Bush, Muriel Evelyn (1897-1981)

Field of activity
Community worker
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-767078

Biographies

Merle Bush devoted over 50 years of her life to the Victoria Guide Movement. During that time she developed training programs for leaders in Victoria and interstate. In the New Year's Honours List for 1956, Bush was appointed an Officer of the British Empire (Civil) for her services to the Girl Guide Movement.

Always known as Merle E Bush, she was named on her birth certificate as Muriel Evelyn Bush.

Merle grew up with very good memories of life in the early days of Victoria, as both her grandfathers had 'Produce Stores' which supplied vast areas in the state of Victoria. Her paternal grandfather's store was in Bendigo and from there he supplied goods from Northern Victoria and Southern Riverina, using Paddle Steamers along the Murray from Echuca. On the other hand her maternal grandfather's store was situated in Bairnsdale and with the aid of a steam ship, which he built himself, called the J. C. D. he traded through the Gippsland Lakes and coastal ports to Melbourne.

Bush was educated at Girton, a Church of England Grammar School, where in 1915 she became the school's Head Prefect.

Her involvement with the Girl Guide movement lasted nearly 60 years. She helped establish and was the first Guide Leader of the 1st Bendigo Guide Company. Later Bush organized Guide rallies to see Lord and Lady Baden Powell during their visits to the State of Victoria, as well as developing Camping and Training programmes.

Acting State Secretary for eight years, Bush was awarded the Chief Guide's Diploma for Training (the only one to be awarded in Australia) as well as becoming a life member of the State Council of the Victorian Girl Guide Association during the 1940s.

Following her death in 1981 a new Trefoil Guild was formed in Bendigo and called the Merle Bush T.G. It was registered on June 18, 1981.

(Source: information supplied by Guides Victoria archives)

  • 9 March 1897 Born: daughter of Samuel Albert and Nina Marie (nee Dahlsen) Bush
  • 1915 Head Prefect, Church of England Grammar School, Girton
  • 1922 Founded Guiding in Bendigo
  • 1922 First Guide Leader of 1st Bendigo Guide Company
  • 1923 Nominated for special leadership training at the First Victorian Training Week
  • 1923 District Secretary
  • 1923 Gained the Campers Licence
  • 1923 Honorary Secretary for Bendigo Local Association
  • 1924 Gained first Training Diploma (Blue Cord)
  • 1924 First Brownie Leader of 1st Bendigo Brownie Pack
  • 1925 Attended the first All Australian Camp for Leaders
  • 1925 Appointed the Head of Brownies in Victoria
  • 1926 Appointed the first Camping Advisor for Victoria
  • 1926 Appointed the first Training Advisor for Victoria
  • 1926 Instituted training by correspondence for country Leaders
  • 1927 Visited Queensland as an experienced Trainer and gained further training qualification (Red Cord) for service beyond her own State
  • 1927 First Ranger Captain of 1st Bendigo Ranger Company
  • 1930 Awarded the Medal of Merit - presented by the world Chief Guide, Lady Baden Powell
  • 1930 Organized a Rally for guides to get together and meet the Chief's - Lord and Lady Baden Powell during this visit to Australia
  • 1935 Organized a rally for the Guides of the time to see Lord and Lady Baden Powell during their visit to the State of Victoria
  • 1939 - 1946 Accepted position of Acting State Secretary for 3 months (lasted for 8 years)
  • 1940 Worked with the other States particularly South Australia and Queensland to develop Camping and Training programmes
  • 1940 Life Member of the State Council of the Victorian Girl Guide Association
  • 1945 Visited South Australia to help reorganise that State's Training Department
  • 1945 An organiser and assessor of the first Guide International Service (Australian) Test prior to the women being selected to work with the displaced people in Europe and Malaysia
  • 1947 Awarded Chief Guide's Diploma for Training (the first to ever be awarded in Australia)
  • 1948 Honorary Secretary at the first Federal Trainers Conference
  • 1956 Honoured by Her Majestry the Queen with the Order of the British Empire. Presented with her award at Buckingham Palace.
  • 1 January 1981 Died

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

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Resources for Muriel Evelyn Bush

Selected resources (2)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/honours/honours.html
  2. Victorian Women's Roll of Honour: Women Shaping the Nation
    [2001]
    Published: Centurary of Federation Victoria
    Series: http://www.women.vic.gov.au/CA25666E00000B30/Images/CoFHR/$File/CoFHR.pdf

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