Vocational education teacher Julie Ann Gunn is one of the 717 Australians recognised yesterday in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday honours list.
Ms Gunn, a VET trainer at Catholic Regional College Sydenham, will receive a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to youth through the Scouting movement.
The OAM is the pre-eminent means of recognising Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.
Ms Gunn has been a part of Scouts for about 40 years, first joining as a newly-wed.
“My husband was a member of scouting; once we got married I thought it would be something I’d enjoy doing with him,” Ms Gunn said.
And she hasn’t looked back.
Ms Gunn has been leading Venturer Scouts, aged 14 to 18, in different roles and districts across the state.
On hearing she would be recognised for her commitment to the youth movement, Ms Gunn recalls “bursting into tears” of joy and shock.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” Ms Gunn said.
“I do what I do for scouting, because I love to do it,” she said.
“To be recognised in this way is very humbling.”
Ms Gunn said it had been rewarding to work with young people and give them opportunities, such as learning how to camp or organising aid trips to developing countries, such as Kiribati and Timor Leste.
“Scouting really endeavours to empower young people to become independent and responsible people in the community.”
If you know someone worthy of an Order of Australia award, nominate them at www.gg.gov.au.
