Girl Guiding celebrating its 110 years
Tararua Girl Guiding movement celebrated the formation of New Zealand Girl Guiding 110 years ago as part of a nation-wide celebration in Pahiatua on Sunday September 16.
There was a theme of 110, which meant there were activities such as making 110 daisy chains, 110 bubbles, carrying 110 eggs in an egg and spoon race. There was a pass the parcel event with each layer unwrapped having a piece of history read out loud followed by sharing a birthday cake. The celebration involved 36 pippins (5-6 years old,) brownies (7-9.5 years old,) girl guides (9.5-12.5 years old,) and rangers (12.5-17) in the Tararua District from Dannevirke, Woodville and Pahiatua. They raised money from a gold coin trail which was donated to Pukaha Mount Bruce. This was part of the theme being environmental projects. The girls had a scavenger competition and had to look for clues in trees about birds.
Leaders Awards were presented — Nicky Prince of Pahiatua for Te Ara (the path which is given to a leader who has met all the requirements of their position and demonstrated commitment to building their skills. Allie Dunn of Dannevirke for Arataki — to guide and lead — which is given to a leader who has provided exceptional leadership which includes taking on additional responsibilities and/or consistently providing quality leadership over an extended period of time.
Anyone wanting to join can do it online through Girl Guiding NZ or email Nanette Davenport at m.n.davenport@xtra.co.nz.
“There is room for more girls to join and we need another guide leader,” says former leader Carol Pound who was assisting on the day.
“Girls learn skills for outdoor cooking and camping while the younger girls do craft activities. There are games and trips away from town. Rangers can go to ten pin bowling in Palmerston North, to the Splash Centre in Hastings and will be going to the Aquarium in Napier next term.
“They go on camps and sleepovers. It’s more about technology these days rather than how your uniform looks. We do community work such as helping out at the Riding for the Disabled. Rangers help the Pahiatua Lions Club at Halloween.
“There are lots of chances to learn leadership, while confidence can be gained with activities such as the high rope course and Rangers can learn advocacy skills. Overall it helps develop a camaraderie between the girls. In small communities everyone gets involved because everyone knows everyone. Woodville, Dannevirke and Pahiatua can work together. Older girls can go to jamborees throughout the world or join the national jamborees which are held every four years, alternating between the North and South Islands. Guiding fills a niche in between sport and ballet,” said Mrs Pound.
History: the Girl Guiding movement was started by Lieutenant Colonel David Cossgrove, (1852 — 1920) who served in the Boer War with Baden-Powell. Cossgrove was a headmaster in Christchurch and was quick to see the applicability of Baden-Powell’s ideas in New Zealand; he was the first to start organising the Scout Movement in New Zealand. Cossgrove had four daughters, and his youngest, Muriel, living in a country where women had already had the vote for 15 years, soon asked for a girl’s equivalent to Scouts.
In 1908 — a year before girls in Britain made the same request — Cossgrove organised the Peace Scouts for girls, which led to the foundation of Girl Guiding in New Zealand.