DECEMBER I, 1932 .
Vol. 9, No.6.
•~:\" Ojj'l~I<.:IAL 'fRI<JASURE lUG OF Gf'lDl<lI:::;' IN.POIL\L\'l'IOX FOr.
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December 1st, 1932.
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December 1st, 1932.
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MA T IL D A
World Chalet.
TO THE GIRL GUIDES FROM AUSTRALIA. Adelboden, September 15th, 1932. Dear Guide Sisters, The World Bureau sent us a wonderful package containing many books, which all of you sent to the Chalet. In the name. of the Chalet-Committee I should like to thank you most heartily for this lovely present. It arrived at the moment when we had the first International Training week for Guiders, and the books were greeted with enthusiasm. Your present will give us many good hours to spend on, and all of us long to ge~ to know some Australian Guides. Hoping to greet you here one day, and with best thanks. Yours very sincerely IDA DE HERRENSCHWAND.
11th October, 1932. Dear Madam, You will no doubt have had a letter from Fraulein von H errenschwand, the Guider-inCharge of Our Chalet, thanking you for the lovely lot of books sent by Victoria for the library. I should like to t ell you that these books arrived while I was there, and they made me want to stay a long time in order to be able to look through them carefully. It was very generous of Victoria to think of p.;iving this gift. and I know how much it will be appreciated by the Guides who go to the Chalet in the future. . Yours sincerely, KATHERINE FURSE, Director.
Adelboden, August 2nd, 1932. Dear Miss Irving, Your lovely rugs arrived the day before the opening, and we were so happy to get thi.s perfectly lovely gift. In the name of the Chalet - Committee I should like to thank all those who contributed to this wonderful present. It is so useful to have those rugs, especially in winter-time they will be appreciated. I wish that many Guides from Australia will be able to come one day to the Chalet, and 1 join a postcard to give you an idea of it. W~th our warmest thanks for your help to furnIs h the Chalet and best greetings. Yours very sincerely, IDA DE HERRENSCHW AND. [The above letters were received from the staff of the World Chalet.]
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MATILDA
December 1st, 1932.
THE COMING OF THE CHRISTMAS BUSH. By J.H. There was sadness in the cool depths of the :;hady gully, though the fulness of summer layover all the bush. j<'rom the far north country had come the story of the great Christmas festival, telling of a land draped in snow and a country side adorned with holly and mistletoe. "Have you no gift for the Christmastide, with all the joy of summer about you?" asked their kinsmen of the faraway lana in surprise. But the gully trees cculd only shake their heads sadlY, and wonder why they had been given nothing with which to celebrate this festive season. So they talked it over amongst themselves, the fragrant-leafed mint bushes, the sturdy musks, "he hazels and the slender sassafras trees, in gentle murmuring tones. But sometimes hot words would rise as the tall white gums above them grew angry with indignation, and tossed their heads wildly, making a noise like a great gale, so that the birds grew frightened, and said tJ cne another: "Listen to the wind in the tall gums; smely there will be a storm to-night." N ow after many days, the Angel of the Bush heard how distress:Jd the gully trees were, ancl knew s he must think of something to help them in their trouble. So calling a meeting of the forest birds, she laid the problem before the!!! and asked their advice. For a while the birds thought in silence. Then spoke the eagle of the mountains, the bold wedge tail, who so oft:Jn delighted the gully trees by sailing slowly over their heads, 01' soaring so high that he was almost lost to sight. "Let it be a matter of superiority," said he; "shall not the tree which can prove its strength over the others have the honour of bearing the Christmas gift?" uN 0," said a robin who lived in the gully, "should it not be granted to the tree that does the noblest action?" At this the birds shouted their approval, and having thus decided the question, flew away to their homes, leaving the robin to carry the decision to the gully trees. As the summer shortened into autumn, and cooler days began to arrive, there was much to do in preparation for the coming winter, so that the trees p'radually forgot the question which had caused so much troubl e. Now, one dav in midwinter, when the coldlIess had been almost unbearable. and the bitter wmd from thp. mountains had badly torn the gully trees, there came a sudden lull in the fmy of the blast, and it seemed as though the ail' was growine- warmer. But to the trees' astonishment little white flakes began to fluttp.r softly down on their upturned faces, like the white blossoms e;ently falling from the sassafras trees in springtime. "What is it?" cried an the ferns and young trees in surpri se? "It is called snow in the far country." said an ancient gum, the oldest in the gully. "I can just remember it fell once before, many veal'S ago, when I was a young tree, and crushed and broke the pretty ferns
and small plants." At this they were filled witn tear, and as the snow continued to fall steadily, grew very afraid. "Tell us, 0 tall gum, is there rlothing you can do to save us?" But the gum could oniY shake his head sorrowfully as he replied: "Our shining leaves hang down to protect us trom the summer sun, so we are powerless to hold the snow from you, children of the gully." But tne mint bushes, which grew thickly at the bottom of the gully, had been listening, and they whispered together for a few moments before the tallest among them said"Fear no longer, graceful ferns, we will do our best to protect you. See, we are crowding our leaves together so that the snow will lie on us, for we are stronger and can bear the burden better than you can." Then the ferns and young plants were frightened no more, but filled with anxiety for t heir kind friends above them. "Nay, gentle ferns," said they, "do riot grieve for us; we gladly do this to save the children of the gully." All night long and throughout the next day the snow continued to fall until it lay thickly everywhere. Down in the gully it was thickest of all, and the mint bushes which bore its weight groaned aloud at the heavy burden that crushed their frail branches downwards. Just when they could hear it no longer, a strange thing happened. Slowly the snow began to melt, trickling down the branches and dripping from the leaves like heavy dew from morning mists. Everywhere it was the same, and soon the melting snow had reached the ground. Suddenly there came a sound of running water, and down among the roots of the trees, along a track the bush creatures had made, ran a stream of water that grew bigger and bigger until with a cheerful sound, a little creek rushed along where once had been dry land. "Farewell, fragrant-leafed mint bushes," sang the stream. "When the snow returns I will come again to stay with you always." As for the mint bushes, they were too weak to answer; their arms hung drooping over '~he now empty creek bed, and they were battered and broken. Once more it was summer-time; the gully was refreshing in its cool greeness, and all the birds sought shelter there from the heat. It was a dry summer, and the mint bushes felt the need of water most of all, for they were not yet strong again like the other gully trees. Then, one still evening, just at twilight, the Angel of th e Bush came gliding slowly over the sky, her wings stretching from east to west, and instead of her usual colours, lovely as a sunset, the bush creatures were surprised to see that she was pure white. "Listen to me, 0 gully trees," came her gentle voice, like the murmuring evening breeze, "to-morrow is the great Christmastide, the birthday of the Child King, ancl then shall the promise to you be fulfilled. At dawn next clay what a beautiful sight
December 1st, 1932.
5
MATILDA
awaited the gully trees. Summer time though it was, the mint bushes were draped with filmy mist, or so it seemed in the half light. And as they gazed in wonder the sun rose, revealing the dainty mint bushes in all their delicate loveliness, the drooping branches laden with fragile snow-white bells. Then came ~ sound of running water, and down the gully came a little creek dancing for joy on 'its way among their roots, along the track the bush creatures had made. When it saw the white blossoms it broke into song. "Greetings to you, 0 fragrant-leafed mint bushes," sang the waters. "Did I not say I would come back to you when the snow returned'I" Then the mint bushes shook for joy, and many of the flowers fell off and lay on the ferns like a carpet of snow. Some fell into the stream, and the waters carried them quickly away to show the forest what a wonderful thing had happened to the gully trees. Again came the voice of the waters, "No longer need the gully be sad because it lacks gifts for the great festival. Every year when the fulness of summer lies over the bush, and the Christmastide is near, the mint bushes along the creeks will' be adorned with snowwhite chalices, flinging incense through the gullies-a fitting gift for a Child King. And for royalty, the flowers shall bear inside marks of purple and gold." Always afterwards the mint bushes stood a1'\ they loved, with their roots in moist places, where singing waters flowed in shady fern gullies. After many years there came people from the far north country, and when they saw the white blossoms they said: "Come, let us gathC1' the Christmas bush and decorate our homes, for to-morrow is Christmas Day." (The Age).
All Australia Camp. As two of the States are not able to send their full quota to the All Australia Can:p, part of their number has been allotte~ to VICtoria, which means that ten more GUIders are able to go from here. The list is not finally made up, but the following Guiders are definitely going to the Camp: Miss A. Morrison Miss A. Campbell D. McKinnon M. Collins " J. Macneil D. Coles " S. MacLeod " A. Duncan P. Pascoe N. Dickson G. Pennefather J. Elder " J. Robertson " M. Freeman 1. Reid J. Hawthorne M. Russell E. Heinrich s A. Tobin M. Hoffmeyer " " L. Ling N. Thewlis " M. Urquhart B. Lardnp.r In addition to t h ese, Commission'ers for Brownies, Camping, Rangers, Training and the State Secr('tary are to help at the Camp. -So H. IRVING.
Annual Meeting, 1932. At the annual meeting of the Girl Guides' Association of Victoria, held on 15th November, 1932, in the Melbourne Town Hall, the report 'Showed that the year had been one of steady and considerable development. . Numbers had increased from 9819 to 13,377, mcluding recruits, who were excluded from last year's figures. This year was an impor~ant one internationally, for it marked the commgcf-age of the Movement, the opening of the World Chalet, and the increase of Guides throughout the world to 1,094,393. Victorian guides were represented abroad at the International Guide Conference in Poland, and the Irish Free State International Camp, and in this State were invited to nominate representatives to the Committees of the National Safety Council, the R.S. and S.LA . Health Bureau, and the Cadet V.A.D. . The developmen.t of the movement necessitated extra accommodation for Victorian headquarters and equipment depot, and thc addition of a typi5t to th(' office staff. A new section of the work was guiding in schools and colleges, established as a brancn last year The Ranger branch now included three Sea Rangel' Ships. Activities had extended in the Lone Guide branch and the Extension branch, which included Guide and Ranger Companies and Brownie Packs in hospitals and schools for the blind, deaf, dumb and crippled, as well as invalid and blind children¡ who worked as Guides in their own homes, in Companies conducted by post. Camping figures showed a decided increase, for during the year 1046 Guides, Rangers and Guiders attended 33 camps. ¡ Guides and Rangers gained 3681 proficiency badges during the year, the most popular tests being those for knitter, laundress and cook. The Deputy State Commissioner. Lady Chauvel, who presided, pointed out that the fact that Ranger companies had increased from 60 to 96 proved that Guiding was bringing interest and happiness to older girls a8 well as young ones. She announced that about thirty Guiders from Victoria would attend the All-Australia Camp next January in New South Wales. The chairman of the Boy Scouts' Executive Committee, Mr. G. H. Thomas, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, congratulated the Associ'ation on having nine morE; Commissioners and 139 more Guiders than last year. Mrs. J. G. Latham gave an interesting account of t he one occasion on which she was in touch with Guiding during her recent trip abroad, a Guide Sunday Service in Hereford Cathedral held on the same day as many others throughout the world to mark the coming of age of the movement. (The Age.)
If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, when do we know we have enough knowledge to be no longer dangerous?
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MATILDA
A MERRIE XMAS TO ALL BROWNIE GUIDERS FROM THE P.S. AND COMMITTEE.
Nature Programme. The following is a suggested programme for an indoor "Nature" atternoon. At your previous meeting, ask each Brownie to choose a ftower and find out by observation during thtl week as much as she can about it. 1. Opening Ceremony, Inspection and Collection of Pennies. Brownies plant seeds (their pennies), in large ring around totem, then they themselves sit inside ring and go to sleep during the winter months. Spring (Tawny) arrives and whispers "'Tis Spring" to each Brownie, who immediately wakes up and grows into the flower she has chosen. The i<'airy Queen (Brown Owl) now comes and inspects the flowers to see if they are suitable for her garden. She dances with them in fairy ring. 2. Game: "Flowers in the. Wind" (see Jan. issue) . 3. Handcraft: The Fairy Queen tells story of old lady who loves flowers but is too old to dig the ground and plant the seeds herself. She suggests that the Brownies make her a garden. Each Brownie is given a square piece of paper on which she draws and colors the flower she represents, together with the seed or bulb and leaf of same. These, when completed, are arranged in one corner of the room to make the garden. 4. Test Work. Brownies fence off the garden by knotting ropes together and tying them on to chairs, which serve as posts. 5. Game. Squares of colored folding paper are cut into four pieces of various shapes and hidden in different places in the room. The Fairy Queen tells how she intended holding a ball, and collected petals of flowers to carpet the floor. Some wicked boggarts, however, crept in during the night, cut up the petals into four pieces and, with the exception of one petal, blew them all away. The Brownies search for the missing portions and endeavour to piece them together to make a square the same size as the remaining petal. The Brownie who collects most petals wins. 6. Nature Story: "The Origin of the Kookaburra," or similar story. 7. "Goodbye" Rhyme sang around totem, after which the North Wind (Pack Leader) -E.T. blows them all off home.
December 1st, 1932.
BROWNIE BITS. B.O.-"Who was St. Andrew?" Brownie: "Leader of the Scottish Army."
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Parent to B.O.: "Are you still brown-owling?"
The Wiseacre Gnome. (In case you misunderstood me last time, I do not go away forever, but only to eat a special sort of Christmas dinner, in a special sort of Christmas way. Question. Do Brownies march with Guides ?-Anxious. Answer. Brownies do not march with Guides, as it is too tiring for small children to march in formation. Also, if in front of Guides, make it awkward for them, owing to the shortness of their steps, or if behind Guides, the Brownies have to run to keep up. So if Brownies and Guides propose to attend the same function, it i1' best for the Brownies to go beforehand, and meet at the spot. Question. Where do B.O. and '1'.0. march when with the Guide Coy? -"Troubled." Answer. B.D. and T.O. march at the end of the column with the Lieutenant. (N.B.-Not necessarily! A matter for arrangement with Captain!) Yours smiling, -WISEACRE GNOME.
THAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT. Have Brown Owls ever thought of giving their Guiding friends a receipt for one year's subscription for "Matilda?" 3/ - per year, 4 / posted. The sort of present that would be appreciated, is very much to the point, and lasts 12 months.
Compass Game. The eight points' of the compass are marked in a larg-e circle on the floor, the B's are turned into leaves, while T.O. and B.O. are the Wind and Cloud Lady respectively. The Cloud Lady has a special palace of her own in a corner. The B's (now leaves) stand in a circle inside the large one, marked on floor, and sing the ' following, swaying gently all the time, to tune of "Little Brown Jug." "Some little leaves fell off the trees, And gently fluttered in the breeze, Along came the South Wind strong and gay
MA T I L D A
December 1st, 1932.
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And blew the little leaves away. On the third line, the Wind, who stands in the centre, joins in and sings the name of any wind she likes in the place of south, and the leaves at end of verse flutter in the direction such a wind '.vould blow them. If they go in wrong direction the Wind flies with them to the Cloud palace, where directions are learnt. -V.H.
POSITIONS OF BADGES AND EMBLEMS ON BROWNIE UNIFORM. Does everyone know that the position of the Brownie Six emblem has now been altered from above the left hand pocket to above the right hand one? This leaves room for the Golden Bar Badge (2nd class) directly above the left hand pocket and above that again the Golden Hand (1st class) badge. Also Brownie Service Stars are worn on the flap of the left hand pocket. There is also a gold third year star to take the place of three single stars.
Brownie Library. Our Brownie Library is growing steadily. Quite a number of new books have been added this year, and as we have £1 / 3 / 5i on hand, we hope to add more very soon. We would be glad to receive suggestions for books you think would be helpful to Brownie Guiders. Our little box on the Library shelf has brought us quite a nice amount for funds. Here is a list of books added since our last r(oport: No. 40, Dr. DoJittle (abridged); 41, Listen, Children. 42, Jolly Book of Boxcraft. 43, Child Mind. 44, The Water Babies (abridged); 45, Helen's Babies. 46, Round the Toadstool. 47, The Book of Other Babies. 48, Everyone a Brownie. 49, To-Morrow. 50, Winds. Also another copy of "Brown Magic," and two more copies of the Brownie Handbook. BALA TCE-SHEET, JANUARY-OCTOBER, 1932. RECEIPTS. Balance on Hand .. .. .. £1 13 11 Donations . . . . . . . . . . o 6 0 Box at H.Q .. . o 410~ Training Class .. .. .. .. o 3 6 £2
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£0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 6 6 3 2 2 1 0
6 0 6 6 3 5 2 6
£1 Balance on hand .. .. .. .. .. .. £1
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EXPENDITURE.
Dt·. Dolittle .. . . · . . . . . Listen, Children . . .. Book of Boxcraft · . Child Mind .. . . · . 'Water Babies ·. Helen's Babies .. .. Overtime Notices .. Sundry Postage ..
4 10 5~
£2 8 3~ TO COUNTRY OWLS: If you would like to borrow from the Brownie Library (and I am
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sure you would find it helpful) just let me know, and send stamp for reply, and I will be glad to send you a list of books and any other information, and post books to you as wanted. My adress is 150 Marshall Street, Ivanhoe, N.21. DOROTHY SEDGFIELD, Secretary, Brownie Library.
Enrolments "Away from Home." Until we've had our first Enrolment, the Pack has really not started to exist! It is that first great day that brings with it the beginnings of the Pack atmosphere which goes on growing as each Enrolment takes place. And the Brownie to whom the thought of that day, when she will make her Brownie promise in the midst of those who have helped her to find · out some of the Brownie secrets, means something very special-her Brownie dream come true-would somehow just miss the keystone of this, our most important Brownie Ceremony, should the Enrolment take place anywhere else but with the Brownies of her own Pack. Should this mean a few difficulties, and perhaps even waiting a little longer' till a warranted B.O. can come to the Pack, is it not worth while so doing in order that we may not take away this privilege from our Pack?
Report of Pack Holiday. (From a Brownie's Point of View). On Saturday, 21st May, 1932, the 1st South Yarra Browme Pack went to Kallista for a week's holiday. We started off from our Brownie Hall at 2 p.m. in a motor van, and after losing our way once or twice, we arrived at our destination and started preparing for what turned out to be a very enjoyable time. Firstly we had to make our beds, and some of us had to lay the table for tea, which was very ably prepared for us by Miss "Stork," after which a number had to clear the table and wash the dishes. These duties were performed in turn by each of us Brownies, and therefore everyone got a share of these duties. Aftel' a rew minutes' rest ill front of the fire we l'etired for the night. The next morning after breakfast and such necessary work as tidying up we went for a walk, which enabled us to do justice to our dinner. This was our programme for most of the week. The walks were, of course, to different places. Shel'brooke Forest and Sherbrooke Falls and the township of Kallista were visited. On Friday we had a concert in the afternoon and in the evening we had a party, which was attended by two Brownies from a Kallista Pack. Saturday morning was spent in packing up to return, and we arirved safe home again in the afternoon after a very enjoyable holiday. Our only complaint was that it was all too short. BROWNIE THELMA LEE .
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MATILDA
The Goldfinch. Outside my window is a wireless aerial. I was sitting at my table, writing, and looked up for a moment's thought-just in time to see a goldfinch, in all his springtime. beauty or black and olive, gold and crimson, ahght on t)1e wire. A few notes of joyous song escaped hIm and he hopped around to show me his wellgroomed back, turning his head for full appreciation of his crimson cheeks-when a sparrow chased him away. I had only had time to murmur "Oh, you little beauty-You little beauty!" and he was gone. Such are the exquisite moments Dame N ature gives us-just now and then.
The Second-Class Test. The new nature test for the second-class badge must have been tried i~ many ~ompanies by this time, and it would be mterestmg to find out how it has been done, and whether or not it has proved successful. Guiders are therE:fore asked to send their opinions and expenences to "Matilda." There seems to be a little doubt, however, about the part referring to the recognition of the twelve living things in. their natural s1:1rroundings. Some people thmk th~t the GUIde should choose her own twelve obJects, othen think they should be selected at random b:( the examiner. From iny own personal expenence I have found it better to let the Guide choose her own. Then she can observe each one closely in order to discover something of interest. h' . t The R.P.& O. does not make t IS pom clear and the test might be taken either way. The 'choosing of her own subjects certainly allows more scope for the individual Guide. Otherwise t here is a risk t hat t he company's woodcraft may becon;e r.at~er restrict~d !f the Guider's knowledge IS lImIted. Also IS It not rather startling for a small Guide to be expected to be able to recognise anything from a tree to a beetle that her Captain may point out? . h The following letter, dealing WIth anot er method of testing the nature work, should start an interesting discussion. P.lease send us your opinions. - J.H . Dear Matilda, When reading a child's nature diary the other day I came across six entries which seemed to ~e definitely "something of interest" that the child had discovered by her own "unaided observation," e.g., "that a blackbird can walk like a human being as well as ho~" and "I looked at a dandelion and found that It was
December 1st, 1932.
made up of a whole lot of little flowers ." When discussing the diary with the child, I verified the fact of unaided observation, and she also pointed out her objects to me, or else described them beyond doubt of identification, the conversation going much deeper than the original points of interest. She had not quite grasped the new way of nature testing and was somewhat amazed when I told her that she had passed in half a dozen points . Do you disapprove of this method of testing? -which was really quite accidental. What I pal'ticularly liked was the passing of a nature test naturally. Yours, etc., "CAPTAIN.'
A Country Field Day. The field was in the country, many miles fr0111 a big township, and not far from the South Australian border, so that a visitor arriving late, and seeing the number of cars and trucks which lined the drive leading to the Station homestead, would wonder how far the motor transport had travelled that morning with their precious freight of guid,es and scouts. They had come over roads good and bad, from the South as far as Portland and Heywood, from Casterton, Balmoral and Coleraine in the North, Dartmoor in the West, and Hamilton in the East, and from the nearby township of Digby. - Surely in many h<?mes that morning there were extra early nsers and hurried breakfasts, so that the cup of tea and bun with which our host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. W. McKay Shaw, greeted us with on arrival at Rifle Downs at 11 a.m. proved very welcome. From the moment of arrival, when the horseshoe was formed, and the Colour unfurled, until the Colour was lowered previous to departure in the late afternoon, the Field, with its 120 or more Guides and Scouts, was a scene of extreme activity. Surrounded on two sides by fine old pines, with wooded and ferned hills sloping away from the other boundaries, this meeting ground was a natural setting for the pipers with their bagpipes who led the Scouts and Guides, as they marched past the saluting base-but that was at the end of the day, and there was much to do between "tea and bun" and the Ceremonial which preceded our departure. The guests of honour were General Sir Neville Smythe, V.C . (a near relative of our Chief Scout) and Lady Smythe (who very kindly judged the First Aid work of Guides and Scouts. Several Commissioners were there, Mrs. A. W. Corney representin g the Division in which the Rally was held, Mrs. W. McKay Shaw. the District Commissioner, Mrs. Keith Davidson, of the Hamilton and Coleraine Division, and Mrs. W. L. Cooke, for Coleraine District. Soon after arrival Patrol Leaders met to discuss the previou slv arranged programme, which fi ll ed the day w ith lots of work and fun. The items covered a variety of subjects useful for Field days - knots, treating sprained ankles, making a stretcher from staves, etc.,
December 1st, 1932.
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intercepting Morse message, stepping ou~ a chain length, estimating weights, makmg sketch map of ground, etc. Scouts also were busy with their programme. Then lunch a thing of immense importance to Guides and Scouts who pride themselves on knowing h ow to make a fire that will burn without smoking, and how to prepare the most tempting viands--cut sandwiches, etc., are tabooed as something very ordinary, and NOT Guidey-grid irons, frying pans, stew pots and bill ies all had a place on one of the many trench fir~s and if the appetite hadn't been sharpened by the work and fun in the keen air, the savoury smells would have tempted the most un-enthusiastic "indoors" person. After t he inter-company flag races, part of the afternoon was devoted to an item not arranged by town companies for Field days-the horse events. There was a bending race on horseback the horse is ridden in and out along a line of ~prig ht poles, and then musical chairs on horseback, when the kerosene box a s "chair" again found a use. The bagpipes provided the music. Country children love these events, theL trained ponies enjoying the fun as much as they do. . . When Guiders and Scouters rallied then' companies for the formal ending, the sun, which had hidden behind the clouds all day, shone, and it was a thrilling sight io see the Guides und Scouts led by the pipers playing their bag-pipes, and the ten Colour-bear.ers with their Colours, march past the salutmg base. This was followed by a Rush rall y, when Guides and Scouts massed round the General, who gave them an inspiring talle on "Makin~ tracks." His illustrations of personal experiences in the Sudan should imprint the lesson in the memory of everyone who took part in that Field day. There was a cup of tea, and much packing up, and much cheering, as ¡the last car dr.ove away from Rifle Downs, and left ~he FIeld quiet in the setting sun. On the dl'lve heme many a grateful thought went back to Mr. and Mrs. Shaw and their family, who made it possible for so many country Guides and Scouts to meet, and do the things together, that we hope are fitting and inspiring the young life of to-day for bigger tasks in the future .
A GET-TOGETHER BROWNIE DAY will be held on Saturday, December 10th, at the home of Mrs. Best, "Oswego," Cr. May and Waverley Roads, Sindal. Train from Melbourne leaves 1.22-3.50. Return from Sindal 6.51 (if wet) 9.32 (if fine) . Fare approx. 1/ 6 second class. Catch train going to East Malvern, and change there. Trains will be met. Guiders to bring food and mug. Tea and milk nrovided. Each Brownie Guider to bring and buy a book. Maximum selling price 1 / -. Book may be new or secondhand, and must be wr apped up. If any B.O. wishes to be tested for seamphore, 2nd class standard, let Mi fis Paling know on the day. Will B.O.'s inform their T.O.'s of event?
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Matilda's Appearance. Dear Editor, . , Hurrah! We are allowed to all' our gnevances about Matilda's cover! Here goes for mine quickly before you repent.. . I have long had a grudge agamst her. Allcethrough-the-looking-glass I have always called her because she is back to front. Now why, by all 'the laws of Guiding, has sh e h el' back to us? To show that an exception ~roves t h e rule - the rule this time being the :P'ifth Law? But there is a worse error she illustrates month in and month out. Those of us who teach Semaphore, have we not learnt to stand facing each other-no.t back to. front--for read ing? I have had bItter expel'1~nce of the danger of this. Once wh en my LIeut. and I were practising, during a res~ she hal?pene~ to sit down behind me, idly readmg my slgnallmg. Thereafter for weeks she muddled up the opposites such as M and S, L and Erase, I and X, o and 'w, etc. Often during ou! practice she would suddenly drop her penCIl a~d .pape,r, turn her back to me, and make frantic SIgns m the ail', trying to get the exact positio~ ~f my arms back to front ! This used to be dlstmctly irritating as I had some~i~es to ~tand half a minute in the same pOSitIOn, until she faced me again and indicated she had fathomed the letter! Needless to say this type of reading was a great drain on ~oth ti~e and pati.ence: And if a grown GUIder Will make thl.S mIstake so easily, what a trap for t h e children! Are there any of us who have already heard "I only know M when Alice turns her back to me, like on Matilda's cover"? If not, we have had lucky escapes. I have no objection to the cover if she were an orthodox M but as long as she is an Alicethrough-the-lo~king-glass one she is a men~ce, because she is familiarising us with somethmg definitely wrong, just as little bits of string with both ends easy of access are a menace to conectly-tied knots. Next, please! Yours, etc., EMMA F. Dear Matilda! I think Matilda is nice as she is on the cover -besides, where else would you put her? Unless sh e be framed and hung at H.Q.? But I guess she'd be lonely there instead of in all our vdd suitcases and cupboards and shelves. She would get thin and lose her sturdiness, which has always been one of her charms. Of course "the old order changeth ... " Ah! Woe is me! Yours, etc., W.E.B. Dpar Editor, 11/11 / 32. Having read with interest t he correspondence on thp question of changing the covel' of "Matilda," I want to suggest that the name
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MATILDA
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is not now suitable for the official organ of the Guide Movement in Victoria. We are not in our babyhood. The movement is 21 years old, and we have been definitely organised for 11 years. We are grown up, and should be con&idered so. Surely a more comprehensive generic name might be found for the magazine which is issued as H.Q. pronouncements for ' Guides. I am a great believer in tradition-old friends, old dogs, old clothes-but not in things that may check progress. 'The old order" has to change, "giving place to new," when it, however dearly loved, has outgrown its baby clothes, and the responsibilities of adult life have to be faced. We want our magazine, which is developing along such sane, etficient lines, to have a name more in keeping with this growth. The gay, gallant little figure need not goshe may still keep her "ancient place," and will go on inspiring Guides and Brownies as of old. Tradition is a great, fine thing, but if it is held to in important matters at the expense of progress, it can become a danger. We must always be prepared to benefit by experience, which teaches that progress is the law of life. I consider we have come to the point when in this seemingly small thing we should take the chance to "go forward." This' is written with the desire that many others may express their views on the same subject. Yours, etc., REALLY INTERESTED. Dear Matilda, I note in the October issue that "Matilda's" ccver is under discussion. I would just love to see what 'Matilda's" other side could be likethat long bob of hers and her thin neck worries me a trifle. I don't consider them beautiful: perhaps the humourousness of her has palled a little by now. Suggestions: 1. That we have a competition for a new cover, entries 3d. per head, with a prize for first. If 3d. were considered too expensive, I suggest that the winner be content to see her specimen reproduced on the cover. 2. Failing the competition idea as giving "Matilda" sub-committee too much to do. might I suggest that "Matilda's" person undergoes an operation as suggested of face-lifting, and flO me bright person conjure up her front vision . I am sure she could have a very intel'esting and e"en sweet countenance. This would necessitate doing away with the silhouette. 3, Might I make another suggestion-that "Matilda's" person goes on the shelf altogether, and that a block be made of some interesting photograph-a Guiding one, of course. All you want is a good. clear sharp negative. But the photographic idea might be run best on competetive lines. Of rourse. we are not able to aspire to a cover like "The Guider," because of the expense. I know. I think "Matilda" is interesting and helpful, especially since hel' more frequent anpearance. And a more exciting exterior might help to inCl'ease her circulation. The doctors say a little change now and
December 1st, 1932.
then works wonders, and I am sure "Matilda" couldn't help feeling all nice inside with a new top dressing. She wouldn't be feeling smug? No! Yours, etc., C. T. BLACK. 11th Nov., 1932. Dear "Matilda," I was so sorry to read that you have had more complaints about your behaviour. To tell you the truth, I have never worried whether you are late or not-indifference? Not a bit of it!-you just read on a bit further. When a good many days have passed, I have a sort of feeling that you are about due. Sometimes I am right, sometimes wrong. Anyway, I go to the letter-box full of hope, and very often there you are-and if not? well, I just look forward with all the more anxious pleasure to finding you the next morning-it's great fun! And if this happens many mornings, I think of the very busy people who have to wrap you up and post you off, and the busy editor, too. Do you think it fair, "Matilda," to compare you with a professional paper, run by people who do nothing else, who earn their living by it? At last you come, and having torn off your wrapper I see your familiar face, just the same as ever, and I know it's you and no one else. There stands the black figure, as it has stood since the very beginning. And to those who were Guides in the early days, when Miss Hogarth was out, and who had the thrill of camping with her. that'¡ black fig:ure means a tremendous lot. It brings back old memoriesthe tremendous thrill of everything, becausE' we were so very new then, and hadn't become the least little bit blase. I'm not too oldfashioned, "Matilda." I like your improvements vpry much, but I do hope the cover will be left alone. And just in conclusion, I would like to say, just between you and me, "Matilda," tha'i: we Guiders criticise you an awful lot, yet yOti are our own off-soring, and it is up to us t,. put you above criticism by doing our bit. With Guide greetings, E.E.S
White Collars. Dear Matilda, May I endorse heartily the sentiments expressed by "White Collars." I remember well my first visit to Camp, and the effect the general drabness of the uniform had upon me. This was heightened very much by the appearance of a Guider from a Sister State lookin.; very neat and fresh in a white collared unifOl'm. I inwardly reg-istered a nrayer that I honed "I would never look like that," but now I find myself perfectly content to look most unprepossessing- in Camp. From such a state of mind, oh. H.Q .. deliver me! Yours, etc .. "LET'S BE MORE ATTRACTIVE." Dear Editress, In the November issue of "Matilda" a letter appears from "White Collars." May I be nermitted to say a few words on the subject? If the "powers-that-be" decide that GuiiJers should wear white collars in camp, do let the collars be ones of the same size and shape as those of our present overall pattern. Even ou!,
December
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lnterstate visitors felt slightly limp and overwarm about the neck in our Victorian weather! Only yesterday I had occasion to do a little Scouts' pace to the station in a vel'y cool coatirock-and my collar, although very comfortable and of a good shape, was a wilted mass of discomfort for the rest of the journey home. The day was not hot, and uniortunately the oceasion did not warrant my wearing an overall. However, white collars would certainly give the camp a tone of extra "crispness" after rest hour, and imagine how chic they would look at a Church Parade! They would save Guiders taking full uniform to camp, when every extra corner tells in one's luggage as well. I am in favour of a change-for campers in particular-as I am one of those who very nearly gave up Guiding because of the appearance of t.he campers-and that only after attending two Campcraft weeks and two Guide camps! I had occasion to leave the camp in mufti, and on my return in a cool summer frock, I was appalled to see what I was returning to! I am sure parents in particular would appreciate the change and sincerely hope that a change w~ll come. But let it be to collars of the present overall pattern and shape. They could be "home-made'" at extremely low cost, and could be fixed to the overall by five pressstuds in as many seconds. They would need very little laundering compared with the stiff collar worn by our sister States, and would be healthily open at the neck, and not "Early Victorianly" shut up in a tight collar! Yours for white collars, "PRESENT -STYLE PATTERN."
WARRANTS. Brown Owls. 1st Footscray .. .. Miss A. Bullen 1st Port Melbourne Miss J. Robertson 1st Rosebud .... Miss T. Campbell-Walker Tawny Owls. 1st Camperdown Miss R. Law-Smith Miss M. Aitken Miss V. Law-Smith. 2nd Camperdown Captains. 1st Hartwell .. Miss G. Blackwell 1st Lilydale .. Mrs. W. M. Black Lieutenants. 2nd Armadale .. Miss B. Cr()cker 1st Lmton . . . . Miss M. L. Murrell 8th Kew . . . . . . Miss A. Wai;kins 1st Mornington Miss M. Gason Miss M. Thorne Ranger Captain. 1st Mornington Miss D. M. Townshend Ranger Lie,utenant. Miss E. Jacob~ 1st Mornington .. District Secretary. Sandringham .. Miss W. Williams
REG ISTRATIONS. Packs. 2nd Mildura Companies. 1st Mitcham Ranger Companies.
3rd Mildura 1st Rutherglen
1st Balwyn 2nd Canterbury Local Associations. Cohuna Parkdale-Mordialloc E. Malvern & Glen Iris Silvan
Training. The 27th Victorian Training Week will be held from 3rd to 10th January, 1933, at Morongo, Geelong, through the courtesy of the School Council. Miss K. M. Wilson, from I.H.Q., will be in charge. GUIDE TRAINING CLASSES. The first Course of General Guide Training Classes for. 1933 will begin on Friday, 10th February. BROWNIE TRAINING CLASSES. The first Course of Brownie Training will begin on Wednesday, 22nd February. M. E. BUSH, Commissioner for Training.
Ranger Activities. The Metropolitan Rangers held a Sports meeting at the University on Saturday afternoo.n. 5th November, which was followed by theIr annual Conference in the evening. Ivanhoe Sea Rangers (S.R.S. "Invincible") won the Sports Cup for this year, with Albert Park Rangers second and Surrey Hills and 3rd Camberwell an equal third. !he Chairman (C~mmissioner for Rangers, MISS Cameron) preSIded at the 4th Victorian Ranger Conference. She had received a mes~~ge from Lady Chauvel regretting her inabIlIty to be present, and wishing the Conference every success. . After the reading of the minutes of the preVIOUS Conierence and the adoption of the Hon. Treasurer's statement of accounts, an election of office-bearers was held. The following are the office-bearers fOl' 1933:Deputy Chairman: Miss F. Barfus. !l0n. Treas.: Miss E. Jones (no election for thIS office was held, as only one nomination had been received). Hon. Sec.: Miss E. Paterson. Committee: Misses F. Colechin, B. Lever, A. Palmer, P . McIntYTe, K. Anderson and J. Fillmore. The following are the combined fixtuTes for 1933:Field Day, Snap Debates and Mock Trial Tennis Tournaments, Rounder and Cricket matc~es. Rangers ' Own Service, Swimming CarnIval, Indoor Week-end, Sports and Conference. When the discussions had taken place, Miss Cameron oresented to Albert Park Rangers (basketball premiers 1932) the B.B. Cup and Pennant, to 1st Melbourne Rangers a pennant as runners-up, and to Ivanhoe Sea Rangers the Sports, cup and pennant. '
December. 1st, 1932 .
MATILDA
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