1ST CANBERRA GIRLS' BRIGADE COMPANY

 Helen Stafford was with the Girls' Brigade from 1961 to its closure in our church. She has provided the following interesting history of the 1^st Canberra Girls' Brigade company. 

When the  Rev. F. P. McMaster moved to Canberra Baptist Church in 1953 he was disappointed that the church did not have a company of The Girls' Life Brigade, as it was then called.  He had been associated with G.L.B. in previous churches and

appreciated its aims and principles to such an extent that he set about enthusing the leaders of the existing Girls' club.   

Early in 1954 Betty Knight (now Mrs Mills) was appointed Captain of the newly formed 1st Canberra company assisted by Lieutenants Iris Moore 
(now Mrs Balfour) and Janet Brodie (now Mrs Abrahamffy).  

A Cadet Section for younger girls was opened in 1957 under the leadership of
 Mrs Beryl Quartel. Jeanne Quartel (Horton), Marion Dunlop, Enid Moore and Wendy Rein were all foundation members who later served as leaders. Until North Canberra Baptist opened a Company in 1960 girls living on the north side (in those days the Molonglo River was a dividing line) caught a public bus across from Turner to Kingston every Friday night. Gwen Laufer (nee Foote) and Jenny Winfield (nee Lee) remember the bus trip as being the highlight of their Brigade lives. Leaders did a pick up and delivery service for girls living in Narrabundah and the Causeway. 

The growth of Girls' Brigade in the ACT was a missionary project in the formative years of the National Capital and 1st Canberra helped in the formation of all the other Baptist Companies.

 Helen Luther (now Mrs Stafford) joined the company when her family moved to Canberra in 1961. In later years, as ACT Training Officer and Commissioner she spoke to Church Meetings and Trained leaders in all the ACT companies. The McMasters were always very supportive of not only "their company" but Brigade generally. Mrs Dorothy McMaster was Battalion President for many years and it is fitting that Mrs McMaster later became the first Patron of Girls' Brigade in the ACT.

 In 1965 Mrs Betty Ross (then a member of Dickson Memorial Church) was captain of 6th Canberra Company for a short time and when the company was struggling for leadership Helen McMaster, then a Lieutenant in 1st, worked in both companies. In 1970 Hughes Baptist wanted to open a company but nobody wanted to take on the Captaincy so Mrs Betty Clissold and Mrs May Ratcliffe trained and became Lieutenants in 1st Canberra company and, together with Helen Stafford, transported girls connected to their Church from the Woden Valley to Kingston each week. By this time 1st Canberra was flourishing with a membership of almost 100 and facilities stretched to the limit. This situation continued until 1978 when Hughes Baptist finally opened a company. 

In 1976 Shirley Capon, a Lieutenant with 1st Canberra, moved to Melba and started attending Belconnen Baptist where, with the assistance of 1st, she opened a company. By 1980 this company had outgrown their facilities so North Belconnen opened a company, a "grandchild" of 1st. Jeanne Horton also worked in both these companies. When 4th Canberra was struggling to survive, in 1977, Gaye Allison (now Mrs Benthian) and the remaining girls at North Canberra joined 1st till the company was able to reopen in 1982. With much encouragement and support Tuggeranong opened a company in 1983 with ex "1st girls" providing both the children and leadership. 

1st Canberra was always involved in the wider family of Girls' Brigade - with young leaders assisting in a work party to the New Hebrides, girls attending both National and International Fonomaraes, and with Helen Stafford going on to become Deputy and then National Commissioner. The company enjoyed many joint activities - eg camps, fund raising (stalls at Morling Lodge Fete - even participated in the Walkathon for its beginning), picnics and Leadership Training. Early on Competitions were popular but when 1st Canberra dominated the pool, track and field it was decided to plan activities that would unite the companies and not divide. Drill Competitions and marching lost popularity as life generally became less formal. Christine Clissold was the first to receive a Queen's Award in Canberra, presented by the Governor General at the 50th Anniversary of Canberra Baptist Church. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Syllabus was incorporated into the Pioneer program. Again that was a uniting activity as girls from various companies went on expeditions together. City to country exchanges were established with visits to Leeton in early years and reversed in later years when exchanges were enjoyed with Caringbah. In both directions the train trip was probably the highlight of the weekends! Back in the early days life was simple and camps at Murrumbateman, on the property donated to the Church by Miss Armstrong, were very popular. It was always hot and dry out there and the dam was full of leaches - but a great time was had by all. Later on the huge central fireplace at Caloola Farm became popular. 

Sadly 1st Canberra closed in the last term of 1993. Times had changed, Canberra Baptist had become a city church, mothers had paid employment and families were not prepared to drive daughters in from far flung suburbs and the company consisted of girls from the local area but when community housing in the area was pulled down to make way for redevelopment there were no more girls. 1st Canberra had three dedicated young officers (Leontine Crain (nee Tyhuis), Lindy Scanlan and Catherine Stafford) who had grown up in the company who volunteered to go with the girls to three different companies, closest to where they had been moved. Over the years it had been great to note the number of ex girls who returned to the Church to be married and the number of second-generation members who went through! In its 40 years the company was very stable with only four captains. Betty Mills (4 years) was followed by Faye Sambrook (Haisley - 3 years), Enid Moore (now Mrs Daniel - 6 years) and Helen Stafford (25 years) and provided a great outreach ministry for the Church. 

Over the years the rolls included Jeanne, Lineka & Jan Quartel; Barbara & Marion Dunlop; Wendy Rein (also daughters Natalie & Anita Zirngast); Linda & Elizabeth Brain; Gloria & Margaret Evans; Helen Stirling; June & Shirley Pettifer (and daughters Katherine, Elizabeth & Jennifer Hardwicke & Kelly Shoard); Helen, Margaret & Jennifer McMaster; Lynette & Norma Skinner; Meryl & Kathy Joyce; Jennifer Howe; Carolyn McMaster (and daughter Que Richardson); Philippa & Gillian Butterfield; Deborah, Pamela & Ngaire Kinnear; Elizabeth Mackay; Moira Callan; Rebecca, Lois & Ruth Hilton; Helen Bauer; Catherine & Belinda Stafford; Leontine Tyhuis; Rebecca Holly; Caroline & Jolene Knox; Katie Russell; Carolyn & Sarah Pettifer; Roslyn and Lyndall Robb.

Helen  Stafford

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