GirlGuiding New Zealand: Difference between revisions

[[Lieutenant Colonel Cossgrove]] served in the Boer War with the famous [[Robert Baden-Powell]], founder of Scouts and Guides in the UK.  Cossgrove liked Baden-Powell's ideas so much that, in 1907, he established the Boy Scouts.  His daughter Muriel wanted an organisation for girls so, after correspondence with Baden-Powell, Cossgrove started the Girl Peace Scouts and, on Baden-Powell's suggestion, wrote the programme in the book "Peace Scouting for Girls" which was published in 1910.  However, by the time this was published, there were over 300 girls already practicing Peace Scouting in Christchurch (Cossgrove's home), Dunedin and Auckland, creating confusion about the starting year.  Letters from Muriel in 1908 discussing Peace Scouts with a friend have been found and this is generally the accepted date for the origin of the New Zealand movement.<ref name="Iles">Iles, Marie (1976) ''65 Years of Guiding in New Zealand'' The Girl Guide Association New Zealand (inc): Christchurch</ref>  The Peace Scouts became an incorporated society in 1919 and Cossgrove was the head until his death in 1920.  Leadership was then continued by his wife and son.  The organisation became officially affiliated with the UK branch in 1912 and, in 1923, the organization became a full member of the [[World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts]].<ref name="http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/Y/YouthOrganisations/GirlGuides/en">[http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/Y/YouthOrganisations/GirlGuides/en An Encyclopedia of New Zealand - Girl Guides]</ref> <ref name="http://www.girlguides.org.nz/sp-about-history.asp">[http://www.girlguides.org.nz/sp-about-history.asp Guides NZ - A Brief History ]</ref>