News
10 September, 2024
Scout’s honour
A Woodford Scout’s member has made history, being the first ever Woodford member to be awarded the highest Scouting award that can be achieved in the Rover Scout section across Australia: the Baden-Powell Scout Award (BPSA).
Kaitlyn Baker said the award serves as a recognition of achievements and completion of a journey, being honoured to be recognised for her eff orts and commitment to the Scouting movement.
The Kilcoy local has been part of the Scouts for 13 years, having joined the organisation in 2011 as a Venturer Scout (aged 14 to 17), as a way to come out of her shell.
“I was quite reserved as a child and almost frightened to try new things,” she said.
“A friend suggested to me that Scouts would be good for me. I went for a trial night, and have had no regrets since.”
The 28-year-old has grown in her role over the years, becoming a Leader of Joeys, a Rover Scout and, currently, the Group Leader.
Despite receiving the highest Scouting award available to Youth in Australia, Kaitlyn said her greatest Scouting achievement is the person she has become as a result of the movement.
“My confidence in my abilities and my newfound passion for stepping out of my comfort zone, to try new things that I would never have considered within a million years,” she said.
“My favourite part about the Scouts is the ability to try new things that would just not be possible without having an organisation behind you, like abseiling and rock-climbing, to archery, hiking, pioneering and my favourite, canoeing.”
As part of her journey, Kaitlyn also became a member of the Woodford Show Society in 2020, having been nominated by them as their Next Generation Representative, a regional role to encourage younger people into the Show Society.
Woodford Scout Group treasurer, Colleen Baker, said the Woodford group is “extremely proud” of Kaitlyn, as she is the first to reach the milestone in the group’s 68 year history.
“She has worked hard and shown great personal growth across all areas, but most particularly in Service to both Scouting and to the community,” she said.
“At Scouts we call her ‘Raksha’, which is the mother wolf from the Jungle Book. She was given this name when she started as a Youth helper in our Cub section,” she said.
“Wherever she goes in Scouting, and whatever position she holds in the future, the name Raksha stays with her always.” Kaitlyn’s award ceremony was attended by members of all levels of Scouting, members of the community, family and friends.
Dr Hsien-Jin Teoh, Assistant Commission of the Northern Moreton Bay region, and a fellow BPSA awardee, spoke on behalf of the Queensland Commissioner, presenting Kaitlyn with a pin of his from 1955, in the tradition of passing a treasured gift from one BPSA recipient to another.
Kaitlyn said her next challenge is settling into her new role as Group Leader at Woodford, after being a Joey Leader for the past nine years, and “see what happens from there.”
Congrats Kaitlyn!
