BATHURST has had a long association with Brownies and Girl Guides and one volunteer who led large numbers of young people over many years was the late Glad Clarke. Glad grew up in Kelso and had a great knowledge of the area and a keen interest in guiding.
This local troop are out on a hike near the Macquarie River. There are no names listed on the reverse, unfortunately. If you recognise anyone, please phone me on 6331 5404.
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The first meeting of the Girl Guides Association of Australia was held in Melbourne in 1926. The formation of this national body came over a decade after the first guides group, the Girl Peace Scouts, was formed in Tasmania.
In June 1931, Miss Durack travelled on the steam train from Bathurst to Sydney to meet Lady Baden-Powell, the Chief Guide, at Government House.
Lady Baden-Powell had the Girl Guide Association convene a conference of the headmistresses of the girls' schools and colleges of the state. Lady Game lent the ballroom of Government House for the conference.
In opening the conference, Lady Game spoke of the "happy spirit of sisterhood among Girl Guides". Lady David, the State Commissioner, presided, and in her address she explained what Girl Guiding had done for the world.
Two years later, several local towns and villages had Girl Guide troops. Along with Bathurst, there were troops at Lithgow, Blackheath, Portland and Wallerawang.
The Lithgow Girl Guide company had been going eight years by this time. There were over 200 girls involved. Scouts and cubs were also formed locally.
Camps were held on a regular basis. They usually started with a formal gathering. Dinner at night was usually served up at 6pm, after which the girls had a campfire.
The girls would sit around the campfire and entertain any visitors, along with any parents and adults.
A chairwoman would usually open the proceedings by proposing a toast to the King. Other toasts would follow to such people as the District Commissioner and other guests of honour.
After this, the girls would put on a program of entertainment. The program would be varied and would include songs, recitations and amusing sketches.
A cabaret was conducted by the Bathurst Girl Guides in October 1934 in aid of the Far West Children's Health Scheme. The evening yielded a profit of 12 pounds, which was forwarded to Mr S.G. Drummond, organiser of the movement. More than 100 people attended the event.
There was a competition for a cake donated by Messrs. Sutton Bros, which was conducted in connection with the scheme. It was won by ticket 516, held by Norman Flynn. Mrs R.W. Peacock won a pair of fine silver rings donated by Mr A. A. Pacey, jeweller in William Street.
In late April 1952, another branch was formed of the local Girl Guides Association in Bathurst. It held its meetings on a Wednesday evening and held its third meeting in mid-May, commencing at 8pm, in the CWA rooms.
The group was indebted to the CWA for its interest and help. All members and intending members were welcome to attend and encourage the girls and their leaders in the new venture.
A meeting was held in September 1954 to form another group in Bathurst as more girls wanted to join. The publicity officer thought that "at last there seems to be a hope of opening a Brownie pack".
Arrangements were being made with headquarters for a visit from Miss Leplastrier, the 'mother' of all NSW Brownies.
Any local girls, aged from seven to 11 years, who wanted to to join were asked to put their names on the waiting list with Mrs Greaves of 17 Lambert Street or phone 1400. Organisers had arranged to hold a street stall outside the ANZ Bank the next day.
