TAUPO GIRL GUIDES

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 81, 5 August 1953, Page 5

TAUPO GIRL GUIDES

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING There was a representative attendance at the combined Annual Generai Meeting of the Taupo Girl Guides Local Association and the Guide Company held in Rickit's Hall at 2 p.m. on Wednesday last. Mrs H. E. Shepherd, Association Chairman, presided. The balance sheet of the company was presented and showed a credit balance as at June 30, the end of the financial year, of £45 15s 5d. Included in this balance was £11, the amount of the Hunt Fund for building a hut for the Company at Two Mile Bay, which was brought up to £13 by a donation of £2 made at the meeting by Mrs J. T. Taylor. The election of officers and committee members resulted as follows: Chairman, Mrs H. E. Shepherd; Vice-presidents, Mrs J. T. Taylor, Col. J. D. Swan, O.B.E.; SecretaryTreasurer, Mrs Godfrey Taylor; Committee, Mrs J. Sherwood, Mrs Hough, Mrs C. E. Baker, Miss Rickit, Miss McDonnell. The Rev. C. G. G. Bait spoke briefly on the aims and ideals of the Girl Guide movement. Following the meeting four girl guides, three of whom had won their Hostess Badges, served a dainty afternoon tea.

Events of the Year Mrs Shepherd, Chairman of the Association, stressed that the girls' next aim was to build their Hut at I Two Mile Bay, and said that the Local Association would support them in this. The Annual Report on the work of the Company showed that the year had been a successful one. The first recruits had been called on April 4, 1952, when four girls attended. Following the first hike in May, 19-52, the first enrolment ceremony was held in June, when Mrs George, District Commissioner, of Rotorua, had enrolled fourteen guides during an evening entertainment. » On July 23, 1952, the Local Association had been formed at a meeting at Mr C. Thomas's residence, Mrs George being' in the Chair. The membership fee was fixed at 5/and it was decided that the financial year end on June 30, and that the Company be known as the lst Taupo Girl Guide Comnanv.

In September further progress was made when a Brownie Pack was formed, Miss J. Thompson, Brjown Owl, enrolling the first recruits. The Girl Guides first public appeal was a street stall held pn November 8, conducted by Captain Peart, Lieut. Snooks and Brown Owl Thompson, and the guides. Thirty-five pounds was netted. a copper trail organised by the girls contributing nearly a thousand pennies. Guides Concerts The Company presented their first concert programme in December repeating it in January, and reeeiving much public appreciation. The Company were proud to present from the proceeds a sum of £23 to the War Memorial Fund and one of £19 to the Arohanui Junior Marching Girls Team for a boot fund. A street stall in March raised £37 toward the expenses of the Company's visit to the Wellington Girl Guides Exhibition, at which the girls presented their "Rendez-vous" Entertainment four times, receiving much acclaim. During the Wellington visit the girls wpw shown manv features of interest

in and about Wellington. During the year the Company and Pack have attended four Church Parades, two at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Taupo, one at St. PauTs Presbyterian Church, Taupo, and one at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Wellington. Two Anzac parades have been attended and the Coronation ceremony parade at the Town Board Buildings. The Company roll now stands at 25. including the adopted invalid guide, Diane Henson, while there are eleven Brownies. During the year the girls have passed their Tenderfoot Tests and Second Class tests and a number of proficiency badges have been won. Maadi Hough and Beth Snooks, patrol leaders, have been awarded their Little House emblems. During the year Mrs Peart retired from the captaincy on her appointment as District Commissioner for the Rotorua-Taupo area, being succeeded by Mrs Snooks, who has received her captain 's warrant. In closing her report the Chairman thanked all who had helped with donations and in other ways, including the officers, patrol leaders and seconds, and all guides and brownies; the Local Association members and executive; Mr J. R. Osborne, Headmaster of the Taupo District High School; Badge examiners; and the local press, particularly Mr C. J. McKinnon, first editor of the Taupo Times, for his help in the early stages of the Guide Company s eareer.