Girl Guides to celebrate 70 years

A 70th anniversary celebration for the Ettalong Girl Guides is being planned for October.

Former Guide Mrs Fay Donnelly is coordinating the anniversary, with the assistance of other former Guides, to take place at the Ettalong Guiding Hall from 11am on October 12.

Mrs Donnelly said the all Guides from the Ettalong chapter who participated from 1948-59 were welcome to attend the anniversary which would celebrate Ettalong's rich Guiding legacy.

"Ettalong Guides were actually the first Guides established on the Central Coast and this celebration is for all Brownies, Guides and Rangers who were a part of that first generation," Mrs Donnelly said.

According to Mrs Donnelly, the Guides were directly responsible for the founding of the Ettalong Guiding Hall which was funded through bake sales and other endeavours of the Guides and built by the community.

The building's wrought iron still bears the Guiding insignia.

While several members of the first generation are still in contact and had met on different occasions to celebrate other Guiding anniversaries, Mrs Donnelly said this would likely be the first generation's first and last big formal hurrah.

"Members have moved away and life has taken its toll, but among the Guides we're all still very good friends," she said.

"That's something I think is missing in youth activities these days: those enduring bonds.

"Kids today are spoilt for choice.

"They don't always stick with things.

"Back then communities were smaller.

"They were closer.

"Everyone knew everyone and the friendships you formed really lasted," Mrs Donnelly said.

Mrs Donnelly has sent out multiple invitations and said the response so far had been very positive.

"I've had lots of phone calls from former Guides from all over the place.

"Some of them have called to confirm they're coming.

"It's been really nice.

"Guides have a real legacy at Ettalong and we're all looking forward to the big day and getting up to all sorts of mischief," Mrs Donnelly said.

SOURCE:

Interview (Dilon Luke), 12 Sep 2019

Fay Donnelly, Ettalong Guides