Ambitious Fun: The Journey of GirlGuiding in New Zealand - Carol Dawber

ISBN 9781877273346 Published 3 May 2008 by GirlGuiding New Zealand. Softcover. Former library usual markings, stamps, stickers but otherwise reasonable, tight condition.

'Chronicles the 100 years since GirlGuiding first started in New Zealand. Major David Cossgrove, a school teacher and member of the voluntary defence force, started girl scouts in 1908 as an independent girls' organisation which was the forerunner of the Girl Guides Association of New Zealand. The movement began a year later internationally when General Baden Powell held a scouting rally at London's Crystal Palace and a group of girls turned up dressed like their brothers. Girls soon became involved in many aspects of what their brothers were doing, including a range of outdoor activities, although whistling to keep cheerful was deemed to be unladylike . Although they were to strive to be ladylike, these girl scouts were not expected to display faintness of heart but urged to take charge of events, act coolly and decisively in emergencies and exercise a high degree of personal responsibility and initiative, writes Carol Dawber about the early years of GirlGuiding. Behind the formality there was a strong emphasis on the outdoors and when they were not on parade guides could usually be found outside. They hiked and explored in the weekends and camped whenever and wherever they could, often in old houses, barns and woolsheds. The 250-page book is filled with historical photographs and quotations from many former members and those people instrumental in maintaining and encouraging the spirit of the GirlGuiding. The first public display of guiding in action was at a rally held in Auckland in November 1923. Children from Auckland Hospital were in the audience at a demonstration of GirlGuiding's role in the community. Ambitious Fun - The Journey of GirlGuiding in New Zealand illustrates how GirlGuiding has changed over the years.'