At the first Boy Scout Rally in 1910, a number of girls rocked up, proclaiming themselves to be Girl Scouts. The Scouts founder, Robert Baden-Powell quickly organised the girls into the Girl Guides. The girls had won the right for their own programs and outdoor activities!

Girl Guides have become a major force and influence in the World with over 10 million members in 2013. Over one million Australian women have been, or still are, Girl Guides. As early as 1909, a year earlier than the London Rally, Australian girls were forming 'scouting' groups.

Our Pocket Book front cover shows:
Group Shot - Bribie Guides celebrating 40th Birthday (Sept 12) - Current Members with State Commissioner.
Group of three having fun: Cardinia (Louise Davis - Unit Leader), Arctic Wolf (Monique Dempsey - Junior Leader) & Alkoomi (Joanna Dempsey - District Leader).

And, a first for Pocket Books: Yes, Prince Charles on our front cover, with Guides in Adelaide.

In 2012, just over 100 years since gate-crashing the Boy Scouts, the Girl Guides have modernised their organisation by undertaking major changes to their constitution.

Wendy Lewis, chief executive officer of Girl Guides Victoria, outlined these changes when she spoke at the Caboolture Business and Professional Women (BPW) meeting at Morayfield on the 16th July 2012. The 'Essences of the Promise and Law', the guiding framework for the international and national movements, was laid down by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) at the World Conference in 1972.

In 2011, an extensive online survey of Guide members, particularly adult members and organisers, was conducted in Australia to review the 'Essences' given that the Australian community has changed enormously over this time. Some 1200 adults contributed online and the youth in every guide unit were also given a kit and asked to participate. Some 3,300 youth members responded from all states.

The surveys showed that most members would prefer a wording of 'to respect our land, Australia' rather than 'to do my duty to God'; they also preferred not to have the optional reference to the Queen; nor did they feel that 'obedient' was an appropriate word. (Given that the girl 'scouts' was formed almost in revolt, but quickly accepted by Baden-Powell, perhaps 'obedient' and 'duty' were a little too compelling for the 'individual' nature of the guide girls!)

Being 'true to myself, my beliefs' was more important to the survey respondents. The Promise and Law review committee also found that there were eight significant characteristics for the movement: Respect, honesty, friendliness, world & environment, responsibility, empowerment & character. The committee members were Belinda Allen, Jenny Coulston, Jane Harris, Nellie Nair, Kathy Neehouse with statistical assistance from Sophie Allen.

In 2013, the revised Guide Promise and Guide Law, making use of the review and 'characteristic' words above and the survey results, form the principles of a new era of Guiding. A Guide makes her promise at a special Unit ceremony, where she receives her Promise Badge that is then worn on her uniform.

The Guide Promise
Every Girl and adult that is a member of Guiding throughout the world makes a Promise. The words may be slightly different from country to country but the spirit and meaning of the words are the same wherever Guiding exists. The Australian Promise is:

"I promise that I will do my best
To be true to myself and develop my beliefs
To serve my community and Australia
And live by the Guide Law"

The Guide Law
Guides also abide by a set of laws that provide a framework and philosophy for living. The Australian Guide Law is:

As a Guide I will strive to:
Respect myself and others
Be considerate, honest and trustworthy
Be friendly to others
Make choices for a better world
Use my time and abilities wisely
Be thoughtful and optimistic
Live with courage and strength

Getting Involved:
The local girl guides units meet on average for about 2 hours a week, usually during school terms, plus about an hour of preparation time. Some age groupings are established within the girl guides. District meetings are held once a month. Two or three times a year, a two or three day weekend is held.

Regional, State, National and International camp opportuenities are available for both youth and adult members. In January, the National Jamboree was held at Maryborough Queensland and is well described in the Hervey Bay Maryborough Pocket Book at www.pocketbooks.com.au.

Each year there are some training days or training weekends. The Guides have an Adult Leadership Program and being a former guide is NOT a requirement for becoming a leader. Leaders come from all areas of society and many professional backgrounds. They are united by their desire to share their life experiences and provide a positive role model for young guides. The Girl Guides will assist you in obtaining a Blue Card for volunteer work with children.

The Bribie Island district leader is Joanna Dempsey, phone 0417 783 301. Joanna is one of those 'professionals with life experiences' involved with Guides. She runs JD Accounting, under 'Bookkeeping' in this Pocket Book.

In the front cover photo is Joanna's daughter, Monique Dempsey, who received the Baden-Powell award on 8th Sept 2012. This is one of the major proficiency awards, towards which the girl guides work.

Monique has been a Girl Guide for 9 years and during that time, has been awarded her Junior BP and BP Award and is currently working towards her Queen's Guide Award. She is a Junior Leader with the Junior Unit, a Member of the Ranger Guide Unit, and attends the Senior Unit when needed for assistance, guidance and a helping hand.

"Most memorable time at Guides in 2012 was attending AGOONAREE camp for the first time; can't wait until September 2013 for next one."

The Bribie District and the Andrew Petrie Region each celebrated 40 years of Guides in 2012.

Girl Guides provide a non-formal education program that is a flexible and values-based training in life-skills, decision-making and leadership. The trained volunteer leaders seek to enable girls and young women to grow into confident, self-respecting, responsible community members.

The girls enjoy their guide times:

"Mum is not exactly the outdoors type, so if it wasn't for Guides, I wouldn't have had half the adventures I've been able to enjoy. I've camped under the stars and learnt how to survive in the bush. I've also made heaps of new friends - girls whom I would never have met if it wasn't for Guides."
Sophie, 14.

"I do lots of things outside school like dancing and swimming lessons, but Guides is my favourite thing because we always do something different and it's always fun. I also like to meet lots of girls who live near me but go to different schools."
Penny, 8.

"I just like being able to make lots of new friends. We always have fun and laugh."
Tamara, 6.

Ah, guides often get invited to special functions:

On Wednesday 8th November 2012, South Australian Girl Guides attended an afternoon reception at Adelaide's Government House for Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. It was an awesome afternoon where many of the girls met Charles and Camilla and in most cases shook hands with both! They asked each group of Girl Guides about camping and the fun they had.

2015 International Jamboree at Somerset Dam
Yes, this gig at Somerset Dam needs 'lots' of adults to get involved too. Ask Guides from other areas to click on www.pocketbooks.com.au to get all the information they need about this region.

Local club contacts include:
Bribie Island Girl Guides: 96 Webster St Bongaree (Map 433 A4)
District Leader: Joanna Dempsey - Phone: 0417 783 301
Email: bribiegg72@hotmail.com

Burpengary Girl Guides: Crendon St (Map 479 H1 and 480 A1)
Phone: 3888 3988

Caboolture Girl Guides: Short St Caboolture (Map 428 A4)
Phone: 0499 245 497 - Mail: PO Box 1695 Caboolture Q 4510
Email: cab.girl.guides@gmail.com

Narangba Girl Guides: Kelly St (Map 494 H2)
Phone: 3886 6465

More contacts are listed in this Pocket Book in the Business Pages under Clubs & Community Activies - Youth.

The history of Australian Girl Guides is told in the book From a flicker to a flame: the story of girl guides in Australia by Margaret Coleman and Honor Darling.

Gerry Clarke & Nevenka Clarke