Queen's Guide Award:

  • Chloe Gorshkov – Chepstow

County Commissioners Thanks Badge:

These special badges were awarded by County Commissioner Dawn Wadell Clayton as a sign of deep appreciation for the invaluable support and contributions of individuals within Girlguiding Gwent. Dawn expressed her strong belief in the power of saying "Thank You," emphasising that these small gestures mean so much.

  • Cathryn Brooker – A former Chief Commissioner & County Commissioner with a long and diverse history in guiding at local and regional levels. Currently a Brownie Leader in Usk and a valued Vice President, Cathryn was recognised for her many years as County Badge Secretary and for her inspiring encouragement to Dawn to become a commissioner. Dawn expressed immense gratitude for Cathryn's guidance and support.

  • Anthony Stead – Recognised as a dependable and reliable supporter of Girlguiding, assisting in 4 different units. Anthony and his wife Bev were also winners of the Newport Gavo Family Champion award in 2024. He was also acknowledged for his dignified role as flag bearer at the Platinum Jubilee.

  • Jenny Cann – Nominated by Pritti Davies for her infectious enthusiasm. Jenny was persuaded to volunteer with Brownies and has since become a vital "partner in crime," completing her leadership and embracing pack holidays, PGL, and Go Play. She has also taken on County roles within the DofE team and as County Walking Advisor. Pritti expressed her thanks for Jenny's enthusiasm and unwavering support.

  • Mary Bush – Nominated by Janet Newbury for her constant support, particularly during the recent centenary celebrations and through a period of sight issues. Despite personal challenges, Mary remained a dedicated presence at division meetings, offering support and advice. Janet expressed her sincere gratitude for Mary's unconditional commitment.

  • Hilary Jenkins – Celebrated for her extensive history in guiding spanning over 50 years, encompassing numerous roles including Brownie & Guide Leader, Vice President, Cymru Trainer, Reviewer and Qualification Tutor, and County LDP & GAW Mentor. Dawn specifically thanked Hilary for her steadfast support in her role as county commissioner, her vast knowledge and history, exceptional crafting skills, and her willingness to help and support countless girls and leaders.

  • Mary Garland – Recognised for her almost 29 years of dedication to Girlguiding, including roles as Rainbow & Brownie Leader, administrator, commissioner, and county and regional advisor. This particular award acknowledged her 8 years of valuable service as County training adviser, helping many maintain their compliance records.

  • Beth Chapell – A Brownie Leader with international guiding experience, Beth is the current County International Adviser and former County Photographer & PR Advisor. Dawn expressed immense gratitude to Beth for stepping in at the very last moment to provide crucial AV and photography skills for the awards ceremony, ensuring its smooth running.

Good Service Brooch:

These prestigious brooches are awarded by the Chief Guide, Chief Commissioner, or County Commissioners to members for outstanding service at county, regional, or national levels.

  • Sally Sullivan – Recognised for her support in preventing unit closures by covering extended periods of sickness for units, leaders, and friends. With over 30 years of guiding experience, Sally's willingness to share her knowledge, compassion, and kindness makes her a truly deserving recipient. Her dedication to recognizing others was also highlighted, having nominated previous winners of the Gwent Association of Volunteer Organisation.

  • Sue O’Brien – A former member of Jen Lloyd's original Rangers, Sue has dedicated over 40 years to Girlguiding, leading Rainbow and Brownie units in Newport. This brooch specifically celebrates her extraordinary commitment to the Newport Gangshow, where she serves as Chair of the Gangshow Committee, represents Newport on the National Committee, and is now an assessor for the Red Recker Recognition, a mark of quality that Newport has proudly retained.

  • Sally Price – Another long-standing member with over 30 years of service as a Brownie and Guide Leader, Mentor, and Commissioner. Sally was recognised not only for her length of service but for the exceptional quality of her contributions and the kindness and compassion she consistently shows to everyone in her division and county. Her unwavering support, willingness to help, and positive attitude were acknowledged.

60 Year Long Service Award:

  • Jen Lloyd – Presented by Girlguiding Cymru President, Tori James. Jen was celebrated as a truly inspirational woman with a long and varied history within Gwent and numerous roles at the Cymru level. Having dedicated over three-quarters of her life to Girlguiding, Jen has taught lifelong essential skills to thousands of girls, and continues to lead Rainbows and Rangers units while contributing significantly to DofE training, mentoring commissioners, and event planning. Her past highlights include her role as County Commissioner for the Centenary Celebrations and leading girls to the Turks and Caicos islands, her recent nomination as an Inspirational Woman of Newport, with her portrait displayed at the Senedd. Locally known as the "oracle" for her vast guiding knowledge, and affectionately as "Harry" (the wizard!) by County Commissioner Dawn, Jen's incredible dedication and impact were truly honoured. Jen has also been awarded the Laurel Award previously.

The Girlguiding Gwent awards ceremony was a heartwarming occasion, shining a light on the remarkable individuals who dedicate their time and energy to empowering girls and young women. The heartfelt nominations and appreciative atmosphere truly reflected the strong sense of community within Girlguiding Gwent.