Girl greatness starts here

Busloads of young women and girls disembarked at Stephenville Middle School recently to spend the day learning Morse code, knot tying, and how to share and be a friend.

The Southwest District of Girl Guides of Canada took part in National Rally Day on May 15, joining thousands of girls across the country in celebrating the centennial of the organization.

The day was particularly special for the Southwest District, who will soon join with other districts in the Western portion of the province to become the Long Range Trails Area.

District Commissioner Susan Oates MC'd the opening of Rally Day, welcoming girls and leaders from Port aux Basques, Burgeo, Three Rivers, St. George's, Lourdes, Kippens and Stephenville area.

MHAs Joan Burke and Tony Cornect were on hand to bring greetings to the organization.

Minister Burke told the girls about her own involvement with the organization.

"I've been a part of the Southwest District as an area commissioner for the last number of years and had an opportunity to meet with your commissioners, but I hadn't had an opportunity to meet with the girls, so I want to go around to all the different districts represented here today."

With that, the minister asked each group of girls to cheer and introduce themselves as she called out their group name.

She received an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response to her exercise as groups as large as Stephenville, with over 30 members, were nearly outdone by smaller groups like Three Rivers.

"Everyone's getting together across Canada today, and this is a time to come together and celebrate what you've done as the South- west area," said the minister, who also took the opportunity to pay tribute to the organizations Guiding leaders.

"Most of them have also come up through the program, and almost every leader that you have here has a very busy life outside Guiding, but they make the time for Guiding all of the time."

MHA Tony Cornect brought greetings to the girls in French, and then led them all in the singing of happy birthday to Girl Guides of Canada.

A DVD produced by the organization's national office was shown as was a slide show that was narrated by girls speaking monologues about what it was like to be a Girl Guide in each decade - from 1910 to present day.

As the opening ceremonies wound down, the girls broke into groups and headed into various workshops based on the different skills they will learn throughout their Guiding years.

Southwest District Rally Committee chair Liz Porter said the day was tremendous success.

"We're hearing nothing but compliments and praise for all the different activities and everybody - even the leaders - seemed to have a good time," she said.

Girl Guides of Canada started in St. Catherine's, ON, 100 years ago this year.

reporter@thegeorgian.ca