More than 100 women turned up at the Newcastle centre at Henry Park to comm-emorate an important year for Girl Guides districts across the region.

Garden Suburb district leader Elizabeth Baker said it was special day for two reasons.

“We celebrated 100 years of Girls Guides,” she said.

“We also got to farewell the end of the Greater Newcastle division, with Newcastle and Lake Macquarie now part of the Coastal Valley Region.”

Former leaders, one as old as 87-years-old, were welcomed as part of the celebration.

Ms Baker said although there had been a few changes in guides since its inception, the original message still remained the same.

“We’ve had a change in uniform and a few minor changes to The Promise and The Fundamentals, which have gone from eight to seven,” she said.

“But the basic concepts are still the same – we still want to produce self-reliant and responsible young women who are valued in society.

“I think we are still a worthwhile organisation that produces leaders of good character.”

Go to www.girlguides-nswact.o-rg.au find out more about Girl Guides in your local area.