Kareenya's Promise

Kareenya would love to travel to Paxwold, UK, birthplace of the guiding movement. After that she would like to travel to Girl Guide places and events anywhere in the world.

My mother, Kareenya, died in May 2015.  This travel bug is a celebration of her Guiding life. 

Kareenya, Mum's Guiding (and Geocaching) name.  She was a much loved Girl Guide leader, disctrict commissioner and involved in WA state guiding administration in Perth, Western Australia. She took part in many Guiding activities, particularly canoeing, abseiling, she was up for anything, until the last few months of her life.

Kareenya loved travelling, not just to guide events. We know she would have loved to follow the travels of this little badge, as she started caching about a year before she died of cancer. This travel bug is a guide Promise Badge which guides receive on their investiture.

Her guides have given her this poem with which to set forth on her travels.

WHENEVER I'M AT GUIDES KAREENYA IS THERE!

When my daughter started Girl Guides at Karrinyup as a 9 year old - Kareenya was there!
When she moved to North Beach Guides - Kareenya was there
Then they all moved to Doubleview and Kareenya was there
Every camp, every extra event ...

A cheery hello and a cheery smile to welcome us (Guides, parents, new girls, Leaders) - every time
Quietly working away in the background

When my daughter did her Leadership Qualifications - Kareenya was there as her Learning Partner.
When I started coming to help out at Doubleview Dolphin Guides - Kareenya was always there.

As a Leader-in-Training - Kareenya was there
Interested in what I was doing, checking how things were going ... quietly supporting & encouraging.
Able to find every bit rope, paper doily, glitter glue, ball of wool or compass I wanted to use.
Also quietly, but strongly assertively letting me know if she thought I'd gone a bit astray!
Directing me back to being on track!

I often saw Kareenya with broom in hand before a meeting - sweeping the outside path
(to create such a nice welcome)...
And, broom in hand at the end of a meeting - cleaning away the evidence of such great fun!

About then, I started to notice, that not ony was Kareenya there
- every weekly meeting, Region Meetings, Training ...
but also, that ...

Kareenya had been there!

A little note here and there to remind us
Not to block the sink!
To put the used paper towels in the bin as they would block the toilet if we tried to flush them!
The cushions would have a new basket and all be neat
The chairs all had stoppers on their feet ...
So many little things...

Even now, at meetings - Kareenya is there
In the office last week, I picked up her song book and it fell open to "When Ever I Make a Promise"...
The Starfish have learnt it and will sing it at Promise Campfire next week!

Kareenya's ideas, knowledge and love of Guides has been special to so many girls and leaders.
Kareenya is there...
in the way I now lead,
in the way I speak to Guides,
in the way I care for the hall,
in the way I help others...

And... I really must find time to sweep the path!

by 'Pearl'
Doubleview Starfish Girl Guides