The Girls' Brigade International Council
 

Australia

General Information  
Area 7,682,300 Sq.Km
Australian Flag
Population 19.2 million
Currency 1 Australian $ = 100 cents
Capital Canberra
Time
Government Independent member of the British Commonwealth
GMT + 9hrs
Prime Minister John Howard
Governor Major-General Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC  
Languages English & Aboriginal languages plus numerous other European and Asian languages  
Religions Mainly Christian with some Muslim, Buddhist & Jewish
Major Industries Minerals, oil, coal, gold, wool, cereals and meat
     
Map of Australia

Geography
Australia is a vast island continent situated south of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea between the Pacific and Indian oceans. The world's sixth largest country, Australia measures some 4000km (2500mi) east to west and 3200km (2000mi) north to south. Australia is divided by the Great Dividing Range which runs north to south down the eastern seaboard. This separates the coastal plain from the drier inland areas. The Great Barrier Reef lies between 50-300km (30-185mi) offshore and extends 2000km (1240mi) from the Torres Strait to Gladstone. Much of the interior of the country is flat, barren and extremely sparsely populated. The bulk of the population lives on the narrow, fertile eastern coastal plain and on the south-eastern coast.
 
Climate
Australian seasons are the opposite of those in Europe and North America. Summer starts in December, autumn in March, winter in June and spring in September. Seasonal variations are not extreme and it's rare for temperatures to drop below zero on the mainland except in the mountains. As you head north, the seasonal variations become even less distinct. Darwin, in the far north, is in the monsoon belt, where there are just two seasons, hot and wet, and hot and dry.
 
Wildlife
Australia has a fascinating mix of native flora and fauna. Its distinctive plants include the gum tree or eucalypt, of which there are some 700 species. Other common plants are wattle, banksia, waratahs, bottlebrushes, paperbarks and tea trees. Prevalent animals include the kangaroo, koala, emu, platypus, echidna, possum, wombat and dingo. There are also a number of interesting birds, such as parrots, cockatoos and kookaburras. Fauna to be wary of include Australian spiders (especially the redback and funnel-web), snakes (notably the venomous brown, tiger, death adder, copperhead and red-bellied black varieties) and both salt and freshwater crocodiles. There are more than 500 national parks, incorporating rainforests, deserts, mountain ranges and coastal dunes.
 

The Girls' Brigade
 

Companies :

CHURCH
  
     
 
COMPANY
  
 
CAPTAIN
  
 
CHAPLAIN
  
 
LEADERS
  
 
ASSISTANT LEADERS
  
 
AUXILIARY WORKERS
  
 
YOUNG LEADERS
  
 
PIONEERS
  
 
SENIORS
  
 
JUNIORS
  
 
CADETS
  
 
Age Groups : The units within The Girls' Brigade are as follows:
  Cadets First Year of Schooling to Primary School
  Juniors Primary School
  Seniors Secondary School (First two years)

 

 Pioneers / Young Leaders Secondary School upwards
 

Uniform :

Cadets

Cadets wear a royal blue skort (a skort is a pair of shorts with a flap over the front); a white over-blouse; a red sash worn over the right shoulder and under the left arm; a forage cap with woven crest badge (white background); short white ankle socks, black or brown flat shoes. In winter a red fleecy/ knitted cardigan or red windcheater. A red hair tie.
  Juniors, Seniors, Pioneers & Young Leaders Girls wear a white short sleeve overblouse with epaulettes and woven crest on pocket, a royal blue skirt (central box pleat with 2 knife pleats at each side and a plain back), a forage cap with woven crest badge (navy - Juniors, maroon - Seniors, saxe blue - Pioneers and Young Leaders), a royal blue sash worn over the right shoulder and under the left arm), royal blue hair ties and flat black/brown school shoes. Juniors wear white ankle socks whilst Seniors wear white ankle socks on company nights and flesh coloured stockings on Church parades or special occasions. Pioneers and Young Leaders wear flesh coloured stockings. In Winter, a royal blue windcheater with v-neck and woven crest on left breast is also worn.
  Leaders Leaders wear a white short-sleeve over blouse with epaulettes and pocket on left breast with woven badge, a navy blue skirt (central box pleat with 2 knife pleats at each side and a plain back), a navy blue fleece cardigan (small-embroidered crest on left breast), a jacket (same fabric as the skirt with small crest on left breast), a forage cap (same fabric as skirt), navy hair ties, black court shoes and slate grey stockings. Name badges are worn and a leisure hat for sun protection is an optional extra.
  Jewellery For all girls and Leaders is a watch, medic-alert bracelet/necklace and one pair of earrings (studs/sleepers) worn in ears. Engagement and/or Wedding ring (if applicable).
  Lanyards National Commissioner - Spun Gold Deputy National Commissioner - Gold, Red, Navy National Administrator - Navy, Gold, Red, Saxe Blue State Commissioner - Gold, Red, Navy Deputy State Commissioner - Navy Red, White Divisional Commissioner - Gold, Navy Deputy Divisional Commissioner - Red, Navy Supernumerary - Red, Saxe Blue Captain - Red Leader - Saxe Blue Assistant Leader - Navy Blue Young Leader - Pale Blue, White Pioneer - Pale Blue
 

Badge Work : All Awards are based on the four square programme - Spiritual, Educational, Social and Physical.
  Cadets Cadets can earn three stars. Blue, red and gold (symbolising the star that led the wise men to Jesus) Some of the topics covered are: Animals, Seasons, Jesus my Friend, Friendship, Caring.
  Juniors Juniors can earn four circles. Seek (blue), Seek and Serve (green), Seek, Serve and Follow (red) and Seek Serve and Follow Christ (gold).
  Some of the topics covered are: Spiritual - Bible Mine, Bible Knowledge, Christian Caring, God’s Wonderful World, My Church, Missionary, Women of the Bible. Educational - Aboriginal Culture, Communications, Geology, Let’s Read, Paper, Photography, Weather. Social - Cookery, Entertainment, Gardening, Our Community, Travel. Physical - Camping, Cycling, Keeping Fit, Self Defence, Skating, Water Skill, Hiking/Walks, Nature/Interest.
  Seniors Seniors can earn two rectangles - red and gold (serving hands)
  Some of the topics covered are: Social - Child Care, Floral Art, Handcrafts, Party Planning , Social Behaviour, Theatre Travel. Educational - Personal Development, Missions, Know your Bible. Physical - Abseiling, Canoeing, Outdoor Camping, Horse Riding. Spiritual is a component of all topics.
  Pioneers Pioneers can earn four triangles - blue, green, red and gold, with the symbol 'Christ is King'. They cover three areas in each topic - Skills, Service and Spiritual.
  Some of the topics that are in their programme are: Astronomy, Design and Dressmaking, Food Management, First Aid, Landcare, Interior Design and Decorating, Literature, Motor Vehicle, Office Skills, Public Speaking, Puppetry, Worship, Working with Cadets or Juniors.
    Pioneers can also take part in Leadership Training Courses.
 
  • Preliminary - aims to help girls understand the basis of Leadership.
  • Recreational - learning techniques of planning, preparing and leading games, singing and craft.
  • Girls’ Brigade - developing techniques of leadership in the company and Girls’ Brigade drill.
  • Spiritual - learning techniques of planning, preparing and leading devotions in the company.
  • Indoor Camping - learning technique of planning, preparing and leading all aspect of camps.
  • Administrative - learning how committees function, responsibilities of committee members and how to lead and participate in a decision-making discussion.
  On completion of these Leadership courses, the Pioneer receives a Badges (the shape of a Bar) that is worm on her sash. Preliminary - pale green, Recreational - yellow, Girls’ Brigade - blue, Spiritual - orange, Indoor Camping - brown and Administrative - mauve.
    Pioneers are eligible to earn the Pioneer Pin, which is the highest award given at a National Level. Pre-Requisites are completion of the 4 Awards, 1 Gold Service Award (earned in Pioneer Unit), completion of Preliminary Leadership and 1 Advanced Leadership course and 6 months 'In Company' service. In addition to this, they must have an Interview with a Panel (consisting of the Chaplain, Divisional Commissioner and one other person) and be in their third year of Pioneers.
    Pioneers can also undertake the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and the Queen’s Award if they are aged between 15 and 21 years.
    Young Leaders are Pioneer that have received their Pioneer Pin and have completed an additional advanced leadership Course (one of which must be Girls’ Brigade Leadership) and who is working in a Leadership capacity in the Company on a regular weekly basis.
  Operation Reachout

The Girls' Brigade in Australia encourages companies to learn about Brigade in other countries by offering a Special Award for each Fellowship.

A different coloured badge can be earned for each Fellowship as follows: EUROPE - White; ASIA - Maroon; CARIBBEAN & AMERICAS - Pale Blue; AFRICA - Green and PACIFIC - Dark Blue.

(All awards to be earned before repeating any Fellowship and no more than two awards of the same Fellowship may be earned.)

 
  Service Awards Blue - 90% attendance on Company night, assessment of general attitude as displayed by conduct, uniform and attendance at special Brigade functions including Church Parades. Gold - 80% Attendance at Sunday School, Worship Service or other Christian Education.
 
National Commissioner : Mrs Elizabeth Harding
 
WEB SITE: girls.brigadeaustralia.org