A meeting for girls (aged 6-17), parents and prospective leaders will be held at the Scout Hall on Cullen Street in Portland on Tuesday, March 21, from 6.30pm. 

It will be the first Girl Guides meeting in Portland for 25 years.

“The district has a long history, spanning several Guide, Brownie and Ranger units, going back to the first registration in August 1930, with a note on my files of a report filed by a unit here in 1926,” Ms Elwell-Cook said.

“As long as we can find the leadership, re-establishing the district should have no problems.”

Around twenty girls have already shown interest in joining either the Portland Junior Guides, Guides or Senior Guides groups.

“Just for a few dollars a week girls can have a whole world open up to them. They learn to think for themselves and think for others,” Ms Elwell-Cook said.

Ms Elwell-Cook, who has been a Guide Leader in Lithgow for two years, said she started as a Girl Guide when she was 11 years old.

“I came back as a leader when I was living in Sydney and my daughter was six years old.

“We’ve been blown away by the response. In Lithgow we have trouble reaching girls from outlying areas because our meetings are quite early. We’re hoping a Tuesday meeting from 6pm will be more accessible for Portland and areas nearby.

“It will bring access to friendship and fun. One of our prospective guides doesn’t have electricity in her house. Going to guides gets girls’ out of their comfort zone to see there is a world out there beyond Portland. The opportunity to go to the city, go skiing, fly a plane, canoeing, camping.

“It trains girls and women to lead and think on their feet. It also encourages girls to make a difference in the world through guiding.”

Please contact Yvonne MacRae if you are interested in attending the community meeting on 0412 736 700 or email yvonne.macrae@gmail.com.

Have you got events happening in your group? Please email the Lithgow Mercury at kirsty.horton@fairfaxmedia.com.au