This page was last updated on 27-Aug-2010 .

Not to be outdone, Sarah’s mum has been in the news too...........
Morag Doak, Captain of The Girls’ Brigade 1st Ellon Company was  presented with an award of  recognition  from  Aberdeenshire Council for her service to the community through Girls’ Brigade.

Morag is pictured with Councillor Rob Merson and Provost Raymond Bisset

MY QUEEN’S AWARD

The Queens Award is the highest award in  Girls’ Brigade.  The aim of the award is to encourage girls and young women to a personal commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, while respecting other faiths, inspiring them to greater endeavour in service within the general community and to make a contribution to the worldwide concept of The Girls' Brigade.  Prior to starting the award, candidates are required to have a minimum of 75% attendance at company meetings in the       previous year and continuous Christian Growth commitments throughout the duration of the Award.  There are 7 sections to the award which include 2 years girls’ brigade service, a general study paper, national residential weekend, Christian growth, 2 initiative tasks, voluntary service and a project.

For my Queens Award I spent a year at the Aberdeenshire  Music Centre for my voluntary service helping out with the Concert Band.  For my project I designed and stitched a lily in cross stitch, and wrote a report on what I did to complete the cross stitch.  The initiative tasks involved teaching part of the badge work to another section of the company.  I chose to teach a pom pom routine to the Junior section which was     performed in the church.  For the 2nd initiative task, I raised money for a charity.  I raised £62.50 by guessing the number sweeties in the jar.  This money was then donated to the Church Refurbishment Fund.

The general study paper focuses on the history of the Girls Brigade, the Monarchy, UK government, Scottish Parliament, Local Government, the European Union and the United National Organisation and Human Rights.

The National Residential weekend brings together other    members of Girls Brigade who are currently working towards achieving their Queen’s Award.  There was a small part of     assessment throughout the weekend for personal presentation on an International GB company, GB knowledge and Christian commitment.

Louise Grant

CAPTAIN’S REPORT 2010

Oh no, I hear you say.   Here she goes to waffle on again!   I promise it won’t be for long – just long enough for the girls to get their breath back and get ready to come back on to get their prizes.

Brigade resumed back in September when we again welcomed some new faces, and lost some old ones who had moved away.   Shortly after that we held our annual “Let’s Celebrate” evening with the Boys’ Brigade – well what can I say – a packed hall, superb singing and great congregation participation, and, yes, Girls’ Brigade won all the challenges against the Boys’ Brigade!!!   As usual Steve had everyone as high as kites by the end of the evening.  I’m sure you, the parents, just love us when we send the kids home to you like this.

In December we held our “Neon” Christmas party which was a really bright affair, and enjoyed by everyone.   Even the traditional jelly and ice cream had a neon look about them.

Into 2010 and the Brigader section organised a Coffee morning with cake and candy and other side stalls.   On the Friday night as we were setting out, the dreaded snow started and by gum did it snow.   We had mountains of home baking, jams, chutneys and toffee – what on earth would we do if we had to cancel.   But the Brigaders and helpers didn’t let us down – they dug themselves out and arrived in cheery mode.   But would people manage to get here to support us.   Yes they did, and we raised almost £900 towards company funds.  Wow!  A huge thank you to everyone who donated, those who braved the elements to support the event and the members of the congregation who bought the leftovers in church on the Sunday.
Our badgework has again been very varied.   The Explorers have been following the theme of “Animals” this year and as you saw during the display, and can see on the walls, they’ve had a great time.

The Juniors looked at the “Fruits of the Spirit” for their spiritual subject;  competed in Team Games for their physical;  indulged in Tasty Treats for their educational subject and went “Green” for their service subject.

The Brigaders studied “Symbols of Faith” for their spiritual subject;  danced the night away with Ceilidh dancing for their physical;  made a Drama out of things for their educational subject and tried to have a more Healthy Lifestyle for their service subject.   As well as this a lot of the Brigaders help out with the younger sections and run the tuck shop,  for which I am extremely grateful.   
This year 6 of our girls took part in the Girls’ Brigade Winter Olympics in Fraserburgh, and came away with the silver medals. They competed in a round-robin curling competition and also designed an Olympics poster which you see on the wall.

Ashleigh, Kateah and Louise, three of our Brigaders attended the Leadership 1 training day in Longside and they have now gained their award.     Amanda attended the Leadership 3 training weekend in Dunblane and completed all her tasks and tonight she will become a Warrant Officer in the company.

During this past year or so Louise, Aisha and Calaidh have been working towards their Queen’s Award, which is the highest award that you can gain in Girls’ Brigade.   We have only had one winner of this award in the past 35 years, so to have 3 people working towards it is fantastic.   It involves a lot of dedication on the part of the participants who have to complete a variety of subjects including voluntary service, Girls’ Brigade and Church service, a general study paper, a project and 2 initiative tasks, as well as attend a residential weekend.   And all this whilst they are studying for exams, attending university and working – no mean feat.  

Louise, Sarah and Aisha have been busy over the past year and have now completed their Officer Training and we look forward to them being commissioned after we come back after the summer break.   It’s hard to think that just a few years ago they were just wee Explorers too but it has been great to see them coming through all the sections of Brigade and to be where they are today.

Indeed, 2009/2010 has been a very busy and successful year for Ellon Girls’ Brigade and I just hope and pray that as we start our 35th year things will go from strength to strength.

The success of our company is down to the dedication and enthusiasm of our officers and our helpers – without them where would we be?   And the girls ..... you saw tonight what a great group we have – their enthusiasm is infectious, and they are always willing to do the things that we ask of them.  

Finally, it is also down to you, as parents and guardians – you get the girls here each week and support the work of Girls’ Brigade.   

Thank you.

Millennium Volunteer Awards

Back row - left to right - Aisha Walker, Sarah Reid, Louise Grant
Front row - left to right - Calaidh Paterson, Sarah Doak, Nayomi Walker

The six young ladies from Ellon Girls' Brigade were among 80 from all over Scotland who received their Millennium Volunteer Awards on Friday 6th June at a celebration held in Wishaw Baptist Church. Family and friends travelled with them and a total of 18 from Ellon went south for the presentation.  

The young ladies were all presented with certificates for 50 hours voluntary service within our Girls' Brigade company over the last 6 months - for work done within the sections of the company;  for helping in the Duke of  Edinburgh Award Scheme;  for helping out with our tuck shop;  and for 2 girls for their work towards  their Queen's Award Badge.

The presentations were made by the guest speaker for the evening - Rev. Annette Morrison - a former Girls' Guildry member and a former nurse at Law Hospital, who was asked to go to Malawi to help fund and build a hospital in the capital, which has been named the David Livingstone Hospital.   She gave a very vivid and thought provoking speech, encouraging the girls in all aspects of their voluntary work.

Well done to everyone!

Morag
"A very proud Captain"!

1ST ELLON GIRLS’ BRIGADE

SPECIAL PRIZES 2010

1st Ellon Company The Girls’ Brigade

On 15 March 2009, Sunday morning service at a packed Ellon Parish Church  was conducted by members of the Girls’ Brigade.

Part of the worship was dedicated to the commissioning of Nayomi Walker and Sarah Doak as officers in 1st Ellon Girls’ Brigade. This was conducted by Parish Minister Rev Stephen Emery and Ms. Sylvia Scoular, Commissioner of Buchan Division Girls’ Brigade.

There was a surprise in store for Ellon Captain, Mrs Morag Doak who received a long service award in recognition of her 30years service to Girls’ Brigade.

1st Ellon Girls’ Brigade

It’s hard to believe that we’re nearly half way through the Brigade year - how time flies when you’re enjoying yourself!!
We’ve had a busy start to our year, welcoming quite a number of new girls into the company which has been fantastic.We are covering a wide range of topics this year ranging from “food” to “feeding the world”;  from “pom-pom dancing” to “independent women”;  from “following Jesus” to “Amazing Grace”. 

We had our “Let’s Celebrate” night, when a large number of family and friends joined us and helped us get our session off to a great start, and I would like to thank everyone who made it special for me when I was presented with a certificate and flowers to celebrate being in G.B. for 30 years - as everyone will tell you, it takes a lot to make me speechless, but I certainly was that night!!

The Juniors and Brigaders took part in Remembrance, firstly by helping to “dress” Poppy Man and secondly by taking part in the parade on the Sunday.

Our next event will be our Sponsored Silence on 5th December when we are trying to raise funds to pay for our Christmas Disco and also to buy some much needed new equipment for the girls.   If you would like to help us by making a donation, it will be very gratefully received.  

We are having a Pyjama Christmas Disco on the 12th December when everyone will be coming along dressed in their pyjamas - at least they’ll be able to just fall into bed when they get home.

2009 is going to be just as busy.   We’re planning another “Bring Yourself and Buy” sale at the end of January (watch this space) so if you’re having a clear out of your cupboards before Christmas, any items of bric-a-brac, games, toys etc. etc. will be most welcome - we can store them in the G.B. cupboard.   Also, in March, the girls will again be leading worship in Ellon Parish Church - again watch this space!

Can I just say a big thank you to everyone who has helped us in anyway so far this session and we look forward to your continuing support in 2009.

Morag E. Doak, Captain

1st Ellon Girls’ Brigade

LET’S CELEBRATE - 2008

A large group of families and friends joined the girls on their evening if rededication and celebration. Girls’ Brigade Captain  Morag Doak     began her service to the Girls’ Brigade in Elgin 30 years ago and has served 1st Ellon Company for 28 years.This commitment was recognised when she received a Church of Scotland Long Service  Certificate from Rev Stephen Emery. Morag said, “My gast was truly flabbered". Other presentations included Nayomi Walker and Sarah Doak are undertaking their Officer Training and received  a
Safeguarding Certificate from the Church of Scotland Child Protection Department.

1st Ellon Girls’ Brigade !! WE DID IT !!

We won two of the four trophies awarded for the Buchan Divisional Challenge 2008

The Explorer Section won the Alice Trophy for the best Explorer Challenge. The adjudicator said, “I liked the large picture of the officer and the cakes in the shape of the GB badge. The prayer was a new one to me—well done!”

The company won the Centenary Trophy for the best overall Company Challenge. The adjudicator said, “What a great worship service—I wish I had been there—dance, song, puppets and congregational involvement. Super fund-raising—£700—and the whole company were involved—even the chaplain!”

WELL DONE AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED IN ANY WAY

Morag Doak, Captain

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Friday, May 16th Girls' Brigade Annual Display and Presentation of Awards