Shetland Guides Awarded Green Badge
17 June 2011
Just in time for the cruise ship season, and the Tall Ships later this summer, we welcome nine new Green Badge Guides in Shetland: Edna Burke, Willis Duncan, Jim Dickson, Ingirid Eunson, Jolene Garriock, Isabelle McCallum , Hamish Nicol, Morag Reid and Jim Young.
Together they braved the winter weather, embarked on their intensive, 8-month Green Badge Training Course at Shetland College and, under the guidance of Catriona Anderson (Course Director), developed into knowledgeable, passionate Green Badge Ambassadors for Shetland.
One of the new guides, Willis Duncan, even proved deft at handling the kind of difficult situation which could rock a more established guide. On her second tour, a guest slipped on the wet grass and broke her ankle in two places, and a helicopter was required to evacuate the patient. Willis proved herself a credit to the STGA by resolving the situation in a calm, organised and professional manner.
Catriona was aided in her task by the team of Shetland trainers; Robin Hunter, Lawrence Tulloch, Nat Hall and Dr Deborah Lamb. In order to strengthen the local trainer team STGA had run the first new-style trainer training in Shetland this January resulting in Nat Hall and Deborah Lamb joining their well-seasoned colleagues in nurturing class 2011. Pat Blain, who already was a weel-kent face on the remote screen during the video-conference lectures during the Shetland studies programme, teamed up with fellow STGA assessor Silke Reeploeg to verify the required standards in the written and practical assessment.
Speaking about the new intake, Pat Blain said, "I believe we have found nine top notch candidates. They are excellent, enthusiastic, entertaining people who will wow their visitors and become excellent ambassadors for the Shetland Islands."
The Training Committee add theircongratulations to those of the Chairman and Board and wish their new colleagues an enjoyable and fruitful season and look forward to celebrating their graduation during the CPD trip to Shetland in the autumn.
If you are interested in learning to become a Green Badge Guide in Shetland, you can find out more information here.