Agnes Baden-Powell
The answer to all the following odd questions are
Agnes Baden-Powell : The first Girl Guide
Who had six brothers?
Who competed in bicycle gymkhanas and bicycle polo?
Who enjoyed camping, fishing, sailing, shooting, tennis and golf?
Who raised birds and kept bees and butterflies?
Who was proficient in painting, sewing, decorative metalwork and lacemaking?
Who was interested in science, nature study and astronomy?
Who spoke eleven languages?
Who was a friend of Marconi, the inventor of the wireless?
Who went hot air ballooning and once held the air height record?
Who was a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society in the UK?
Who played the organ, violin and piano?
Who never went to school?
Who wrote How Girls can Help Build up the Empire - the first Girl Guide handbook?
Who helped alter the way society saw the role of girls, and enabled girls to do things previously considered only for boys and man?
Agnes was the sister of Robert-Baden Powell who founded Scouting and Guiding. Her influence is still as relevant as ever in 2011.
The United Kingdom popular magazine ‘Stylist' has just asked its readers to vote for the most inspirational woman of the last 100 years. Their on-line voting system showed that
Agnes Baden-Powell was the outright winner, receiving thousands of votes.
As part of our centenary celebrations, the Olave Baden-Powell Society members in Australia wish to honour Agnes by raising funds for WAGGGS through an "In Memoriam" OB-PS membership, thus recognising her strength of mind, determination, forethought and energy.
Without her, Guiding would never have become the success that it is today.
The Olave Baden-Powell Society contributes to the on-going and important global work of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, enabling girls and young women to develop to their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.