In the 20^th century, governors’ wives were also enthusiastic patrons of the Girl Guides Association and the Red Cross Society, especially supporting the latter’s work during the two world wars.  Lady Davidson was appointed a Dame of the British Empire in 1918 for her earlier work for the Red Cross in Newfoundland and in 1920 played an important role in starting the Girl Guide movement in New South Wales.

Mention should also be made of Nella Levy who had been a Guide in England and answered Lady Davidson’s call for Girl Guides to begin in NSW – and the rest as they say is history!

“ADINA”

YOUNG DISTRICT- CENTRAL WEST REGION

I was a ‘Brownie’ at St Hilary’s, John Street Kew, Melbourne Victoria. I was in the “Fairy Six” & I had the best FUN of all. I earned my Golden Bar, Golden Ladder, Golden Hand & with my ‘Wings’ I ‘flew up’ to Guides, where I was  in the Blue Wren Patrol, enjoying earning & working hard on many Badges, my Little House Emblem, All Round Cords, PL Permit & culminating in earning my Queen’s Guide Award.

I had a brilliant Guide Leader, Mary Lambe (later on Extension Advisor). Mary Lambe, “Cap.” introduced me to what has become my love of World Guiding, through songs, swopping badges, campfires, making uniforms for dolls representing the WAGGGGS Members, games, cooking & of course exciting themed camps & ‘journeys as we travelled around the 4 World Centres’ from our own Guide Hall or wherever the camps were being held!

I always loved singing the different World Centre Songs, dreaming that just ‘maybe one day, I just might get to visit them somehow’. My opportunity came when, as an adult member, I spotted a Four World Centres Tour being ‘advertised’! I thought, right- here IS my chance to actually get to visit these wonderful Centres. Much planning went into being able to join LIC Sally Thornton & numerous other wonderful Guiding Ladies from all over Australia,1 from NZ & 2 from USA. 

Our Trip was THE most special time I’ve ever spent in being able to fulfill my lifelong dream to be able to go ‘IN PERSON’ to these wonderful places where the Friendship, Love & Guiding Spirit is lived out on a daily basis, along with the most welcoming programmes, challenging & FUN activities- ALL leading to special friendships that will last forever, from my newly found Guiding Sisters, from different & diverse backgrounds.

My VERY SPECIAL moment for me was, having sung “Neath the Grand Sierra Madre on a plain in Mexico, lies our beautiful Cabana, where the Guides & Girl Scouts go”, for SO many years, when we arrived at “Our Cabana” & had been welcomed in a lovely Opening Ceremony & then sang that song- I promptly burst into tears with the emotion of it all!!!!!

I certainly didn’t expect that reaction from myself, but for me it truly ‘cemented’ what Guiding is all about- the sharing of the Guiding Spirit through our Promise, Law, & personal beliefs with others, throughout the world.