An Inspiration – Lady Baden-Powell
I have always admired Lady Olave Baden-Powell. I learned about her and her husband, Sir Robert Baden-Powell before I was even a teenager. When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I became a member of the Girl Guide movement as a Brownie (junior Girl Guide). My mother was a Girl Guide in her teens and later went on to take on senior positions in the Movement. I continued in Guides until I was around 19 years of age.
Lady Baden-Powell, was the wife of Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scout Movement for boys in 1908, and later with his sister Agnes Baden-Powell the Girl Guide movement started.
Robert was born on February 22nd, 1889, and he and Olave married in 1912. He was 32 years her senior. Olave initially supported her husband in the Scout movement, and when Guides started she became involved with them.
“{In 1916 she was chosen to be County Commissioner and two years later became Chief Guide for Britain. In 1920 Olave helped form an International Council which grew and developed, and eventually became the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). She was elected World Chief Guide in 1930.
In 1932, Olave was awarded the Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE) by King George V in recognition of her volunteer work.”
She was the only person to be the World Chief Guide.
Source – https://girlguidesballarat.org.au/resources/history-of-girl-guides/olave-baden-powell/
It was 1957 that Lady Baden-Powell visited Adelaide, South Australia, and I met her. I was the Patrol Leader of the Swallow Patrol of the 1st Warradale group, and there was a state competition, prior to her visit, and the visitors were to be introduced to Lady Baden-Powell. Our patrol came second, and I met her at an event in the South Road Parklands, Adelaide. I do have a photo taken at the event of Lady Baden-Powell and the State Commissioner – but none of me meeting her.
I remember repeating the Guide Promise – which was:
“I promise that I will do my best:
- to do my duty to God
- to serve the Queen and my country;
- to help other people; and to keep the Guide Law.”
I believe that my experience in Guiding and the Christian community set my standards for my life, and I have no doubt that my love of Lady Baden-Powell had influence.
Guide Family – Sister Chrissie on the left, our mother, the regional commissioner, and me on the right.
Lady Baden-Powell, as the leader of the organisation for a long time, especially in my formative years, set the standards for me to follow. I did continue with Guides until I left home and went nursing, and had random involvement with the organisation. Sadly, my regular moving did not make it easy to get involved.
I learned later that she was also a writer, as was her husband, though I have not read any of her works, I am pleased to know that she did. She travelled around the world for many years visiting members of the Guide movement, which more well known in those days, as it was one of the major organisations dedicated to girls and women.
She died in 1977 at the age of 88 years.
I do think of her often, and even reading about her now makes me quite emotional, for she really was a brilliant leader and an inspiration for women and girls. I really admire the work she did and kept doing long after her husband died.
In the Guide Hall that my father built, speaking with one of the leaders.
(I’m still looking for a photo of Lady Baden Powell taken in Adelaide in 1957)
I welcome comments.
