In the year 1931, a young Christian businessman, the proprietor of a cycle shop in  New Market, Auckland, had a strong conviction about starting a club for boys.

He sold many bicycles to newspaper delivery boys on hire purchase and each week, as he wrote out receipts for the installments, he felt a growing concern for their spiritual welfare. To him these boys were not just customers but became his friends. They confided in him and asked his advice about their problems, and he longed to be a help to them in some real and lasting way.

A club was started in a rented hall and was called the Newmarket Boy’s Rally. It had a membership of over 100.

Willing Christian helpers were co-opted to assist in a programme of games, singing, supper, and talks based on Bible teaching and Christian ethics.

This Rally ceased during World War Two, but was recommenced as the war finished. This time a more complete programme was organised including uniforms, badges, handbooks and leaders’ manuals.

The re-organised movement was then given the name of Every Boy’s Rally.

Girls from 1930 onwards had organised clubs, but it was not until late 1944 that they patterned their organisation on the Boy’s Rally and adopted the name of Every Girl’s Rally.

From that small beginning the movement spread throughout New Zealand, becoming a large organisation, and as a result of overseas visits became established in other countries.