Orange High School student Beth Webster, 18, has become a member of an esteemed group of young women who’ve achieved the internationally-recognised award, which takes members on a journey of personal development and greater self-awareness by undertaking various challenges in line with the Australian Guide Program. 

Miss Webster said since joining the organisation 11 years ago, attaining the award had been her dream. 

“I remember being eight, seeing the board and saying to myself, ‘I want to see my name on the board’,” Miss Webster said. 

“It’s an eight-year-old’s dream come true.”

Working towards her objective took her three years to achieve. 

She chose an arts focus for her skill component, restoring a flyscreen and decorating it using decoupage, learning the finer points of scrapbooking with European holiday photos and improving her French.

For the service aspect of the challenge, she combined her interest and passion for horse riding by volunteering for 30 hours at Orange Horse Rescue Service over the course of three months. 

Miss Webster also gained formal training and recognition for her advanced skills in canoeing as part of the outdoor skill aspect of the award. 

While all the challenges of the Queen’s Guide award related to things she enjoyed, Miss Webster said the experience had helped her develop, not only as a Guide but personally, and that being a Girl Guide had transformed her life. 

“Originally I joined Guides because it was my parents’ decision, but it’s opened up so many opportunities that I would never have had access to before,” she said.

“It’s been a real confidence booster. I wouldn’t be the same without Guides. And you see it with the little girls coming through.”

Guides leader Sandra Chrystall said Miss Webster demonstrated the qualities that the world association supported girls to develop - confidence, self-respect, honesty and responsible community membership.

She is the first Orange District Girl Guide to win the award since 2010.