Our Guide Hut
‘Cooinda’ is the name given to our Guide Hut – it means ‘Happy Place’. Cooinda became the Girl Guide Hut in 1984, before which it was the Chapel of Holy Angels for the All Saints Boys and Girls Hostels which were located behind the chapel on the same block (this area is now the Retirement Village). The Chapel was first built in 1929 and features a flag pole constructed by the boys of the
Hostel.
Charleville Girl Guides first began on 15 August 1949 when the Charleville Local Association was formed. Session were originally run out of a hut that was situation across the road from 'Cooinda' at 81 Watson Street. This original hut was burnt down in 1984, hence the move.
Hostel.
Charleville Girl Guides first began on 15 August 1949 when the Charleville Local Association was formed. Session were originally run out of a hut that was situation across the road from 'Cooinda' at 81 Watson Street. This original hut was burnt down in 1984, hence the move.
Guide Units
Our records indicate the following opening and closing dates for the following units of Charleville Girl Guides. Unfortunately, it is an incomplete list - if you have more information, please contact us.
1st Charleville Girl Guides first registered on 14 August 1953 and is still in operation today.
1st Charleville Brownies started in 1950, went into recess in 1982 and
closed in 1986
2nd Charleville Brownies started in 1964, closed in 1965, then re-opened in 1977 and closed in 1990
3rd Charleville Brownies of the Air (based at Charleville School of Distance Education) opened March 1982, may have been renamed Charleville Guides on the Air for 1999 & 2000, re-opened as 2nd Charleville (Lone) Guides in 2012 as is still in operation today.
4th Charleville Brownies of the Air (based at Charleville School of Distance Education) opened in 1983 - it is unknown when it closed.
1st Charleville Gumnut Guides opened in 1994 - it is unknown when it was closed
(Right: the original Girl Guide Hut in 1973)
Fence believed to be erected in January 1962.
1st Charleville Girl Guides first registered on 14 August 1953 and is still in operation today.
1st Charleville Brownies started in 1950, went into recess in 1982 and
closed in 1986
2nd Charleville Brownies started in 1964, closed in 1965, then re-opened in 1977 and closed in 1990
3rd Charleville Brownies of the Air (based at Charleville School of Distance Education) opened March 1982, may have been renamed Charleville Guides on the Air for 1999 & 2000, re-opened as 2nd Charleville (Lone) Guides in 2012 as is still in operation today.
4th Charleville Brownies of the Air (based at Charleville School of Distance Education) opened in 1983 - it is unknown when it closed.
1st Charleville Gumnut Guides opened in 1994 - it is unknown when it was closed
(Right: the original Girl Guide Hut in 1973)
Fence believed to be erected in January 1962.
Junior BP Badge RecipientsMarch 2023 - Brydie L, Zoe E (1st Charleville)
August 2021 - Chrystal M, Sienna B, Millie C (1st Charleville) March 2019 - Lira M (1st Charleville) Feb 2019 - Lorelai O (1st Charleville) October 2018 - Taya S, Isla L (1st Charleville) June 2018 - Nicole K (1st Charleville) Nov 2017 - Alexah L, Gabby R (1st Charleville) Nov 2015 - Tahlia S, Michelle K, Rhianna W, Laura S, Paige T-J (1st Charleville) August 2015 - Sophie S (1st Charleville) February 2015 - Alice S (2nd Charleville) August 2014 - Mystique T, Katelyn L (1st Charleville) 1 December 2013 - Amber H, Cassie O, Baillie M (1st Charleville) 13 March 2013 - Holly G, Rosabelle T, Dallace G (1st Charleville) |
BP Emblem/Badge RecipientsMarch 2022 - Alexah Little (1st Charleville)
October 2018 - Tahlia Stewart (1st Charleville) June 2018 - Michelle King (1st Charleville) March 2018 - Rhianna Webb (1st Charleville) Nov 2015 - Amber Hinz, Cassie Owczarek, Katelyn Lawson, Baillie Melano (1st Charleville) and Alice Sewell (2nd Charleville) June 2014 - Dallace Gurney (1st Charleville) 20 October 2000 - Taryn Dowrick (1st Charleville) 9 April 1998 - Katherine Walden (1st Charleville) 1981 - Jacqueline Dunstan (1st Charleville) |
Queen's Guide Recipients2023 - Cassie Owczarek (1st Charleville)
2020 - Amber Hinz (1st Charleville) and Alice Sewell (2nd Charleville) 2016 - Dallace Gurney (1st Charleville) |
Past Commissioners, District Leaders & District Managers2010 - Present: Mrs Sam Owczarek
2005 – 2010: Miss Michelle Omyla Nov 1993 – ?: Mrs Janelle Bray Feb 1988 – Mar 1990: Mrs Helen Balmain Mar 1986 – Feb 1987: Mrs Betty Wicks Mar 1985 – Mar 1986: Miss Kay Russell Feb 1984 – Mar 1985: Mrs Sally Ball May 1983 – Dec 1983: Mrs Helen Balmain April 1979 – Mar 1983: Mrs Eileen Kelly Apr 1976 – Febr 1979: Mrs Glenys Bentley 1969 - : Mrs DL Jimmieson ?: Mrs D Thompson Apr 1965 - Dec 1966: Mrs J Warren July 1962 - July 1964: Mrs M Rose March 1960 - ?: Mrs E Neiht Sept 1950 - 1960?: Miss F Hayden Junior Leaders 2018 - 2019: Miss M King 2018 - 2022: Miss C Owczarek 2017 - 2021: Miss A Hinz 2014 - 2016: Miss D. Gurney 2015: Miss K. Lawson |
Guide Leaders2019 - Present: Miss Jessica Head
2019 - 2022: Miss Amelia Machray 2014 - 2020: Mrs Tracy Sewell 2014: Miss Karyn Newman 2013 - 2014 Mrs Jen Algie 2010 – Present: Mrs Sam Owczarek (1st and 2nd Units) 2005 – 2010: Miss Michelle Omyla 1999 - 2000: Miss Prue Fill (Guides on the Air) 1991: Mrs G Walden and Mrs N. Hanterinton 1988 – 1989: Miss Sandra Clark 1985: Alison Morrison 1985 – 1986: Miss Ann Wein 1984 - 1985: Miss Heather McMillan 1983 – 1984: Mrs Colleen Hawes 1982 – 1983: Mrs Stephanie East 1980 - ?: Mrs J O'Hara 1978 - ?: Mrs Valerie Hull 1977 – 1980: Miss Julie Donnan 1977 - ?: Mrs Beryl Brown 1974 – 1979: Mrs G Bentley 1974 – 1976: Miss Kathleen Whale 1973 - ?: Mrs W McConnell 1970: Mrs S Walmsley Transferred to Toowoomba 1969 - 1970: Miss Gloria Hayes 1968 - 1969: Mrs BJ Grant 1967 - 1968: Mrs E or J Cummins (acted District Comm in 1967) 1966: Brenda Fitzgerald 1965 - 1966: Miss Robin Fletcher 1964 - 1965: Mrs L Pukallus 1962 - ?: Mrs E Bradley 1960 - ?: Miss V Sommerfield 1949 - ?: Miss Joyce Espie (2nd Charleville) |
Guiding Assistants and Lieutenants2017 - 2021: Miss Angela Launchbury 2017 - 2018: Mrs Kira King
2016 - 2021: Miss Dallace Gurney 2012 – 2018: Ms Alison Simmons (2nd Charleville Lones) 2012: Mrs Majella Lyons 2011 – 2013: Mrs Caroline Daunis 2010: Mrs Sam Owczarek 2010: Miss Jade McKay 2000: Sharin McLeigh, Danielle Terriss, Simone Stieger (Guides on the Air) 1989 – 1990: Mrs Donna Poll 1986- 1988: Miss Tamara Kelly 1986: Mrs Heather Johnston 1986: Miss Gillian Telford 1985 – 1986: Mrs Lyn Marks 1985 - 1986: Miss Kathleen Kelly 1985: Mrs Alison Morrison 1984 - 1985: Miss Heather McMillan 1983: Mrs Norma Perry 1982 – 1983: Mrs Heather Mulville 1980 - 1983: Miss Cindy Brooks 1979 - ?: Miss Debra Pierce 1978: Mrs H Hill 1977 - ?: Miss Catherine Munro 1976 - ?: Mrs Marion Mott 1974 – 1978: Miss Winifred McConnell 1974 – 1976: Miss Pat Mott 1964 -1967: Miss Helen Wessling 1968 - ?: Mrs Winn 1964: Mrs J Pukallus 1964 - ?: Miss K Scott 1962 - ?: Miss Lyn Smith 1949 - ?: Joan Dagan & Esma Sanderson (2nd Charleville) |
Brownie Leaders
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Brownie Assisstants
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General History
Some of these photos have little known about them. If you can help us identify people, places or times - please use the contact form on the Home Page to let us know.
Memories from Past Members: 1950s and 1960s
From Joyce Miers (nee: Meiklejohn)
"A little bit of serendipity came my way the other day & I found my Guide Enrolment Card. I was enrolled aged 11, became second class GG 03-10-56. Appointed patrol second 28-05-58, patrol leader 30-06-58. Joined Rangers 31-01-60…this was Lone Rangers as there were no others in Charleville. Enrolment card was signed by Miss F.Hayden. It was indeed the blue hut by the gully. I had no idea that I had reached the lofty heights of Tawny Owl, but that was indeed me. I remember going on Easter camps at Wallal Station, it. Was owned by Mr & Mrs Phillot and we used to camp in the shearer’s quarters. . I have memories of camp fires on cold nights, and campfire singing. I went to at least one camp at Kindilan. Swapping 1st Charleville tapes for other guides tapes was a big thing. One of the guides I met there was Lyn Smith from Goombungee…..she later moved to Charleville when her father bought old Michael’s barber shop in the old Town Hall Building. She continued with guiding for many years and also shows up on your list as Mrs J Pukallus after she married. I see you have a Mrs Neiht (pronounced Neat) as commissioner 1960….she also had a daughter Margaret (same age as me) who was also a guide." |
From Kathy McCallum
"My mother was Ann McCallum, my father was Stan McCallum who worked at the Royal Flying Doctor Service as a radio operator. I have 1 sister Margaret McCallum, who is younger than I. We were in Charleville from 1956 to 1966. My mother was Brown Owl for several years probably between 1958 and 1964. She was also an office bearer in the LGA ( could have been similar not quite sure of name). She also ran the canteen at the regular local cattle sales - for the guides/brownies." |
1970s - Guiding Going StrongWith camps, parades, ceremonies and ANZAC Day marches it was a great time to be Guiding.
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1985 - Celebrating 75 YearsEvents featured a birthday celebration with the Charleville Boy Scouts, a cake as a float in the annual parade and a visit by Sir Walter Campbell, governor when the Guides and Scouts paraded in front of the church.
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Memories from Past Members: 2000 onwards
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File Size: | 1026 kb |
File Type: | m4a |
Memories from a Guide of 2007
History of Australian Girl Guides
Guides in Australia first started in Hobart in 1909 by Mrs H. Dobson of Tasmania with the help of the New Zealand ‘Girl Peace Scouts’. The first official group registered as ‘Baden powell Girl Guides’ seems to be those of 1st Hawthorn in Victoria. The first known group of “Guides” that was formed in Queensland was in the suburb of Rosalie in Brisbane in 1910. They were called the League of Girl Aids.
They wore a navy skirt teamed with a Scout shirt, hat and scarf. This made them unpopular with the Scouts, but being determined, they ignored all requests to change. They followed Scouting for Boys to build their program. As a special project they raised money to help the local fire brigade buy their first vehicle. This group operated for about a year, but was never officially registered.
In 1915 there was one company of Girl Scouts in Queensland at Tarragindi, South Brisbane. Miss Marjorie Grimes was their Captain. These girls became Tarragindi Girl Guides and continued with Miss Grimes as their Captain for many years.
They wore a navy skirt teamed with a Scout shirt, hat and scarf. This made them unpopular with the Scouts, but being determined, they ignored all requests to change. They followed Scouting for Boys to build their program. As a special project they raised money to help the local fire brigade buy their first vehicle. This group operated for about a year, but was never officially registered.
In 1915 there was one company of Girl Scouts in Queensland at Tarragindi, South Brisbane. Miss Marjorie Grimes was their Captain. These girls became Tarragindi Girl Guides and continued with Miss Grimes as their Captain for many years.
History of Guiding in the United Kingdom
Robert Baden Powell, Founder of Scouts (and then Guides) was born on 22nd February 1857 in London. During his time in the army he organised the boys of a town into groups to carry out jobs such as messengers, stretcher bearers, grooms and look outs. When he returned to England in 1907, he had the idea of training boys as peace-time scouts.
The first experiemntal camp was on Brownsea Island, Dorset and was where he taught boys how to stalk and track, observe ‘sign’, build bridges, tie knots and be self-reliant. BP (Baden Powell) wrote Scouting for Boys and soon the word spread about the program to other countries, until in 1908 BP organised the Boy Scout Movement and in 1909 a rally was held at the Crystal Palace in London. Thousands of scouts turned out and at the end of the parade, to BP’s surprise, their were a group of girls wearing scout hats, jumpers and skirts and a sign announcing them as Girl Scouts. They wanted to do what the boys did, but as BP was too busy with the growing scouting movement, he asked his sister, Miss Agnes Baden-Powell to organise the Girl Guide Movement in 1910. Angnes became the first president of Girl Guides.
The name Guides was taken from the famous Indian regiment – The Khyber Guides – who were always ready for anything no matter how difficult.
In 1912, BP married Olave Soames, who almost immediately found herself involved in Guiding and in 1930 became the Chief Guide of the World.
Lord BP died in 1941 and Lady BP in 1977.
The first experiemntal camp was on Brownsea Island, Dorset and was where he taught boys how to stalk and track, observe ‘sign’, build bridges, tie knots and be self-reliant. BP (Baden Powell) wrote Scouting for Boys and soon the word spread about the program to other countries, until in 1908 BP organised the Boy Scout Movement and in 1909 a rally was held at the Crystal Palace in London. Thousands of scouts turned out and at the end of the parade, to BP’s surprise, their were a group of girls wearing scout hats, jumpers and skirts and a sign announcing them as Girl Scouts. They wanted to do what the boys did, but as BP was too busy with the growing scouting movement, he asked his sister, Miss Agnes Baden-Powell to organise the Girl Guide Movement in 1910. Angnes became the first president of Girl Guides.
The name Guides was taken from the famous Indian regiment – The Khyber Guides – who were always ready for anything no matter how difficult.
In 1912, BP married Olave Soames, who almost immediately found herself involved in Guiding and in 1930 became the Chief Guide of the World.
Lord BP died in 1941 and Lady BP in 1977.
History Resources
Use these links for resources, games and activities you can use.