Our history ...

1910

When a handful of girls gathered amongst 1,000 Boy Scouts at the Crystal Palace Rally, Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout Movement saw the need to start a Movement for girls. Agnes Baden-Powell, his sister, and later, Olave Baden-Powell, his wife, led the Girl Guide Movement.

1917



1st Coy of Singapore Girl Guides

The Singapore Girl Guide Movement started as a District of the Malayan Girl Guides Association. Our first Unit was registered at St. Mary's Home (the former residence of Tan Yok Nee). Later, Units were registered at Raffles Girls' School, Singapore Chinese Girls' School and Church of England Zenana Missionary Society School (now St. Margaret's Secondary School). Our first Brownie Pack was started on Pulau Ubin. Mrs J. Cavendish, Chief Commissioner for Malaya and Singapore (1917-1934) donated the Cavendish Shield to stimulate interest in Guiding. Guides from St. Margaret's Secondary School and St. Hilda's Girl's School won the Cavendish Shield for Singapore.

1928



Miss Jessie Kilgour

Miss Jessie Kilgour, first District Commissioner of Singapore (1928-34) encouraged Malay girls to join the Movement. She also started Brownie programmes at St. Andrew's Orthopaedic Hospital.

1934

Mrs L. A. Thomas, the next Chief Commissioner (1934-41), offered her house at 49 Canning Rise as a Guide Office, Shop and a meeting place for two Open Units. Lord and Lady Baden-Powell made their first visit to Singapore.

1935

The first Land Ranger Unit was registered.

1941

Our Headquarters cum Training Centre, "The Hut" was built at Buyong Road . It was also used as a meeting place for Open Units.

1942-45

Girl Guiding was interrupted during the Japanese occupation.

1945

Miss J. Kilgour restarted Guiding.

1947

Mrs J.L. Wilson became our Commissioner for Singapore. The Hut was restored.

1950

As the number of Girl Guides grew, our Movement was structured into 4 districts: Central, East, North and West. We sent our first overseas Guide contingent to attend the international Friendship Camp in Perth, Western Australia. Lady Hone, Commissioner for Singapore, organised the first post-war Guiders' Training. She actively promoted Guiding in English, Malay and Chinese language-medium schools and started a Guide company in the leper colony. She was succeeded by Lady Lloyd.

1953

The Singapore Girl Guides Association separated from the Malayan Girl Guides Association and became a Branch of the Girl Guides Association of Great Britain.

1953 / 1954



(From left) Lady Brind, Mrs Edna Mason, Mrs Myra Cresson and Mrs Norah Inge

A fifth district, Serangoon, was formed. The Colony Commissioners who promoted Guiding till Singapore attained self-government were Lady Brind, Mrs Norah Inge, Mrs Edna Mason and Mrs Myra Cresson.

1954

Chinese speaking Guide units were formed in Nan Hua Girls' School, Nan Chiao Girls' School and Nanyang Girls' School.

1956

Commissioners, Trainers and Guiders were increasingly drawn from the Chinese, Eurasian, Indian and Malay communities as part of a programme for localisation of leaders. Our Trefoil Guild was registered for former Guides to return to serve our Movement.

1958

Our first Sea Ranger Crew SRS Terror was formed at the Naval Base in the North District. A Gurkha unit was formed at Slim Barracks, West District.

1959



(From Left) Puan Noor Aishah, Mrs Lily Emmanuel

Singapore attained self-government. Puan Noor Aishah, wife of the Yang de-Pertuan Negara, became our President and Mrs Lily Emmanuel became our State Commissioner. The Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) of the Guide programme was revised.

1960

The Guide Districts were redrawn into five Divisions: North, South, East, West and Central.

1965

Singapore became a Republic. First Lady Puan Noor Aishah was installed as our Patron, Mrs Wee Chong Jin , our President, and Mrs Wong Hoe Eng, our Acting Chief Commissioner. We moved to our new Headquarters, Guide House at Clemenceau Avenue. The Guide enrolment exceeded 3,000 members with about 1,000 local Guides. "PP" (Pandu Putri) replaced "GG " (Girl Guides) on the enrolment badge.

1967



Brownie Revel at the Istana during the Golden Jubilee

We celebrated our Golden Jubilee.

1967-1977



Madam Chan Siok Fong

Madam Chan Siok Fong was appointed our Chief Commissioner. With support from our Patrons, Puan Noor Aishah and Mrs Benjamin Sheares, and our Presidents Mrs Wee Chong Jin, Mrs Tan Boon Teik, Mrs Lien Ying Chow and Mrs E.W. Barker, changes were made to reflect Singapore's status as an independent nation. The Association's Constitution, structure, organisation, the Promise and the Law were revised. Our uniform, badges and emblems were redesigned. A Five-Point Programme was introduced and Guide and Brownie Handbooks were published. Cadet Lieutenants were introduced to help out with school units. The Trefoil Guild was revived. Non-uniformed members were encouraged to participate actively in the multi-faceted activities of the Movement. Scout-Guide Week was inaugurated. Footdrill, Musketry and Anti-Drug Interest Badges were introduced. We became a Full Member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

1977



The Diamond Jubilee Rally

We celebrated our Diamond Jubilee with the theme "Today's Guides for Tomorrow's World" to provide impetus for the development of future programmes for the Movement.

1977-1984

Dr Eileen Aw was appointed our Chief Commissioner. With the support of our Patron, First Lady Mrs Wee Kim Wee and our Presidents ch Mawan Wajid Khan and Mrs S. Dhanabalan, our Movement widened its concerns to include the old, the young, the environment and health. The Anti-Crime and the environmentalist Interest Badges were introduced. Special interest activities were organised e.g a nation-wide project to canvass for kidney donors and running a day-programme for children living in Housing Board Estates. Unique fund-raising projects included working with the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board to paste stamps on one million tourist postcards that were sent worldwide. We sewed patchwork quilts, pillowcases, aprons and made handicrafts which sponsors bought to donate to welfare organisations.

1984-1989

Mrs Wah Teng Siew was appointed our Chief Commissioner. With the support of our patron, First Lady Mrs Wee Kim Wee and our Presidents Mrs S. Dhanabalan, Mrs Dorothy Lai and Mrs Lee Yock Suan, our Headquarters administrative office was reorganised. Rules and regulations governing International participation were streamlined. We celebrated the opening of our own campsite at Camp Christine, Jalan Bahtera.

1989-1994

Mrs Gan Siew Koon was appointed the Chief Commissioner. With the support of our Patrons, First Ladies Mrs Wee Kim Wee and Mrs Ong Teng Cheong, and our Presidents Mrs Lee Yock Suan and Mrs Wong Kan Seng, we hosted the 27th World Conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1990.

1992

In 1992, we celebrated our 75th Anniversary of Guiding with an International Camp. A series of projects were organised to raise funds for our new Headquarters at Bishan. The book "History of Guiding in Singapore" was published.

1994-1998

Mrs Ngiam Geak Kim was appointed our Chief Commissioner. With the support of our Patron, First Lady Mrs Ong Teng Cheong and our President Mrs Wong Kan Seng, we initiated "Guides-in-Service" for Guides to work for a period of time at welfare institutions. The Five-Point Programme was revamped and Handbooks were revised.. Residential Training and Unit Visits were revived. Experiential Training for Brownie Guiders were introduced at Pack Holiday Trainings. We adopted the "6-year" project launched by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to build World Citizenship. Projects on Peace, Environment and Heritage and Culture were completed.

1998-2004

Mrs Yvette Cheak was appointed the Chief Commissioner. The Symbolic Lowering of Flag at the Headquarters was held on 30 Nov. The Symbolic Move to the new Headquarters at Bishan was held on 31 December.

 1999

A total of 3000 members participated at the Thinking Day Rally at the Bishan Sports Hall. The new Headquarters Open House was held in conjunction with this event. The first camp and pack holiday was also held with the event. The theme for the year was Food and Nutrition.

Mrs Teo Chee Hean was installed as our President in May.

Our Patron, The First Lady, Mrs Ong Teng Cheong, officially opened the new Guide House cum Training Centre on 6th June.

Singapore hosted the Asia Pacific Workshop on Training and Programme Development at NACLI.

 2000

We set a new record by having 25 President Guide Awardees. Singapore also hosted the Round Robin Project 2000 from 9-16 December. It included adult leaders from Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong.

 2001

The First Puan Noor Award presentation took place during the Thinking Day Celebrations at Anglo Chinese School.

The Solar Cooking Competition was held in March with the introduction of a section for Brownies. 

In addition, the first get-together for Guiders was organized in conjunction with the Guiders’ Conference in November.  Activities were organized and the day ended with a successful campfire.

The Ministry of Education together with the National Youth Achievement Award Council co-organised the UG-NYAAC Green Project on 25 August.  A total of 1094 guides took part.

A number of the Trefoil Guild members, with the Young Adults, did a good turn at Mother Teresa’s Home (Missionaries of Charities) at Thomson Road.

A total of 20 Guild members, friends, and YAs attended the porcelain painting session conducted by Mrs Angelina Christian on 28 July 2001.