Queensburgh Brownies’ Brown Owl flies off

FOR more than two years, the1st Queensburgh Brownie Pack has been cared for and nurtured by Samantha Olsen, better known by the girls in her pack as Brown Owl.

However, her time with the Brownies is coming to an end soon as she stretches her wings to fly across the ocean to her new home country of New Zealand.

Olsen soon got very involved in the Guiding community by initially just thinking she would help out a little.

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“I saw they needed a new volunteer for Brownies and decided it would be something great to get into and get my daughter involved too,” said Olsen.

She was quickly incorporated into the heart of the company of girls and young women which centres around the historic Fairfell Guide Hall in Northdene which serves the greater Highway and Durban West community.

Love of volunteering

“I love volunteering for the Brownies as I see the difference it makes in the girls’ lives and how it impacts them. They learn such valuable life lessons and skills that are missing in our youth today,” explained Sam when asked about her role as Brown Owl.

Girl Guides and Brownies, a service organisation for girls and young women, runs entirely by the grace of its volunteers.

“Without volunteers, the groups will eventually no longer be able to function or exist,” said Sam.

“What can I say but that Queensburgh Girl Guides will be losing a gem of a person. She has been so energetic and enthusiastic when it comes to her Brownies. She is always on time and ready to have fun. All the girls love her and will miss her dearly,” said Charlene Van Ballegoo who runs the 1st Queensburgh Teddy den.

“One of my girls left last term to move up to the Guides group. She had to make up a scrapbook of all her Brownies memories. When I saw her book I suddenly realised just how much I have done with the girls and the impact I have had on their lives. It was a very touching moment for me,” said Olsen

“Last year we did an outing to the Ingane Yami Children’s Village in Shongweni, where I work as an educator. It was great to see my girls interact with the kids I teach,” she recalled.

Skills training in safety

Brownies learn new skills in a safe and controlled environment where they can benefit from the interaction with other, like-minded girls. They also earn badges and develop the capacity to see that their work does something to give back to many organisations.

“Another outing we did was visit CROW this year. My girls collected a boot full of items on their summer wish list and we gave them a cash donation of R650. CROW was so happy and grateful and my girls learnt the importance of giving back to the community,” said the beaming Brown Owl.

“After all, our motto is Lend a Hand. It was such a lovely outing.”

Brownies also enjoy the chance to go on camp. “We did a camp last year in December. We all had to sleep in the hall on mattresses on the floor. What a fun evening but not much sleep was had!”

Sam said thinking back over the years makes it hard for her to leave. “There are so many memories we have had together. It is very difficult for me to think I am going to leave it all behind,” she said.

With Sam leaving the area, her shoes needed filling. Snowy Owl, Rajeshree Naidoo, is set to take over as Brown Owl at the end of September and will be assisted by Pygmy Owl, Savithri Roopanand.

Guiding does exist

“The biggest misconception about the Girl Guides is actually that people do not know it even exists!” Sam laughed.

There are programmes for girls of various age groups, from Teddies aged between four-and-a-half to seven, to Rangers which caters for girls up to the age of 18, and even adult Guiders, the movement offers a place for all women.

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While it is very much still in existence, it can only continue if sufficient volunteers step up to help keep things going and enough girls join into the various age-differentiated units of companies to keep the guiding light shining brightly. Sadly though, there are not too many people who are putting their hand up to get involved with guiding at the moment.

“The most important quality is to want to make a difference in the community you live in and of course love being with the girls. Planning is also important as lessons need to be planned in advance to ensure the girls earn badges at the end of each term. Otherwise, any and all skills and talents are welcome as almost all can be of use in a variety of ways.”

“Obviously only women Guiders can work with the girls, but many of the dads and male family members help the girls out with projects that they often have and attend the outings we have once a year,” she said.

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