HISTORY OF ESSENDON DISTRICT GUIDES

& COMMENCEMENT OF STRATHMORE DISTRICT GUIDES

Compiled and Written by Margaret Barbour

Uploaded October 2019 but written many years prior to that date.

This history is in two parts. The first part - History of Essendon District Guides - has been compiled by Margaret from `The Annals of Essendon - Volume 2 (1925 to 1962). The Annals of Essendon is a summary of the history of Essendon as reported in the local newspapers of the time, primarily the Essendon Gazette. It was compiled by R. W. (Bob) Chalmers, a 2nd cousin of Margaret Barbour. Margaret further extracted and summarised the items that related to Guiding in the district and this has been provided in the first part of this page.

The second part is Margaret's recollections of the commencement of Guiding in the Strathmore District.

Margaret joined the Girl Guides in 1941 and maintained an involvement with the organisation for all her life. Margaret was the leader of the 1st Aberfeldie Guides from 1947 to 1955. In 1961 Margaret established the 2nd Strathmore Girl Guides and ran the group for 18 years to 1979. In 1980 Margaret was appointed as the Strathmore Girl Guide District Commissioner, the position which she held until 1985. There were many other appointments and involvements in the organisation over the years.

HISTORY OF ESSENDON DISTRICT GUIDES

The Girl Guides groups were active in the District – but reports from the various groups were not sent into the local newspaper regularly for publication. So these events are just a glimpse of the activities that were on the go for the Girl Guides in the District.

In the following table the Page No. refers to the page in the Annals of Essendon Volume 2.

COMMENCEMENT OF STRATHMORE DISTRICT GUIDES

From the early memories of Guiding at 1st Ascot Vale Company, Margaret Barbour has many memories of happy times spent in learning how to do – and learning what to do – and passing her tests for the `2nd Class Badge’.

In 1941 & 1942,– the Guiding groups were:

• 1st Essendon with Janet McLean – meeting at Christ Church North Essendon.
• 3rd Essendon with Beryl Barnett – meeting at a church hall in Albion Street near the Moonee Ponds Creek.
• 1st Ascot Vale with Joan McNab and Edna Beaumont, meeting in the Sunday School Hall in Maribyrnong Road.
• 2nd Ascot Vale with Mabel George, meeting at Knox Church Hall in Epsom Road, Ascot Vale;
• 1st Aberfeldie with Nancy McPherson & Phyl May, meeting in small hall in Washington Street, Essendon, & playing our games out on the street – no cars around then.

• 2nd Aberfeldie, meeting in Church Hall in Waverley Street, Moonee Ponds.
• 1st Moonee Ponds, with Anne Hall, meeting at St. Thomas Church Hall in Moonee Ponds.
• Brownie Packs at 1st Moonee Ponds – and at 2nd Essendon Ranger Group with Marj Beaumont, meeting in Ascot Vale Sunday School Hall – where `Corandirk’ Hostel is now.

• Mrs. T. Alston (Sally Alston’s mother) was District Commissioner for Essendon District –and she presented the Cup to the winning Company of Guides – at the Annual Sports – at Moonee Valley Racecourse.
• We practised a lot for the Annual Sports Day. – Team games of overhead ball – tunnel ball -marching – or running races. but there was lots of fun too.
• There was a Gymkhana Day out at Keilor or Westmeadows – run to raise money for something special – A wonderful day – well organized and lots of people attended.
• There were special campfire nights held at Miss Graves’ home in Nimmo Street Essendon – in those days, that area was over the paddocks and miles from anywhere. I guess we travelled by bus from Essendon Station and then walked the extra distance.

• Being war time, there was first aid drill – and fire escape drill near Puckle Street.

Memories of hikes – going by train to Greensborough and Eltham. – cooking our lunch out – visiting the little church at St Helena – running the last ½ mile in case we missed the train to be home by the said time.

Planning to have a Guide & Scout Social Evening – planning the games – inviting the scouts and leaders to come – then all being shy of mixing in for the games – but still we all enjoyed supper and the games there.

Then at 17, time to leave Guides and step on to Rangers.

Met Annette Carter at Rangers – and then many years later, we met again when Annette became Brown Owl at 3rd Strathmore Brownie Pack.

Planning a weekend away to Warburton.

Making our own scarf and knitting our own navy jumpers to wear.

Being war time, and soldiers were on leave, Essendon Rangers were on duty for some Sunday afternoons into town to do Canteen service, by serving afternoon tea, somewhere in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.

North Metro Region was divided into Divisions – being Broadmeadows North, Broadmeadows South, Pascoe Vale, Keilor, Coburg, Essendon, Mickleham.

Strathmore was in Broadmeadows South Division.

1st Essendon Guides met at Christ Church Hall in North Essendon, and lots of the guides lived in Strathmore - this was their nearest contact for them to be able to join Guides.

As the numbers of girls from Strathmore grew, it was decided to branch out and form a Guide Company in Strathmore area to be called 1st Strathmore Guides.

1st Strathmore Guides and Brownies were attached to Essendon District Guides. They met at the Presbyterian Church Hall – and at a Hillsyde Parade home and then finally into 1st Strathmore Scout Hall.

Local Association meeting was held and mothers were willing for the Guides to go ahead.

Around about 1952 – Leaders were appointed – Wilma Peach and Ruth Ash - the company started. in Strathmore. Wilma & Ruth were from 1st Aberfeldie Guide Company.

Then when Ruth shifted out to Keilor to live and found that it was too far to come into Guides at night, we were a leader short -- later- then Margaret Wilson came along to assist.

I can’t remember how or when we started – possibly in about 1954 – but Wilma was again sole Leader, and they were meeting in Hillsyde Parade home by then, Margaret offered to assist there, so that there were two Leaders there each night. We did this arrangement for about 3 months until they were able to meet in 1st Strathmore Scout Hall.

At that time, I was Leader at 1st Aberfeldie Guide Company and this meant that I was having 2 nights at Guides per week – but two Leaders are needed at meetings, and being locally I could walk there and back (that was before my driving days).

Group went well for about 5 years – then there was a lapse of Leaders, starting up again in September 1960 - with Joyce Hinneberg and Bertha Newman as Leaders.

I was Leader at 1st Aberfeldie Guides – from 1947 to 1956 - and then I resigned owing to family commitments, and I started getting involved in activities for the family and the community.

I joined the Local Association for Strathmore and assisted as needed.

 Dot Angus was appointed as District Commission for Strathmore District – 17 August 1959, until 31 July 1963.

2nd Strathmore Guides commenced in February 1961 – with Margaret Barbour as Captain – and 2 assistants.

Further Details on:

• Essendon and Strathmore Guide Leaders (pdf) - written by Margaret Barbour; 
• Margaret Barbour's Life in Guiding; and
• How Did we Get Here - Early Victorian Guide History - A PDF on the Guides Victoria Website.

Editor's Note - 2019: There are currently no Strathmore Guide Units operating. 1st Aberfeldie Brownie Guide Unit (for girls 7 to 11) and the Moonee Valley Wildflowers (for girls 10 - 15) still meet in Essendon North - Cliff Allison Reserve pavilion. (2nd Strathmore Scouts meets at a hall in Kernan Street and includes girl scouts. See Facebook page.)

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