Afternoon Tea to Celebrate the Centenary of Girl Guides in Queensland

State Commissioner, Velia Nicholls; CEO, Kim Harrington; Board Directors; ladies and gentlemen.

Kaye and I are delighted to host this afternoon tea at Government House celebrating 100 years of Girl Guides in Queensland. Kaye was very proud, as Patron, to attend and speak at the official event celebrating this milestone occasion last month.

At that memorable occasion, we realised the opportunity to recreate a slice of history.

This afternoon is very nearly 100 years to the day when several citizens assembled here – in this very room – upon invitation from the then Governor of Queensland’s wife, Lady Goold-Adams, for the purpose of establishing the Girl Guide Movement in Brisbane. 

Lady Goold-Adams had been asked by Lord Baden-Powell to start this movement, and I am pleased to say that a resolution was passed that very afternoon, 15 November 1919, formally bringing the Girl Guides to Queensland.

Following the meeting there was a display of flag signalling and first aid by the guides of Miss Marjorie Grime’s Tarragindi troop – which was by then well-established. A fine exhibition was also given by a party of boy Scouts, and it is fitting that in attendance today is our current Chief Commissioner of Scouts Queensland, Daryl Scott.

Today we take a moment to pause and reflect on the history of this organisation, to celebrate and cherish the many moments, lives and communities which have in so many ways been uplifted by the Girl Guides.

Kaye and I believe the sense of community and outreach at the heart of the Girl Guides is more important now than ever before.

One hundred years ago the Girl Guides was a fledgling organisation finding its feet; today there are more than 4,400 Queensland youth members, and many more volunteer leaders and adult members, empowering girls and young women to grow into confident, self-respecting responsible members of our community.

One wonders whether the people in this room a century ago may have envisioned this outcome; regardless, we can hope that one hundred years from now there may be a similar celebration at Fernberg celebrating the spirit of the Girl Guides in Queensland.

Thank you for all that you do. Enjoy this occasion, as we recreate a cherished part of Queensland history.