GGEW Winter 2012

PAGE 8 GGEW NEWS WINTER 2012 ornchurch Guide Amy Marren found herself making history this summer when she was chosen to be part of the UK Paralympic Swimming Team. She didn’t win a medal but at just 14 years of age the prospect of a place on the podium at Rio, and/or future Games, must surely be very good. Amy was interviewed on the local BBC London news and the pictures are from that interview. Here are a few words from Amy about her fantastic summer. H COUNTY ADDRESSES COUNTY PRESIDENT COUNTY COMMISSIONER We at the GGEW News wish everyone in the County a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2013. Please continue to send your pictures and reports to us address below - to be included in our future newsletters and be included on our website aphne Field of the Essex Women’s Advisory Group visited Went House to present the County with a £100 donation. The cheque from their Community Foundation Trust account, was received by County Commissioner Jan Knight D WINTER 2012 Avril Brampton Hi Everyone, My name is Amy Marren and I’m a Paralympic swimmer. I was born without my right hand at the level of the wrist, so I am a classified S9 swimmer. London 2012 was amazing, I had the best time of my life, and made some great new friends from all over the world. When I competed I came 4th in the 400m Freestyle, which is brilliant considering I race against Natalie Du Toit and Stephanie Millward who are almost twice my age !!!. I came 5th in the 100m backstroke, which again was great for me. I managed to do new times on both my events, so I was really pleased. The village was huge!!!! The food court offered just about every kind of food from all over the world. I even managed to have a McDonalds once all my races were finished. The rooms we had were really nice, I shared mine with three other GBr swimmers, and we had so much fun. I’m off to Dubai in December for a two week training camp . This is known as a warm weather camp, and it helps us get prepared for the year ahead. Next year I hope to qualify for Worlds in Canada.....So watch this space :) EWAG Donation PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FOR GIRLGUIDING ESSEX WEST here is a wealth of expertise in the County for you to call on to make life in your units easier and even more exciting. From walking, boating, holidays and outdoor activities, DofE, to arts and crafts, our County Advisers are there to help. The Arts team have a variety of craft equipment available from Encaustic art, to pyrography. Contact details are in the current County Directory which is available via the website girlguidingessexwest.or g.uk or the ladies at the office will be happy to point you in the right direction if you have any problems. Jan Knight ASSISTANT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Chris Skinner Ann Matthews COUNTY TREASURER David Brampton PUBLIC RELATIONS and NEWSLETTER David Henderson T THE GIRLGUIDING ESSEX WEST NEWSLETTER is published termly for Leaders, Advisers, Members and supporters of Girlguiding in Essex West. Editor:- David Henderson, 26 King Edward Drive, Grays, Essex, RM16 2GG e-mail: [email protected] and printed in-house by County Office, Went House, China Lane, Bulphan, Essex, RM14 3RP COUNTY OFFICE WENT HOUSE BULPHAN Linda or Sylvia Monday-Friday 9am to1pm office@ girlguidingessexwest. org.uk 01375 892663 Members Day success his years Members Day was held at Marks School, Harlow on 3rd November and was attended by more than 160 Leaders from all over the County. The format was different this year with two training sessions during the morning, a break for a packed lunch followed by a Growing Guiding session in the afternoon, and an all day 1st Response course running alongside the main event. The morning sessions included something for every section and an LQ training for Leaders. One of the most popular sessions was Meeting on a Biscuit, which These young ladies were did involve various tasks with biscuits! very pleased with their biscuit Strangely the stock of chocolate biscuits did creation! seem to diminish the longer the session lasted! The Growing Guiding session run by Rosemary Jeffrey, Chris Skinner and Sarah Collins ably assisted by Kirsty Hardy and Gemma Wareham had the Leaders ‘writing’ their own unique gardening book, prompted by a Powerpoint presentation. Groups of Leaders wrote down their ideas for the future of guiding, from ways to increase membership, retain current members and expand the programme. The day was organised by Sylvia Partridge who has now put together 12 excellent County Days and County Commissioner Jan Knight presented Sylvia with a bouquet of flowers as a token of appreciation for all her hard work. Members of the Trefoil Guild ran a raffle during the day in aid of the Essex Air Ambulance. Sylvia Partridge thanks Ann Hill and all those who bought tickets and helped raise £163.00. There are more pictures from Members Day inside this issue T It may seem a long way off but the Big Brownie Birthday will come round sooner than you think. Linda Harris and Margaret Henderson, together with a great team of enthusiastic Leaders and Young Leaders are already working to put together a fantastic fun day for the County’s Brownies. The team prepared treasure chests to herald the event and more than 100 were given out at Members Day so units have plenty of time to ensure the date is in their unit diaries Website: www.girlguidingessexwest.org.uk