Helen Geard AM

From helping in local units through to becoming Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides Australia, Helen Geard AM has been an integral part of the Girl Guide movement at a local, national and international level for more than three decades.

Ms Geard was surprised, honoured, humbled and grateful to be appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to youth, and to the community.

“I want to make a positive contribution to my community and enjoy working and learning from a wide range of amazing people,” Ms Geard says.

That contribution extends beyond Girl Guides: Ms Geard is also the Vice President of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania and has been involved with Rural Youth Tasmania since 1989.

Asked about her greatest impact, Ms Geard says “through Landcare and my natural resource management work I can point to the thousands of trees that I have planted and the thousands more that I have helped distribute to farmers and say these trees are making a positive long-term difference in the environment. 

“It is however the wonderful personal stories that let me and others know that organisations like Girl Guides make the greatest impact and why I continue to be involved.

“I would like to thank my family for their love, support and patience. To my friends, fellow volunteers, the staff I engage with at various organisations (Girl Guides, Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania and the Uniting Church) and my work colleagues at the Southern Midlands Council – thank you for everything you do to make our world a better place.”