LIFE isn’t always easy for growing girls.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s hard to figure out what’s important with body images and Divas, showing them how to look and act, shoved down their throats by magazines, reality TV and the Internet in a seemingly never ending cycle.
Girls Guides is one organisation which doesn’t care about what type of make-up a girl usees or how well she can lip-sync Lady Gaga’s latest hit. It helps young girls become confident women and valuable members of the community.
Pru Carpenter has given most if not all of her spare time to the Girl Guides cause and has been recognised on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Mrs Carpenter is just one of 135 nationwide to become a member of the Order of Australia (AM) today.
Her AM is for “service to youth through the Guiding movement and the Abbotsleigh School, and to the community of Bowral”.
Mrs Carpenter was director of the Guides Australia Board from 2003-2009, has been Acting Chief Commissioner at various times and represented Guides Australia at the World Association of Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) ninth Asia-Pacific Regional Conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2007.
“Other people get these things, I was absolutely blown away,” she said.
“Girl Guides help girls learn to be their best. It helps them learn leadership and have confidence in their peer group.”
Having travelled to Malaysia with the guides in 2006 and 2007 Ms Carpenter said most people didn’t realise the travel opportunities involved in guiding.
“Rotary is pretty well known for offering international experience but guides also offers it to young women.”
Mrs Carpenter was the Guides NSW State Commissioner and Chairman of the Board fro NSW and the ACT from 2003-2009. Ms Carpenter has been a Leader with Bowral Brumby Guides concurrent with the Junior Guide unit since 2003 and was the Southern Highlands Region representative to State Council from 1997-2001. She was Leader with Bowral’s Junior Guides from 1989-2003.
Ms Carpenter has been a council member with the north shore Anglican girls school, Abbotsleigh, from 1998-2006 and was Parent Group Vice-President and Committee Member for the Abbotsleigh Foundation.
The Emu Award in 2004 and the Red Kangaroo Award in 2008 are some of her guiding achievements.
Chairman of the Council of the Order board Professor John Hay AC said the diversity of service across all fields of endeavour was recognised in today’s Honours List.
“These awards are public recognition of people who provide outstanding community service and whose achievements enhance national identity. By their actions they demonstrate the qualities of positive role models,” he said.
“The recipients are not only worthy of respect but encourage emulation. These awards also recognise the ‘quiet achievers’ in our midst. They are people who serve the community, but do not seek accolades.”
“The Order of Australia relies entirely upon community initiative for submission of nominations. It is important that the honours system continues to uphold the national ethos of valuing diversity and recognising the contributions made by citizens to Australian cultural and social life, regardless of background.
“All Australians are encouraged to nominate fellow citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the well-being of others for national recognition in the Honours List.”
Mrs Carpenter was one of 159 women from the 474 on the list.