Victoria Point Girl Guides celebrates 50th birthday

Since then hundreds of girls have joined the organisation locally as Gumnuts, Brownies, Guides and Guide Rangers, supported by many leaders.

After their first get together, the Guides met in the public hall on Point O’Halloran Road, before council allocated land at the location of the Cascade Park on Colburn Avenue.

Victoria Point Girl Guide district leader Fran Burns said the girls held camping nights and campfires on bush land.

Within the first year the numbers grew to 30 Guides.

Cleveland’s Old Shire Council hall was donated by council and moved to Colburn Avenue in 1969.

After 10 years, the public hall in Point O’Halloran Road Victoria Point was renovated and leased to the Guides.

Renovations were done by Redlands Lions Club, Redlands Junior Rugby Club and Redlands Rural Youth.

It was officially opened on October 27, 1979 when about 60 members, six leaders and the district commissioner marched from the old hut on Colburn Avenue to the new hut, led by two pipers.

Natasha Hendrick, known in Guiding as Kinkuna, said she started Brownies in 1979 at the Colburn Avenue building, now used by Meals on Wheels.

”I remember the opening of the new hut,” she said. “It seemed such a long march from the old hut for a Brownie.

“I also recall walking around Point Halloran selling guide biscuits, with dads driving trailers full of Guide biscuit boxes behind us.

She said the Guides loved cooking in the kitchen and over campfires dug into the back yard.

“We walked to Thompsons Beach for our Clean Up Australia Day service and did penny hikes around the suburban streets.

“One of our favourite games was called flood. Whenever the word was called we had five minutes to get the entire patrol off the ground. We would most often throw ropes over the rafters and hang from the ceiling,” Ms Hendrick said.

The 50^th birthday celebrations were attended by about 100 people including past and present youth members and leaders.

Guide uniforms from the past 50 years were on display.

Claudia Cunningham, known in Girl Guides as Turana, said she was delighted to attend the celebration.

Ms Cunningham was appointed division camp adviser for groups in the Redlands in 1975.

“When my daughter was old enough she became a Brownie at Victoria Point so my involvement with the district strengthened,” she said.

“I acted as Brownie leader, Guide leader, Ranger Guide leader, district commissioner, while I was division commissioner, then district leader until I was appointed region commissioner in 2000.”

Lisa Zimunhu (nee Watson), who was awarded Queen’s Guide Award in 2000, said she was not able to attend the celebration but Guiding had a big impact on her life.

“This Guiding district exposed me to so many experiences and allowed me to develop skills I may have not had the chance to,” she said.

“Now I live abroad and have daughters of my own. They are Brownies and are starting to learn all the skills I did.

“When I return to Australia and visit my old haunts, going past the Guide hall always fills my heart with a warm feeling.”