Vol. 5. No.8
MARCH, 1929
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MATILDA
2
CONTENTS
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Gu id e News.-Will Guiders note that Guiding n e ws is published in the "Argus" on Tuesday morning, and in the "Age" on Wednesday morning"! The news includes all Training Class notice!';.
3 4 :; 5
Co nt r ibu t ions.-Contributlons for the June issue of "Matilda" should reach Headquarte rs not latcr than May 8, 1929.
Page
)<otices . . . . .. .. . . .. . . .. Guide Magazili es .. . . . . , . . . Rallies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . ... Our Bl'ownie Page .. .. .. . . . . What the Platypus Hus l<'m' Dinm r "H<" l1dra" .. .. .. . . .
. .... . .
Mal'ch, 1929
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of the Fira t Day of Interstate 6 Camp . . . . . . Interstate Camp .. . . .. 8 Hiking Notes .. . . ,. .. 9 Lone Look-out .. 11 ExpenHcs . . . . . . 11 Plays :lnd Games 11 Camp Equipment 11 '1'rain;ng . . .. .. 11 Correspondence 12 12 Appointments . . . . . . . . . . Warrants . . . . . . . , 12 ~Jlressions
NOTICES, Reg istra t ion,- Registration Certificates have now been issued for all Companies and Packs whose Registration Forms have been received to date at Headquarters; any Companies or Packs which have not been registered yet should therefore send in a form at once. Equ ipm e nt Depo t.-It would be a v ery great help if Guiders would make sure that their Guides know the Equipment Depot is not open during the morning on week-days, or on Friday nights. Correspondence and the packing and despatch of country orders c laim the atten tion of the office staff during the mornings; but it Is difficult to turn away peop le who have m a de a special trip to town to purchase Guide equipment. Country Guiders will, of course, be welcome at the Office at any time. Concession Fares on Trams.-The concession of half-fare fOI' Guides in uniform applies to Rang-C' rs, but not to Guiders. S igndllin g Stic ks ,- Country orders for Morse Poles: These sticks are too long for posting, and th e Railways will not accept responsibility for parcels of less than three sticks, as otherwise they are liable to be broken In transit. Would Guiders therefore order not less than three at a time? It is generally possible to forcsc c thc need for the third, and it also saves Jrf' ight. " Guider" 8ubscriptions,- Owi n g to the incrcased cosl of postage, due to heaviel' weight, the subscription to uT he Guider'路 has been inCl"eased to 6/- per year (posted) . " Guide" Subscriptions.-If two copies of "The Guide" al'e ordered from the same address, postagc will be charged on on ly one subscription. Reg iste red Equipment,-WIl! Cap tains p lease note that the Guide Equipmen t Depot wil l not supply any registered equIpment (i.e., 'belts or badges, G.G. hatbands either worked or u n worked) without a written order from the Captain. Exchange.- Exchange should be added to country cheques; receipts are n ot posted for amounts under 5/- .
GUIDE MAGAZINES, We still mee t Guiders who hav e n ever s een copi es of 路those most helpful magazines- uThe GuidC/'" and "The Guide." "The Guidel"s" sub-title is "a Monthly Magazine for Guiders and CommIssioners." It is publish ed in England, but contains news and views from all pal路ts of the world where Guiding floul"ishes . Th e table of contents shows the variety of subjects dealt 'with-e.g., stories to lell to Brownies- "The Woodcraf.t Trail," by Mal"cus Woodward-an endless fund of interest; articles on branches, such as Extensions and Rangers; correspondence columns wh ere Guiders discourse upon everything under the SL'n; excellent articles on the training of Guld e l's in France; and such attractive subjects as Th e Making of th e New Guide Film, Folk Dancing and Pageantl"y, Post Guide and Lone Guid e Company Letters. special craft work, e tc. Unde r Headquarters Notices w e find ea ch month suggestions for alterations In th e syllabus fa I' val"ious badge tests, and we have an opportunity of thinking these out he fOl'e they actu a lly are embodied in the Rules for th e next year, and become binding. Guid e rs are so often advised to Look Wide, and many of us tlnd in "Th e Guider" a potent help to wider vision. "Th e Guide" is a weekly paper for Guides, but qu i te recently a Guider of some experience, wh en asked if she wished to cancel her subs cription to "The Guide," eXClaimed: "Why, I couldn't rUQ my Company at all if it weren't fOl" th articles in 'The Guide'-It is there I g e t all the originality and all the games and bright idea& for the Company programmes!" As well as Guide stories (Including exciting serials) this paper has pages tor Patrol Lead e l's, Rangers, Competitions, Games, etc., and a copy in the Company Library cannot but help the Guides to fe el that they really are part of a very world-wide and thrilling family. In many cases Patrols subscI"lbe for a copy, as one copy for the whole Company takes too long to g e round. If more t h an one copy is ordered for the same address. postage is charged on only half the number sent. Last yeal" there was some difficulty in keeping up with the increasing orders but we now have a number of spare copies of both these magazines. Subscriptions may be paid threemonth ly, h a lf-yearly, or yearly; or caples can be ord e red , and paid for as they are called for. Subs c ri ptions: "The Guider"-6/- per annum, including postage; 4d. per copy (2d. postage ) . "The Guide'路-15/2 per ann um, posted; 2~d. copy (ld. post).
MATILDA
l\1arch, 1929 RALLIES. A Hint or Two.
Th ese hints are written down partly -to suggest n e w id eas a nd partly because a letter ca ll ed "In the Public Eye" has r ecently ap pcared in "The Guider." At R a lli es we mean to h ave fun a nd meet ever so_man y other Guides; we have a g loriou s s cret hope that o ur Compa ny will be the best - thoug h we hope -to l earn a lot from everyone else. Sometimes. we try to win a Cup, a nd ge nerally we lll vlte a ll o u r friends. How can we introduce ourselves to our frie nd s, as we reall y are? A~ything done w ell and with the true Guide SP ll' lt may be s.u itab le for a rally, but I have wondered so m eti m es if we cou ld bring into prominence a littl e more than has been donethe dis路tinctivel y Guidey things. W e cannot ~ h ow, we do not wish to parade, the deepest fundamental matters: the bearing of the Guides g ives witness to them for those who can see, but I have just jotted down in a list some id eas that mi g ht show the Guides e ngaged . in things for which they have no opportumttes apart from the Co mpany meetings. Patrols.-Use the Patr ol as a unit instead of the individu a l, especiall y if sports a r e on the progl"a~me-;-and sometim es, if co mpa ni es o~ un ven age' are meeting, they are. If a gI rl has learnt to run a nd be quick at scho ol It I S fine for h er to u sc h e r ab ility in the service of h er Co mpan y, but it is bette r for h er to u se it to h e lp h er Patrol to w in, and the whole Patrol shfu'es the g lory of a win for the Company. A good P au'o l competitio n can he macle fl'om Emergencies. Patrols m ay be a llow ed certain eq uipm e nt ; a piece of paper is h anded to t h e leader with a n eme rge ncy written on it and three minutes is a ll owed to them to decide Th e n they must act the e m er gen cy a nd Its solu~ t l ~ n. . (There was a n excellent description of t!lIS 111 .th e"acco unt .of a Rally in F rance, pubIJshed III Th e GUIde,." a littl e over a year ago.) I nitiative.-G ive spec ia l jobs at the rally to PatJ'ols a nd leave them to work o ut details reporting plans 路to Captain or Secretary. ' Test Work Competitions.-Camp cool{in g is th e best competitio n I Imow when i t is possible ( unfortunatel y, not often). Bedmaldng (camp, househo ld ancl baby's becl): stalking games; obsel'vation games; plans of t h e district with tapes on 路the g round ; improvising clom estic implements out of g ive n materials; r elay races, WIth a job for each to do; plan of Fie ld Day camp wiih g iven materials a nd in given area' blindfolcl guidi n g r'o t:nd obstacles by compas~ direc ti on s; erecti ng sh elters, tableau of the story of the fl ag; improvised tab leau for lTealt h Rules; fi ag raiding, or its modified (orm of Treasure hunting, with Company co loul's made into the flags. Alternatives.-H the m ll y is in the form of it compe tition , I suggest that one or two items be fl'ee ones, one active perhaps a nd o n e passive, so th at each Co mpa n y can us e its special interest without pressing oth el's into lhe -same lin es.
Health.-No demonstration o n Health that we can devi~e will be so effective as our own attention to the Health of our Guides. The Cup a nd the g lory are nothing ,b eside the risk of overs tra in, nervous tension a nd exe rcise wh e n g irl s a r e unfit. A Captain's cheerfu ln ess a nd matter-of-factness will do ever so much to help a Guide to fee l n atural a nd to realise her r espo nsibility. I owe much to the sympathetic adv ice of women doctors concerning m y o wn Gu ide, a nd I am sure that ever y Captain wou ld receive most valuable help if they would ask for it. Do tell us what you think-if you have any more icleas. G. H. SWINBURNE.
OUR BROWNIE PAGE. Something o ld, someth in g new, Something magiC, so m ethin g true, Singing in plenty, a sto r y to tell, Ancl omethin g to make you h ap py and well. A HANDCRAFT FOR BROWNIES. I have see n a littl e trinket box made very 1;atisfactoril y by a little gi rl of nine years, out of used postcards. Instructions: Draw a nd cut ut four postcards in the shar:e of a heart-all equal s izes and as la r ge as the postcard will a ll ow-w ith the prettiest part of the picture as much in the middl e of the h eart as p oss ibl e. Place these two pa irs o( h earts back to bac l{, prick h oles th r o ug h th e m a t regulal' in ter'vals with a darning n eed le, and sew together with buttonhole s titc h in a ny attractive colo urecl e mbroid e ry cotto n . Thi s gives you two pieces-the lid a ncl the bottom of the box. Now measuI'e the heart from t h e middle of the cu rve at the top to the point at the bottom, th at is the h art divided In ha lf horizontally, c ut four piec('s of that length out of som e other po tcards . 1"or the depth a llOW one inch or m ore acco rdin g to how deep you want the box. Again place the,se back to ,back, p rick a n d buttonho le together as before. This gives you two ob long pieces-the s ides of t h e box. Join these pieces togeth el' at both e nds by catch ing togeth e r the thread of the button-hole stitches of both p ieces, draw c losely a ncl finish off firm ly. Thi s gives yo u a complete round. Now, by catching' threads, sew yo ur round piece o n to YOUI' bottom piece, making the seams of your round piece come wh e r e you took )' our measurements-the middle of the c UI've a nd the point at the bottom. Attach your lid with a few strong stitches in the middle of the c urv e at the top, and fasten the point with a bow or button. Although the instructions may sound complicated it is a very simple h a nd craft a nd w e ll worth a trial. Keep This Date Free! T propose that, weather permitting, a ll Brownie (Juider.路 in Me lbourne a nd s uburbs, as
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MATILDA
March, 1929
well as any Interstat or Countl'y Brownie Guiders, who happen to be in M Ibourne on that date, should meet at th Botanical Gardens n S aturd a y aft ern oon , Ap ri l 6. Tea, milk and sugar will be available at the Kioskeach Guider to bring her own "bun"!
He stuck his little duck bill into the mud and willow roots, and he pudd led it about, just like a duck doc>s, to sift out the worms and water beetles and hal f-hatched mosquitoes that live along the edge of still, shady, secluded waterholes.
I suggest that Guiders who usually have Pack Meetings on that day could give their Brownies a "holiday" in view of the fact that the meeting is for the sake of the Brownies generally.
The Girl Guide watched and watched, while the sticks stuck into her elbows and the mosquitoes bit her legs, and the PlatYPLlS moved along the bank, just a little bit at a time, having his suppel' all the while. At last, when he had moved quite a long way away, and it waS too dark to see any more, the Girl Guide got up' very carefully' and went home all across the paddocl,s, with the moon just rising behind the hills and the wet grass swishing round her anldes.
Watch Tuesday' "Age" fOl' further Please Hooper, .I'OH :lIe to ('ome -which do).
"Argus" and Wednesday's particulars.
send a penny postcard to Miss Lydie c/o Headquarters. to let me lmow jf coming (and whether you would like in the morning and bring your lunch some Brownie Guiders might like to ADRIENNE PALING, Head of Brownies.
.\ nd that, 0 Hmallest Brownie, is why all the (iil'l Guides in Victoria, and quite a lot of the Girl Guidps in New South Wal es and Houth Australia and Tasmania, know what the Platypus has [01' supper. TOOBA .
WHAT THE PLATY PUS HA S FOR DINN E R. Once upon a ¡time, 0 Smallest Brownie, none of the Girl Guides knew what the Platypus had for dinner. They didn't know for years and years, till one day along came a Girl Guide who thought it ovel', and tt worried her. She asked the District Captain, and the District Captain said, "[<'rogs and things, I cxpect." She asked Madam, the Commissionel', and Madam, the Commissioner', said, "Good gTacioull m . I don't know"; she asked the Q.M., and the Q.M. said, "Now, that'll (>xcitlng; lel's look it lip." But nobody realJy Imew what the Platypus hud for supper. One evening, just at dusk-light, she found hel'self stulking things close by a still, shady, secluded water-hole, all set about with willow trees. The first thing she saw was a "cranky fun," and he skipped up and down on a hawthorn hush, talking all the time about it being a cool evening with no flies to be found, but the Gil'l Guide didn't say a word. The next thing she ,~aw was a mother Blue WI'en, with a fat mosquito in her beak. She pushed it In a little more securely with the help of the bough she was perched on, and flew away. And next, 0 Smallest Brownie, swimming across the still, shady, seCluded water-hole, all ~('t about with willow trees, she saw a Platypus. He swam level with the top of the water, the light just catching his wet, silky fur, and making it glint; and the Girl Guide froze. She froze till he had quite disappeared and the little circles of ripples showed that he was somewhere near the further bank. Then she thawed a uttle, and crept very quietly-very quietly, 0 Smallest Brownie-round the end of the water-hole and across the ditch to the other I'licle. When she got near she crawled on 1)('1' -tumm~' , and crawled on hel' tummy till ~he waH righ t on the edge of the bank, and (he r e belOW her, 0 Smallest Brownie, wasthe Platypus having his Suppcr.
" HENDRA." The silvel'y gleam of the tents at night, A nd the I'ippling moonlit sea, The cool, sort tOUCh, of the â&#x20AC;˘ 'ou thern wind, Live long in the memory. The curving line of red and white Of till' tents on the hill's smooth crest Have caug'ht the gleam of the setting sun From out of the fiery West. And the Camp s leeps on in tile summer night, Watched ovel' by gum trees tal l ; The soft night voices whisper low, And the stars shine over all. An.1 th<> thoughts tbat rise and drive , Teath the cloudless, starlit Will follow as far as the foot Or the head may chance to
the dreams that sky, may roam he.
l \ nd the mind is soothed by the beauty thel'e,
Flung far as the eye can see: A nd the heart is filled with Friendliness,
And Peace, and Charity. "BROWNCOTE." Jan., 1929.
THE TRUE AND AUTHENTIC IMPRES S IONS OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE INTERSTATE CAMP, 1929. B y A . Te n derfoot. "FEAR" on the journey down-unfortunately having to arrive late and alone-"more FEAR" on <'n ter'i ng the gates of the Camp si te-everyone so husy! Where do I go from here? Do I r<,port to anybody, or not? "RELIEl<~~a C'h(>(>l'ful and familial' !'ace (Miss Equipment dashes fOl'wal'd and comes to my aid).
MATILDA
Mar ch , 1929
5
Lady Somers with Mrs. Masterton , M i ss Bu sh an d M iss Smith
By courtesy of "The Argus" Pa rk car and continue on my way over the st il e to my Group; complete w ith a ll the artic les sta t ed on the kit -list, except onecou ld n ot get it, a n d thought it really might not be n ecessary. (Hardly dare write this .) It was a mall et. Surel y, I thought, tents stay put for te n day,s at least after having been pi tch ed. (N.E.-Have an optimistic d isposi tion, I t h in k.) Next meet very kind and con-
siderate Group Commandant, find my tent, make bed, unpack-something I can do at anyrate. (N.E.-Carefully p lace ground sheet over a ll bedclothes to keep them dry in case of rain-Imow why it is on the -Jist, anyhow. Am shown Notice-board explain ing Orderly Duties, etc., and meet my Patrol Leader. Am most intrigued with the name GREASEPIT. Would not ask about it for anything. W ill lie
By courtesy of " Th e AI'g us"
SCENE OF ACTIVITY AT THE INTERSTATE CAMP
MATILDA low and find out why Grease is necessary in Camp. (N.B.-Am still wond ering.) N e xt go to m y t e nt. Am amazed at its stayipg there at a ll; the poles a re not sunk in the g round as one is surely given to underst and; however, seems sate. Have a look a t g uy lines; once beard a Guider r e mark th ey should be tighte n ed if windy and loose n ed if wet. Htored it up as a g r eat idea to bring to Camp, but shudder inw ard ly at the thought of untying a ll those ropes a nd r ety ing them more tightly on a windy night. Still th ose c ri ss Cl'OSS, fiapping ones, do look a bit loose; perhaps I had b e tter do something. Along comes a seasoned Camper. "Th ose storm guys n eed tightening," says she, "Eryes," say I, lying low. Hauling on the fla pping ropes, s h e fix es them. "There, that is the knot yo u use h ere, I -think; w e use another at hom e," says she. "Er'-yes," say I again, lying low er . (N .R-Th a t must be a round turn and two half-hitch es-I recognise it from the ,book. How exciting!) My m ate alTives, and we practice it at the back of the tent. W e are advise d to tie down our braitings. After som e thought w e hit on the right thing, and proceed to crawl round, fixing things for the night. Hello! th e r'e's a whistle that's not in the Handbook! Still, even mode rate inte lligence can d ed uce the mea ning of some thin gs: so go to tea. Nothing very startling h a ppe n ing here ; in fact, m ake a very good t ea aft er learning to eat bread and j a m off the same plate as apple snow, and trying not to clutch one's own mug knife or spoon all th e tim e: it would be ra t h e r trying to do that for ten d ays. (N.B.-I scored h e.a v ily-mine w a s aluminium, and, it being rather ( ?) windy weather, blew off the table regularly. Smiled a nd lay very low.) After tea Campfire, Prayers, Supper and Lights out. (N.B.-So glad I followed that list blindly. On first r ead ing it I wondered! but the ,s econd mug is hand y for tb e teeth-and a hurricane lamp is a h e lp in Camp, even if one is practising d aylight saving.) Only one more event to r e late. In th e middle of th e night- thump! thump! thump! Someone is hamm e ring our pegs! Whate ver for? Th ey w ere only .p ut there th e night b efor e last. Is there a storm? No! R a th er windy but- Now, what does one dO?-Jie with an uneasy conscience wh il e pegs are hammered or l eap from th e bed? Unhappily, possessing th e form er, I investigate, and find, to my horror, the Group om mandant flxing my t e nt, a nd, not being able to offer to look af ter myse lfhaving n o Mallet-a nsw e r th e kind enquiry of "Are you alright?" with a mee k, "Yes, thanks," crawl back to b e d, feeling a worm dete rmine d never again t6 disregard even a single item of a Camp Kit-list.
INTERSTATE CAMP, 1928.
"Six o' clock of a shin ing mOl' n" a nd a whistle is heard, then another whistle from somewhere, a nd after a space, another; and, if the morning 'is still, yet a nother m ay b e h eard, f a intly,
March, 1929
ft'om the gro up over' the hill. But of course Oul'S went first-we are very punctual in our Gro up. People tumble or roll or unw rap th emse lves out of bed; c h attering begins and the peak hour h as started at the wash c ubi cles. G r ad ua lly the scene of activity ch anges to the Gro ups aga in , w h ere the Mess Patrol, a lready dressed, are counting knives a nd forks, a nd wondering if one dish of mal'malade w ill be eno ugh on each tab le; and the Cooks are st ir ring porridge and wo nd ering if the tomatoes a r e coo lting properly. Just as we are about to pin on o ur badge, or are looking unde l' the bed fo r o ur ca mp h at-forge ttin g that we left it in the m a rqu ee the nig ht before-four sharp blasts somewhere in th e distance remind u s that it is five to seven a nd we s h o uld be ready to march with our Group to Co lo urs. Ou r Group Com m a nda nt forms u s up in Compan y formation, a nd, when a rally whistle i s h eard from the vicinity of t h e fiagstaff, we march in double file to form our quarter of the Horseshoe. The fou r Groups m arc hin g fr om their own site InlOW exac tly where their pOSition is, and, looking around at the Horseshoe of 120 people, yo u feel very s plendid, and pl'oud that you are part of it. The Colour Party fa ll s o ut- it consists of three campers from different Stat(:s. Perhaps to-day it is from yo ur Gro up , and there may eve n be o ne of your ow n State in it, and then you are even more thrilled t h a n u sual. W h en the Colour is broken a nd t h e National Anthem has been s un g, the Horsesh oe is dismissed, and, aftel" Prayers, everyone scattel's again to their own G roup for breakfast. Something exciting h appen s every day. Lady Somers h as vi s ited u s t w ice, and met us a ll, as she h ad meals at each Group in turn; one even in g Lord So m ers came and s poke to us too. On Sunday we atte nd ed C hurch at 11'1'ankston ; the transport was arranged by members of th e different c hurc h es there, who very kindly drove us in thei r cars. One day we were driven over to Flinders by members of the Rotary C lub a nd other friends, and we were shown all over the Naval Base. Some of the campers spen t a very happy afterno'on at the summer hom e of Mrs. Norman Brookes, while others went with Mr. Mann to his b u s h garden . Another day, Mr. Mann took us to Mt. Eliza, a nd told u s thri ll in g tales of the earl y history of th e surrounding co untry. One evening we helped to c h eck a bush fire that had bro k en out in an a djoining paddock, a nd ano th e r evening, at Camp Fire, New South Wales uramat ise d th e story of the "Tager" for us. H ave you eve r la in face downwards in t h e grass a nd watched the ants at work? Every ant seems to h ave its own job to do, a nd th ere is pl e nty of team work, and things seem to get done. Well, that is what it was like at ihis camp, orderly work was from 8.15 a .m. till 10 a .m., a nd if you stood as one apart and s urveyed the scen e you saw everyone go to their own job a nd do it. You would see lots of othel' interes tin g people a nd things, too-the big tent up there is the equipm ent tent, and tha t is Miss Th ewlis yo u can see sittin g on a stack of t e nt poles outs ide; ever yon e wants equipm e nt at the same time, b ut s h e n ever seems to mind; at present she is trying to r emember who went off with tb e exira fly! Th e Guider with the d e liber ate step is the can-
March, 1929
MATILDA
teen officer ; s h e is on her way to th e telephone to ring up for ice cream. "It is goi ng to be hot to-day," s h e assures the Queenslander, who can't mahe up her mind if she will n eed hel' fur coat. No, that is not a n a u c tion sale in the marqu ee on the other side of th e fence -it Is th e da ily m eeting of th e Group Q.M's. with Miss Ca meron, the Central Quartermaster; t h ey a r e getting stores for the day, com par in g menus and results, a nd bullying each other. Miss Cameron is th e one who is w Ig hing something, and the Guider measuring the milk for two Rangers is Miss Anderson, of Scotland. her assistant. No, it isn 't lik e an o rdina ry meeting, but Q.M's. are like that. The Guides bringing in wood you will have guessed have a connection with the 'Wood a nd "Vater Patrol of their Group-tho trouble with Coo ks is that they do like a big wood pile. Over there you will see someone raking o ut a be ll tent-that is one of the Mess Patrol; they lo ok after the bath tents. Did you hear that la ug hter? "Veil, I t hink it came f rom where the Camp Patrol are re-thatching the bathpits; probably one of them slipped in and someon e fl'om a noth er Group saw h er! Of co urs e there are some in camp who can remember what it was like before anyo ne came, when there was no sign of a tent, a nd there were no water pipes and taps, or cars bumping a long in "second," taking care to pass between the posts with the sign "Please cross pires here." Then bird n otes were the onl y songs to be h eard, and the grassy slopes and the sea and the gum trees were sti ll, under a c loud less sky. H ave you ever been shopp ing where you had first to c r oss a fence and then-. " Veil, Ict us go now! The camper s h ave had ins p ectio n and morning tea, ("h en sess ion s began; so m e of the Guides did w oodcraft games or signalling, and the Brownie G uid ers sang funny littl e songs n.nd games (I know, because I heal'd them), the Rangers h ad a pow-wow, a nd the other G uid ers exchanged ideas too. After that was dinnel-, and now eVCl'yone is ready for canteen.
First, we' ll have an ice cream from the N.S""-. Guide und er the tree a nd we can get some fr ui t on the way back. The table wh ic h looks like market day is the fr ui t stall. Yes, t h e peaches are rushed, but the Guidel' in c harge has them done up In threepenny bags, a nd s h e a lways seems to keep cool. Everyone is o ut shopping. Let's go to the Post Office. If you want something to read in Rest Hour, yo u can get a book h er e-lots of people le nt them for the camp. You can send a wire if you want to or buy stamps. When the mail eomes in the Post Mistress co llects it at the gate a nd brings it h ere to sort into Groups, then s h e takes a bundle to each Group. N<!xt door Is the shop; you can't possibly want a n ythin g that isn't there. You go in this doO!- a nd o ut the other end like a Cash a nd CalTY store. Thel'e is one-way traffic at the cant en tent, too, but we don't go in- j ust pass round the ba lTier as shown hy the woodc r aft s igns. Min ties and boiled sweets a re popu lal- because they last longest, b ut there is every sort of choco late . ",Ve' ll have anoth e r ice Cl'eam on the way back, b u t we'll get our
9
fruit first-peaches , a pricots or a ppl es. Did you h ear four sharp blasts'i-that is w a rning for Rest Hour. We have fiv e minutes to collect our ground sheets and find a shady spot. Afte r Rest Hour and afternoon tea we all meet at the stile to g o swimming, and th e life savers count us as we go over, one by one. "Vhen we return from the beach we have our evenin g meal, and later all the groups meet fOI- such a jolly Camp Fire-round a rea l fir e to-night becauf'e it is so calm a nd there is no danger of sparks. And now we must go to bed as fast as we can, for it wouldn't do at a lI if the n ext Group were to sing Taps first, and, besides, it Is so peaceful to lie in bed when a ll is still and liste n to th em singing in th e distance. It's been so nice to meet ev e ryone! so many h ave co m e from "ever- so -far"-that's what makes it so thriJIing, a ll being Guides a nd w e're all taking something of the Ca mp back to our own Co mpa ni es. Th e r e's the whistle for T a ps nowGood Night! Day is done, Gone the sun, FI'om th e sea, from th e hills, from the sky. AIl is well, Safely rest. God is nigh.
H I KI N G N OTES.
Woodcraft Includes everything out of doors; it is IIOt confined to pulling fiowers to pi eces or Nature ~tudy, bu-t it means birds, trees, stars, fil'es, making of shelter huts and the art of hiking well. It Is sometimes difficult to know wh ere to begin with our Guides; it is such a vel'y big subject, a nd we often feel that w e know so li ttle about J.t ourselves. The tracking signs which the recr uit learns for her tenderfoot test a loe really th e beginning of woodcraft and g ive promise of days spent in the open air and the joy.s of stalking a nd tracking. The Second C lass Test provides I)S with the first &teps in three branches ¡ of woodcraft- the fire, stalking and tracking and a ture Stud y. Th ere is onl y one real way to learn woodC1'aft or bush craft, and that is to go out into the bush. This m eans a hik e 01' field d ay, but there Is a great d eal of pre paration that can be don e in the Club Room, so that when one does m a nage to get to the countl-Y no tim e n eed be was ted. Sometimes I h ave h ea rd of a fi eld day or a hike, which should be a wonderful opportunity for acqu iring bush sense, training in obse l-va-tion, self-control a nd patience which is spent in eating sandwiches and playing ball games, and so is wasted from the woodcraft point of view. a lthough it may have b e n a mos t e njoyab le p ic nic. In the Club Room observation can be taught by variations of Kim's game, hunt the whistle, inte r - patrol inspections, and shop windows can be o bserved if -there a re any at all close to
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your headquarters. You will find that the Guides will then be much quickel' at seeing things. It is best to start by taldng the Leaders out alo ne or with a small company of Leaders and ~econds; th e n teach them all you know. At first this may not be very much, but if you have some sort of scheme to work on you will find that common-sense, powers of observation, a nd dE'duction and experience on the trial and enor basis will soon considerably broaden that knowledge. NE'ver be afraid to let the Leaders Imow that you, too, are only just starting on the woodcraft trail, or the bush craft track; it makes it a ll the more exciting for everyone.
Th e following seVE'n scheme to work on:-
points
arc a
useflll
1. Org ani sat ion of P atrols .
This should be done befor hand, or at least in the train, so that on arrival at the camping p lace each Guide has a definite job which she can start at once. The Leadel' chooses the Patl'ol Home, while the second takes coats, hats and haversacks and hangs them up or places them so that they will he out of the sun and away from the ants. Perhaps a spot may be chosen as a lard er, Hanging food in hayersacks in the coolest place is u~ually the best way of keeping it, but sometimes thel'e if; a stream where milk and butter may be I,ept fresh. When the time comes for lunch, two Guides can g'o for wood, two go fOI' water, and two more will clear the ground where the fire IS to go; these two will probably takc charg of the fire. and it is their job to keep it stoked whil e th e others are cooking. Rome may preparc th e food or make spoons and forks ou t of barIc 2. Choice and Use of Wood.
What type of wood to us e is a difficult question. as mo t people are still at the trial and enol' stage, but if you try to identify the wood befol"(' using, and then notE' how it burns, you will soon get a useful list; although most of the wood at first seems to be gum there are different species which can be watched for, and wattle, ti-tree, sh oak (which bUI'ns well), acacia., banksia and dogwood all make interesting va ,·iations. The idea of a n eatJy-stack!'d wood-pil e will at once appeal to anyone with the soul of a coole Th E' place to put it is found by damping onc's finger -to discover the direction of the wind. 3. Type of Fire. What kind of fire to make on a still on a windy day is Interesting and information for Guides to co ll ect, also to huild a fire which will give red-hot
day and valuable the way coals.
March, 1929
4. H ike Cooking. stews, chops, sausages, potatoes, siskabob, bacon, eggs, bananas, chcese dreams, damper whirls may a ll be tried. 5. Gadgets. Tripods, fireplaces, spoons, forks and plates a ll g ive scope for the Guides to use their originality and resourcefulness, and it is most exc iting. Each Guide should only be allowed her Guide knife, provided you are certain there is wa tel' for a wash afterwards! 6. Clearing Up . This is really a part of 7.
Bush Sense. 'rhis is shown lJy a sense of courtesy and thoughtfulness in shutting gates and Dot throwing paper. about. A Guide"s bush sense may be tested by h er ability to look after hersel(. Impress on -them the fact that health is a wonderful possession which should be treaslll'ed-the need for ground sheets, a spare pair of stockings to be put on coming home at the station if the weather is doubtful, the need for cal'e in the water used for drinking purposes. When YOUl' Leaders undel'stand how -to hike then the whole Company can be taken for a field day, when the Leaders shou ld be allowed to organ ise a nd run their Patrols. The meal cou ld be madc a competition judged on the abov points. Let it be prepared, eaten and c lear€'d up in a specified time. \~'hc n ou t wi t h the Company th I'e are four point~ to be cons id e rcd: Enjoymenl: the .. €'[o re do not go too far for til!' Guides, 0" they will get tired and cease to be intel·ested. D!'velopment of a love of open air. You al'e combattin g oth!'r attl'actions, such as the pictures, so make it exciting. There should be an adventure in every hike, even if it is o nly finding a log over a creek and walking across it, or an ambulance game, where the patient has to be carried through a shallow stream or thick scrub. Make your sta lkin g games real. To develop Self-reliance and Resourcefulness. Fires. cooking, canty equipment for cookinl', ambu lance and stalking games all do this. Learn someth ing a.hout Nature at each hike. H ave a Nature game, where specim€'ns ha ve -to be co llected or perhaps smuggled hock to Patrol Headquarters, or a competition to see who can spot the most magpies or robi ns. When the Guides are more advanced they can haye this competition with cock and hen birds, th Leader collE'cting a leaf for every cock a nd a stick for ever-y hen bird seen a nd compa"ing treasure at the end of a given time. Try to come back from each hike with at least one new point learnt. A.M.e'.
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March, 1929
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---------------------------------------------------------Each Company will f eel its own most natural and courteous way to arrange the matter, but I suggest that it is more easily done at the time of the invi,tation: "We hope you will allow us to be I·espon.sible for all your expenses. It is th e Guide cllstom, and we shall be delighted to do so."
There w el'e throe Lone r e presentatives at the Interstate' Camp. They were a Lone Guide, Ranger and Guider, and in each case it was their tirst camp. ind eed, our Guide had nev,:r travelled to Melbourne before even! And It was the fil'st opportunity she had of meeting a .Guide. She 'lhared a t e nt with a Queenslander a nd a New South \Val es Guide... The Ranger w as hut a recruit when she arrived. although f' he had been a Lone Guide for some time before linking up with Rangers, and one morning at Colours sh e was enrolled as a Ranger by Miss Cameron. We all enjoyed meeting each other and lmew absolutely for certain now that we WERE real Guides. and not just prete nd ones, because our meetings are on pa p I'!
LONE GUIDERS' CONFERENCE.
A Conference of Lone Guiders will be held :at the Y.W.C.A. Holiday Home, Seaford, from Friday, 12th April, to Monday, 15th April, 1929. ThEol fee wiJl probably be 15/-. It IS hoped that .as many Lone Guiders as possibly c~n Wi.ll attend, as this will be the only opportumty thiS year for all to m ee t a nd discuss matters and ~xchange ideas relating to Lones. FUI·ther <details will be sent later. Applications, accompanied by a deposit of 2/6, :should be made in writing to Miss E. Moran, "Nanuoya," Malvern S.E.4, not later than M a rch 8, 1929. ELAINE MORAN, Hcad of Lones.
Th en one Guide could make it her special business to tind out what th e fare will be, and ha\'c ready the exact money. which could be given when w e have eaid "Thank you" and "Good night," by the Guide who sees our visitor to th e door Ot· to the tram. What about little em'elopes in the Company colours? G, H .
WINBURNE, Head of T ests a nd Badges.
PLAYS AND GAMES.
PrE'sentil!g plays is a most delightful way for Guides to I'aise money for Company funds or for Camp because every Guide loves to dress up, and surely every Company has some promising actl·esses. Guiders are often puzzled to tind a suitablc play for th e Company to act that can be pl'od uced without too much scenery or ('laborate dreSSing. W e should be very pleased to hear from Guid I'S who have found plays which have been produced successfully; their co-operation in g iving detailS of the type of play, the number of players and the style of property required will result in a better standard and variety in GU,id e performances. It is stated elsewhere in this issue that "The Guide" is the source of one Captain"s originality in providing her with games and stories. "Matilda" has an ambition to act in a similar capaCity, so please, Guiders, next time you discover a n ew game which thrills the company remember that we should love to hear all about it. If we al'e able to publish some new games every issue, think how beautifully full our game" hook will be.
CAMPING EQUIPMENT.
The Hawthorn and K e w Association h as eight tents and a dining shelter for hire al 5/each for a week's camp. Further particulars fl'om Miss G, Swinburne or Miss N. Gawlpl·. TRAINING.
EXPENSES.
Guidel's, I am sure, need only a. reminder in the matter of "ex;penses," but I beheve that th e reminder will be welcome and useful. So many people respond to our invitations to help our Guides, and give their time and knowledge so generously, that it is very easy to forget our ()wn resp on sib ili ty. Every Company or District should pay the full expenses of everyone who· is invi,ted to teach, test, jud ge, or otherwise give expert help.
Guiders should communicate with their Commissioners before attending Classes, and every one who has not previously been nominated must bring a Nomination Form signed by her Commissioner. A chat'ge of 3d. each per night is made, to cover expense of lighting, etc Notices of Training Classes, etc., are published in Tuesday's "Argus" and Wednesday's "Age,"· and are posted on the Headquarters Notice Board. Unless otherwise notified, Training Classes are held at Girl Guide Headquarters, 60 Market Rtreet, at 7.45 p.m.
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Guide T ·raining. 1st Course-beginlling Friday, 15th February (M188 Swinburne). 2nd Course~beg1nning Menday, 11th March (Miss Moore). 3rd Course-Beginning Friday, 19th April.
Brownie Training. morning Class for Brownie Guiders; the Class would probably be held on Wednesday or Thursday morning, in the city. Miss Paling, Head of the Brownies, would be glad to hear from Guiders who could attend this Class if it were formed. An evening Class for Brownie Guiders will pl'obably be formed also. It is hoped to form a
Ranger Training. A series of eight Classes for Ranger Guiders will be h eld on Tuesday evenings at Headquartlrs; the tirst Class will be on MONDAY, March 4, but thereafter on Tuesdays. M. E. BUSH, Head of Training. CORRESPONDENCE. Bendigo, 5/ 2/ 29. To the Editress, "Matilda." Dea r MadamHaving expressed an opinion at some length in December, 1926, when "Matilda's" future was under discussion, I f e lt It would be unnecessary to wrj·te again, but I note in the last issue that you have expressed disappointment in the poor respoooe to your appeal. I do think a monthly publication would be mor e helpful and more satisfactory in many ways. An appeal for more subscribel's was made in 1926, and apparently it was for lack of subscriptions tha·t "Matilda" was not made a monthly ,p ublication then. But possibly a monthly publication would result in more subscriptions-and more contributions-for "Matilda" as a monthly publication would be more efl'ectlve and more Interesting. Guiders who think of contributing would not procrastinate as they do now. It would not be necessary to walt four months for a r esponse to a letter to "MaUldaH- by whi ch tim e Interest in a matter may have faded. And if advice and help are sought that Is rather a long tim e to have to walt, so the idea of ,seeking advice through "Matilda" seems rather rutile. Nature contri.buttons could not be so out of season and "stale" as they are now- and I think we could have a lot more in the way of Nature contrlbu·ttons . And possibly Guiders would have more cour-age and less reticence about contributions which they feel may not ,be of much lnterest, or may provoke criticism. This little note about RolI Call Drill In our Company, which ,shows how Guides hate futillly. may provoke thought-or criticism. And criticisms in a ·truly Guide spirit ought not to be t eared. Subscriptions had always been collected during Patrol in Council, and Roll
March , 1929
Books marked, and Roll Call Drill, though very preCise, was mere ly a matter of form. Until on e day an enterprisinl:' P.L. said, "What's thEt use of having Roll Call Drill like that? Can't, we collect subscriptions and mark the roll during Roll Call Drill instead of at Patrol in Council ?" Now Roll Call Drill is not neal'ly such 8.tine display of smart drill-though I hope to mak e it so-:-and it takes ever so much longer, but t h e GUIdes feel that It is less futile. And "Fulllity" is not "Guidey"? With b est wishes for "Matilda" and hel" futur e. Yours sincerely, NELL OLDFIELD, Captain, 2nd Bendigo. Dea r l\1atildaDUl'il)g on e of our meetings we dLscussed the futut'e of, "Matilda," as requested through Its pages. W e all think the Interval between each i~sue too long, and suggest a monthly copy at sIxpence as a bel tel' means of keeping us in touch with Headquarters. We are so far away that w e have no opportunity of attendint" train i ng classes or coming in close contact with H eadquarters or other Companies. Yours sincerely, WI IFRED M. PERRY, 1st Tallang'atta Rangers. APPOINTMENTS. District CommissionersB endigo- Mrs. Butt. Bank of Australula. B endigo. Broadford- Mrs. H. Gill e tt, Glenaroua, High Camp. Camberwell, North-Miss M. Moore, 44 ParJjpgton Stree t , Canterbury, E.7. D a ylesford- Mrs. Errington, Vincent Street, D a yl esford. South Yarra- Mrs. L. Conolly , Kensln!'ton Road, South Yarra, S.E.l. WARRANTS. Captains1st Aberfeldie-Mlss L. Castell. l4tl! Geelong-Miss D. G. Pillow. 1st Sale-Siste r May. Lieutenants1st Aberfeldle-Miss K. D. Meldrum. 3rd Camberwell-Mlss P . Salmon. bt Ca nterbury-Miss J. Couchman. 3rd Hawthorn-Miss A . M. Masters. 1st H ea lesville-Mlss M. Falconbrldge . 1st Fairfield- Miss L. Cameron. Brow n Owls1st Beaconsfield Upper-Mrs. CoIles. 1st Canterbury-Miss D. Holtz. 31'd Hawtl-torn-Mlss E . Smith. 1st Pl1I.hran-Mlss J . M. Wilson. 2nd Prahran-Mlss L. Hooper. 1st Rlohmond-Mlss N. Stokes. Distr ict SecretaryHawthorn and Kew-Mlss N . Gawler. Ranger Captain1st Victorian Cadet Rangers-Miss M. Moor.,
Ram.ay Publl.hln&, Pty. Ltd .. %OI-T Kln.r Street. ·Melbourne.