Leader Bios
Leader - Jo (Frog)
Jo Allen or Frog, started in Guides as a Brownie in New Zealand in 1977 when she was 8. She returned to Guides after a long break first as the mum to a Junior Guide and then later obtaining her leader qualifications in 2013 as a Leader of the Senior Guide unit. Along with all things Guiding Jo's interests range from photography, geocaching to linocut printing. Jo enjoys undertaking service projects and every year raises funds for breast cancer. Jo is currently the District Manager for Ginninderra District.
Kaz Ely (Alkoomi)
Alkoomi made her promise as a Brownie in 1977 in Young NSW. She spent the next 9 years in the Girl Guide movement as a Brownie, Guide, Ranger Guide and Junior Leader completing her BP Emblem and Patrol Camp Permit. After a break and moving to Canberra she returned to Girl Guides in 2000 as the Unit Leader for 1st Belconnen Guides. She loves camping and all manner of outdoor activities although she is not as fit as she once was! She also loves hockey and St Patrick’s Hockey Club as well as reading and craft activities including a recent attempt at painting. Alkoomi is a Clinical Psychologist and runs her own private practice helping people with a variety of mental health issues. She is one of the Unit Leaders for 2nd Ginninderra Guides and also our Region Manager for ACT and SE NSW Region along with Rhonda ‘Kanga’ Foley and Chris ‘Brown Owl’ Butler.
Lizzie Newman (Owl)
Lizzie (Owl) joined 2nd Ginninderra in 2015 when she was 12 years old, she then moved up to Tassie Devils when she was 14. This is when she began volunteering as a junior leader for the Ginninderra Gumnuts unit. She has been volunteering with the unit since then, and has become a Leader for the unit since turning 18. Her favourite thing about being a Leader for Gunmuts is having the ability to pass her love of Guiding on to a younger generation. Lizzie is also a member of the Olaves in the District. Lizzie’s favourite things about being a Guide is the opportunities that she has had to challenge herself as a part of the Guiding district, along with the friendships that she has made. Outside of Guiding, Lizzie is in her second year of study for Nursing and also works as a disability support worker.
Amelie Allen (Coral)
Amelie joined 1st Hawker Bluegum Junior Guides in 2008, and continued through Guiding into 2nd Ginninderra Guides and then Tassie Devils Senior Guides, and is now a member of the Ginninderra Olaves! She was a Guide Helper and then a Junior Leader before turning 18 and completing her leadership qualifications as well as her canoeing qualifications. Amelie is now a Unit Leader at 1st Higgins Junior Guides where she is eager to give girls opportunities to be adventurous and gain new skills that they don’t always get elsewhere. Her favourite parts of Guiding include canoeing, camping and sleepovers, and many other adventurous activities!
Sara Murphy (Coolibah)
Sara (Coolibah) first made her Guide promise in 1992 as part of 1A Aranda Brownies - and she has been an enthusiastic Girl Guide ever since! Some of her best memories have come about because of Guides including amazing friends and international adventures. She is currently one of the Senior Guide Leaders and really enjoys helping these older youth members turn their ideas into reality. When not in Guide uniform, Sara works as a high school teacher, enjoys finding the opportunity to dance or play piano, and believes an ideal afternoon-off includes a good book and pot of tea.
Ashleigh Eason (Bandicoot)
Ashleigh joined 1st Hawker Bluegum Junior Guides at the age of 8, and continued through Guiding into 2nd Ginninderra Guides then Tassie Devil Senior Guides, and is now a member of the wonderful Ginninderra Olaves! She became a Junior Leader at 14 with the intention of giving leadership a try for a term or two, and never left, deciding to complete her leadership qualifications once she turned 18. Ashleigh is now a Unit Leader at 1st Higgins Junior Guides where she hopes to give girls a safe space to meet new friends and explore challenging new activities. Her favourite parts of Guiding include camping with friends, and giving back to the community through service projects!
Lauren Angove (Grasshopper)
Lauren (Grasshopper) started Guides in 2005 as a Guide at 10 years old with Gungahlin District. She continued Guides in Ginninderra District as a youth member and is now one of the Unit Leaders of the 2nd Ginninderra unit with Alkoomi. Grasshopper has been both a Junior leader with Ginninderra and a Leader in Orange and a Unit leader in Victoria. She has also gained her camping qualificatons. Outside of Guides Grasshopper enjoys beekeeping, gardening and baking.
Maya Downs (Quokka)
Quokka joined Girl Guides in 2020 and made her promise as a leader of the Tassie Devils Senior Guide Unit. She loves learning about Guiding and getting to know all the Girl Guides. Outside of Guiding, Quokka is studying to be a high school science teacher and is a competitive powerlifter.
Nicole Georgopoulos (Kanga)
Nicole started Guides in 2005 as a Junior Guide when she was 6 in 1st Higgins Junior Guides. She has continued Guides in the Ginninderra District as a youth member, both as a participant and Junior Leader, where she earnt her Queen's Guide. As an adult Nicole has continued to be a member of Guides as a leader and an Olave. She achieved her Leadership Qualifications in 2021. Nicole has recently graduated from university with bachelor's in History and International Relations. Outside of Guides, Nicole enjoys sewing, reading, and Dungeons and Dragons. Currently she is a Unit Leader of Tiger Quolls Guides along with Natasha Choo.
Natasha Choo (Bearded Dragon)
Natasha joined guides in 2010 when she was 10 in 2nd Ginninderra guides. She moved through guides to Tassie Devils and is now a Unit Leader for Tiger Quolls Guides and a part of Ginninderra Olaves. She loves being a part of Guides as it provides opportunities for her to try new things, like bouldering, making and bedazzling catapults, or playing DnD. Outside of Guides, Natasha is finishing a double degree in Science and Languages. She enjoys playing with her dogs, talking about her dogs to anyone who asks, sewing (for her dogs), and watching anime (with her dogs).
