General News
31 May, 2026
Lucy earns peak Guiding award
Warracknabeal Guide Lucy Schilling has become the first Warracknabeal Guide in 26 years to achieve the Queen’s Guide Award, the peak award in Guiding.
Girl Guides Victoria state commissioner presented Lucy with the award at the Guide Hall, Warracknabeal, on Monday, May 25, recognising years of commitment, leadership, creativity and community service.
Warracknabeal Blooming Guides unit leader Kirsty Holland said Lucy had shown outstanding dedication throughout the award journey.
“The Queen’s Guide Award is not simply a collection of activities or badges,” Kirsty said.
“It is a significant journey that reflects years of dedication, service, creativity, learning, leadership, and perseverance.”
Kirsty said Lucy consistently pushed herself through both her Gold Endeavour and Queen’s Guide sections.
“Throughout both her Gold Endeavour and Queen’s Guide sections, Lucy consistently challenged herself to learn new skills, support others, contribute to her community, and step outside her comfort zone,” she said.
“Her achievements demonstrate not only capability and determination, but also the values of Guiding in action.”
Lucy completed a wide range of activities across creative thinking, character, community service, communication, collaboration and commitment to learning.
She designed and ran an escape room activity for younger Guides, using clues and Morse code messages, and helped create a Girl Guides display at the Warracknabeal Show featuring a trefoil made from recycled bottle tops.
Lucy said one of her key planning tasks helped her stay organised throughout the award.
“I prepared an action plan for the completion of the Queen’s Guide Award,” she said.
“I created it in Word and constantly used and reviewed it while completing activities and planning challenges.”
Lucy also developed creative skills through Visual Communication Design, where she designed logos and tiny house floor plans.
She later led five STEAM activities with younger Guides, including seed germination, recycled robots, egg drops, puzzles and watercolour painting.
She also focused on financial literacy by opening a bank account, obtaining a tax file number and researching workplace rights.
“I have opened a bank account, gotten a tax file number, and created a PowerPoint about the National Employment Standards, including the rights and responsibilities of workers,” Lucy said.
Community service formed a major part of Lucy’s Queen’s Guide journey.
She supported Riding for the Disabled and the JUMP program, which her high school runs with the local Special Development School.
“I did my 15 hours of community service through mainly RDA and JUMP,” she said.
“Each week, we would take the SES kids to either horse riding or basketball training and help them out.”
Lucy also completed 21 hours of service through reading with prep students at the local primary school, helping at a swimming pool working bee, organising Girl Guide show entries and preparing promotional gift bags to promote Guiding.
She also took part in Anzac Day commemorations.
“I participated in Anzac Day 2024 by laying the wreath and partaking in the march,” she said.
Lucy explored communication through social media research, gender representation in media, conversational French and International Women’s Day activities.
“I investigated social media platforms and their effect on communication by creating an informative poster,” she said.
“I learnt some French and taught my unit some conversational phrases, such as ‘how are you?’ or ‘good afternoon’, using cut-out words.”
For another Queen’s Guide project, Lucy created a short video about Warracknabeal, highlighting local places, including the creek, tourist sites, and sporting communities.
Leadership and collaboration also played a central role in Lucy’s achievement.
She completed drone leadership training with peers in Horsham and participated in Western Bulldogs Community Foundation leadership training.
She also visited youth organisations, including basketball, Scouts, Cubs, Joeys and Net Set Go, to compare different leadership styles and practices.
Lucy said she also helped organise and run the 2025 Region Day.
“I actively participated in organising and running the 2025 Region Day,” she said.
“I helped plan the date, what was happening, organising details and then on the day, ran the swap-making activities.”
Her commitment to learning included completing Commonwealth Award challenges, researching the history of Girl Guides, preparing citizenship posters about natural disaster preparedness, and gaining her learner driver permit.
Kirsty said Lucy had represented her unit, region and Girl Guides Victoria with pride.
“Lucy’s Queen’s Guide journey has been filled with learning, leadership, creativity, service, and personal growth,” Kirsty said.
“We recognise the incredible effort that went into achieving this award.”
