Newspaper Article 1989 – Good friends, good experience, good fun

Good friends, good experience, good fun

Girls’ Brigade caters for girls and young women from six to 20 years of age, with juniors 6-9 years, intermediates 10-11 years, seniors 12-13 years, pioneers 14 years and over. As members, Girls’ Brigaders are given the opportunity to discover their potential and to develop their abilities, including leadership, and to work for special awards such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and the GB International Queen’s Award.

They can also explore al most any activity or interest, including photography, puppetry, music, travel, camping, canoeing, outdoor adventures, service, first aid, cooking, human rights, pet care, crafts, missionary work, the Bible, international friendship, and more.

Each Brigade company is affiliated to a church or mission, although the Girls’ Brigade is an inter-denominational movement. The 2nd Hastings Company is affiliated to the Baptist church, the 3rd Hastings Company to the St Andrews Church and the 3rd Hastings Company to St Matthews Church.

To find out more about the Brigade before becoming a full member, girls are welcome to attend a company for four to six weeks as recruits. At the end of that time, a recruit would be entitled to be enrolled.

The Girls’ Brigade is also a uniformed organisation, and all members are expected to wear the correct uniform.

The purpose of the uniform is to:

a) Identify members as part of the worldwide Movement of The Girls’ Brigade.
b) encourage discipline and self-respect.
c) Assist in providing equality among members.

In the junior section, a new member remains as a recruit for four weeks before being enrolled and entitled to wear the uniform.

In the older sections, the recruitment period is six weeks.

Two of the awards which Girls’ Brigaders can attempt are the Queen’s Award and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The Queen’s Award is an international award of the highest merit, which may be earned by members of The Girls’ Brigade.

The aim of the Queen’s Award is to inspire girls to greater endeavour in service and a personal commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, encouraging them to make a contribution to the world- wide concept of The Girls’ Brigade. A Pioneer may enter the Queen’s Award by invitation or recommendation from her Company, or may make application herself through her Company.

The Queen’s Award is a two year programme.

The Queen’s Award Certificate is presented at Government House by the wife of the Governor-General. The Badge is presented at a separate function during the weekend of activities arranged to follow the formal vice-regal ceremony.

The Duke of Edinburgh introduced his award scheme to encourage and stimulate the enthusiasm and energy of young people, by presenting a challenging programme of activities open to all between the ages of 14-25 in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth.

The scheme is designed to introduce young people to worthwhile leisure activities and challenge their individual personal achievement.

Duke of Edinburgh’s awards are presented by a person of standing in the community at a suitable special function. The Certificate is presented by the Governor-General at a special function, usually at Government House.

Girls’ Brigade New Zealand is one of the registered operating authorities for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Twenty-five years is the upper age limit.

There are three separate awards – Bronze, Silver and Gold. For each award the participant must fulfil the requirements of each of the four sections of the scheme in accordance with the conditions set out in the programme Handbook.

The four sections and their aims are:
Service – to encourage service to others
Expeditions – to encourages a spirit of adventure and discovery
Skills – to encourage the discovery and development of personal interests and social and practical skills
Physical – to encourage
Recreation – participation in physical recreation and improvement of performance
Residential – Gold level only

Photo caption – Just two of the activities enjoyed by members of the 2nd Hastings Girls’ Brigade Company. Top, left, a group of friends try their hand at Chinese Checkers. While right. others take part in the hustle and bustle of Christmas cracker making.