Florence Mitchell

Florence Mitchell (1891 - 20 July 1970) was Assistant State Commissioner for Victoria Girl Guides, Australia from 1949 to 1953. In 1953 she received the Silver Fish Award, Girl Guiding's highest adult honour, for her contribution to Guiding, including her work with the Guide International Service (GIS) after WWII.

Florence was the District Commissioner for Melbourne's East Malvern and Glen Iris Girl Guide District from 1930 to 1938. During a 1933 trip to England she visited Waddow Hall Guide centre and the Girl Guide Association's headquarters in London. After her District Commissioner role, she was promoted to commissioner for South-Eastern Division, Melbourne, a position she held until 1949. In 1949 she became Assistant State Commissioner for Victorian Girl Guides, a position she held until 1953. In 1953 she received the Silver Fish Award, Girl Guiding's highest adult honour. By this time she was also chair of the Victoria Girl Guides’ finance committee.

Guide International Service

During and immediately after WWII, Florence worked with the Guide International Service (GIS), a voluntary organisation responsible for equipping and sending Girl Guide leaders from Britain and other Commonwealth countries to perform relief work in post-war Europe. She was also involved in the collection and dispatch of clothing and goods for distribution from Victoria to war-affected regions. By 1947 she had become the President of the Victorian GIS committee.

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