Girl Guides Australia announces that it has changed its Promise (the oath taken by all guides) and dropped allegiance to the Queen. Guides Director, Brenda Allen said that the change had been made after 18 months of consultation and added, “Our community comes from about 200 different countries. We need to be able to reflect our members and have wording…that is meaningful and relevant to Australian girls in the 21st century.” The usual media beat-up here described the change as controversial but it is hardly that, merely sensible as we move away from our colonial past. Monarchist organisations were appalled.The new wording of the Promise received wide media coverage overseas where some commentators interpreted it as inappropriate in the Diamond Jubilee year. The Girl Guides themselves made the choice, WfaAR cannot believe that our monarch would be terribly bothered.
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
