World Flag flying high

Today, 100 years of Girl Guiding in Ballarat is being acknowledged in two different ways:

• the World Flag is flying outside of the Ballarat Town Hall
• the oldest active Guide Unit in Ballarat, 4th Ballarat Guides, will be enjoying some special activities

Guiding has consistently contributed to the local community and continues to do so; including (but not limited to) carrying flags at the local Australia Day Citizenship Ceremonies, standing guard at ANZAC Day vigils, cooking meals for those in need, participating in Clean Up Australia campaigns, selling ANZAC Day badges; and helping to clean the toys at our Toy Library.

Guide Units actually commenced earlier in the year in 1922, but a meeting that was hosted at the Town Hall by the then Mayoress, Mrs Pittard, was held in July 1922 and brought together key community women to appoint a [District] Commissioner (Dr Florence Cooper).  A Local Association (a group of parents and supporters of Guiding) was also set up and Mrs Maxwell-Gumbleton was elected the first President.

Thank you to all the women who have dedicated many hours of their time, their expertise and passion for empowering girls and young women to discover their potential.

Learn more about the history of Guiding in Ballarat.