This week during Guides’ Own, we talk about everything Down Under! That’s right, we head to Australia and learn about guiding in a different country.
In Australia, Guiding started as early as 1909 with several different groups forming in areas all across the country. Although scarce, records indicate that there were groups in Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. Eventually, each of the states became organized and set up their own headquarters, forming a state executive and appointing a state commissioner. In 1926, the National Organization was formed and the first meeting of the Girl Guides Association of Australia was held in Melbourne. In 1985 the Association celebrated their seventy-fifth birthday and at that time had approximately 100,000 members!
Today, Girl Guides Australia is one of the largest organizations in Australia for girls and young women with 24,000 members including 18,000 youth. Units, however, are formed a little differently than you'd expect. Some operate in special skill areas, such as equestrian, sports, or outdoor activities, while others operate according to age. With that in mind, there are also no formal branches separating age groups. While many units retain the traditional Guiding words such as ‘Brownie’ and ‘Gumnut’ in their names, others have invented colourful new names like ‘Rainbow Star Guides’ and ‘Dolphin Guides’. These also change as the unit's members change.
One of the best things we discovered about Girl Guides Australia are their biscuits! They have been selling biscuits for over 60 years, and for the 2020 campaign they are selling three different types: Triple Choc, ANZAC, and Lemon, Lime & Coconut (gluten free).
If you'd like to learn more about Girl Guides in Australia, visit their website.
For SWAGGYK, we talk about the Australian Julia Child, Margret Fulton, the women who revolutionized food in the country.
Born in Nairn, Scotland, Margaret moved to Australia when she was only 3 years old. Considered to be one of the most famous Australian food and cooking writers, she began her her career as a cooking teacher at the Overseas Corporation. She rose up through the ranks, becoming a sales manager after helping introduce the pressure cooker to Australia. Margaret also worked as a 'home economist for a leading firm of cereal manufacturers' in 1954 before working on her own material.
Margaret's first cookbook, The Margaret Fulton Cookbook, was published in 1968 and was an instant success. Her second cookbook, The Canberra Times, was published in 1973 and was Italian themed. Ten years later, she released Margaret Fulton’s Encyclopedia of Food and Cookery. Through her cooking and teaching, Margaret always encouraged Australians to be more creative with food, and try more international cuisines. She was always considered to be ‘non-pretentious’ about food and said:
“I think it’s very important not to get too smug about how clever you are about cooking and about feeding yourself, Everyone isn’t as lucky as you are in the situation of being able to get nice food.”
Margaret was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1983, and added to the list of national living treasures by the National Trust. She passed away at the age of 94 in July of 2019. Margaret was adored by Australians, who posted photos of their well used and loved Fulton cookbooks on social media, thanking the pioneer writer for introducing them to cooking.
And we wrap up with a new favourite song, I’ve Got That BP feeling. A new song for us, but one we won’t soon forget because it's certainly a catchy tune!
You can listen to Episode 22 now, and catch up on previous episodes, either right here on our website or on your favourite podcast app (Spotify, Apple, Google, Anchor, etc.).
We would love to know what your opening and closings you use in your units. Leave a comment below, or send us a message on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you'd like to contribute to an episode of Guides' Own, send us your ideas for topics, program, campfire songs, etc. send a message to guidesown@gmail.com.
Have a g'day!
Marissa & Taryn