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ond al aa ci Sse de Girl Guides celebrate 75 years this week PORT PERRY STAR -- Tues. February 19, 1985 -- 11 In the beginning, girls in blue just wanted to be like the Boy Scouts It was 1909 in London, England and the Crystal Palace was swarming with young men in uniform, jamboreeing their masculine hearts out in the Great Crystal Palace Boy Scout Rally. But tucked away in the midst of 11,000 boys was a mere handful of girls who wanted the Chief Scout to accept them as "Scouts" too. Lord Baden-Powell was impressed by their determination but he made it clear that ""Scouts" were boys. Girls, he decided, could be 'Guides', and his sister Agnes would be their leader. With Agnes at the helm, the Girl Guides quickly became an inter- national phenomena, allowing young women fresh learning oppor- tunities during a time when their older sisters weren't allowed to vote. Said Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, in 1973, '""The perusal of Scouting for Boys opened up new and appealing vistas to young female Edwar- dians...visions of a life where women could face the world on equal terms with men. The idea chim- ed in perfect tune with the growing demand for women's suffrage." Seventy-five years since it began, the Guiding movement is stronger than ever, and still offering young girls a chance to 'face the world on equal terms % x Fe x PPPOE I That's local Guide founder Joan Godley leaning against a porch rail at Camp Samac with a few of her Guide charges, including Shirley, Nancy, Beryl, Anne and Sandra. The photo was taken in 1954, before Girl Guides had official camp uniforms. Leading the troups There's the cookies, of course. You can always help out local Girl Guides, Brownies, Pathfinders and Rangers by buying the famous vanilla and chocolate wafers, but there's more you can do. "We can always use leaders,' says District Commissioner Bev Brown. With nearly 150 girls in the District's with men.' Some of North America's most famous -women were Guides at some point in their lives, including Dr. Roberta Bondar, the only woman on Canada's six member space team; author " et Atwood and : Andrea Martin. The Girl Guides is an organization that teaches girls to work, share, and love one another in har- mony with and in the universe,' says Ms. Martin. "What could be better? My experience as a Girl Scout, thenas a counselor at Girl Scout Camp (in Portland, Maine) certainly con- tributed to the person I became and the characters I have chosen to play in the acting pro- fession." Guiding in 1948 Although Lord Baden- Powell's sister Agnes started Guiding History in 1909, the familiar blue uniforms didn't arrive in Port Perry until 1948, when a Guide Mothers Auxiliary was formed with a Mrs. J. Hutchin- son as president. Shortly afterwards the 1st Guide Company was formed on Scugog Island with Captain Joan Godley and assistants Mabel Cook and Jeane Goode in charge. The 1st Brownie Pack took shape not too long after with Emily Badour as Brown Owl, a title that will bring back years of memories to any woman who has ever been a Brownie, and then flown up to be a Guide. According to an in- troduction from the first Rules for Guiding in Great Britain, June 1916, Guiding is "a jolly game largely played in the out- of-doors---where Guiders and Guides can go adventuring together as older and younger sisters picking up health and happiness, handcraft and helpfulness, through camping and hiking and the study of Nature." Be Prepared Their objectives ask a sense of pride in ac- complishment; to ac- quire practical and leadership skills; and to develop their ability and willingness to help. Their motto, of course, is Be When Port Perry District Commissioner Bev Brown was just a small girl in a blue uniform, Being Prepared meant learning how to run a household for the certain eventuality of marriage and family. "It used to be a lot of the emphasis was on the home and the communi- ty, you know, the kind of girl skills every Guide needed to know," she recalls. "Now they can learn about business, computers, aircraft, astronomy, industry and agriculture. Not to mention camp- ing, still the mainstay and favourite program for most Guides. "I learned how to cook at Girl Guides Camp," says Commissioner Brown. "When I was first married I thought, if only I could light a camp- fire in the middle of my living room." Tough Work The "learning" is key to Guiding, and a girl with badges up and down her sleeves has worked her way through a myriad of interests. Each badge requires specific work on various topics, and when enough badges are acquired, Guides are entitled to the All-Round Cord--the highest award a Girl Guide can achieve. And the badges aren't easy to collect. To pick up a Metal Worker badge, for example, a Guide must be able to ex- plain how to use a Ball peine hammer, a flux, wheel tongs, sand cushion and a tar plate. She is asked to give the name and address of at least one place where metal work supplies are available, and to visit a metal worker to observe the techniques of the - craft-and to be prepared . to tell what she has seen. Then she is asked to design a brooch or medallion, using her pro- vincial flower, made from copper, silver, aluminum, or to make a metal tray and a set of eight coasters in aluminum from a design. Finally, she must visit a museum, historical building or another place where she can research the history of pewter or to describe the uses of gold, silver, pewter or bronze in ancient times. Sound difficult? It is, but most Guides set out to earn badges with a vengeance, often work- ing on more than one at a time. And all the while, she must obey the Guide Pro- mise and Law. The Promise states, "I . on my hopowr, to do my best: To do my duty to God, the Queen and my country, to help other people at all times, to obey the Guide Law." The 'Law has ten commandments: 1. A Guide's honour is to be trusted. 2. A Guide is loyal. 3. _A Guides useful and helps others. 4. AGuideis a friend to (Turn to page 17) It's Guide Week in Scugog Township, if you didn't know already, and Girl Guides across the country are celebrating 75 years of "Be- ing Prepared." Above, District Commissioner Bev Brown hoists the Brownie uniform she wore as a young girl, while wearing a Com- missioner's uniform from the Thirties. See stories for details. to Guiding movement (which includes Port Perry youngsters to develop ersonal values an 3 and Blackstock) leaders are always in short Pespect for self any supply. thers; to devel But don't be intimidated by the title -- all respect aid ex a leader really needs, as Bev points out, is a _-- a love of kids. The rest is taken care of during the order A orientation and as you go along. and outdoor adventure: The time required is minimal, about two totnokefriends and have : hours for the weekly meeting (Tuesday nights fun: to achieve a sense of ' at the Kin-Scout Hall in Port Perry), and two well-being; to learn the hours for planning. importance of decision "It's also an organization for women,' Bev making; to function in says about Guides. 'It's not just for kids -- it's small groups; to achieve a social occasion for us. And you learn a lot too. You wouldn't believe the things I've learned since I've been involved. Bev doesn't appreciate people who use organizations like the Girl Scouts as glorified babysitting services, and gladly pitched in when her own daughter signed up. "I know, parents are busy these days. But there's a certain amount of time I feel I have to use supporting my children's activities. SCUGOG APPLIANCE REPAIR 986-5312 xf Maybe I can't give 100 per cent but I like to do my best." i) If you'd like to be a leader, or would like How many faces do you recognize in this Gerrow) in the second row from the top, far more information about Girl Guides of Canada, I photo, taken at the very first Banquet of left, and Wendy Bateman, in the fourth row call Bev Brown 985-8633. - po Brownies and Girl Guides on Scugog Island. That's Kent Farndale (known then as Kent from the front, second from the right. Who Hf we cannot fix it - Vou do not pay! else looks familiar?