~. JUNE 1, 1933.
Vol. 9, No. 12.
AN OFFICIAL TREASl;RE BAG OF GTJIDERS' INFO]L\JATION FOR
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Questions, and Answers. Guiding is swinging along with the spirit of an adventure and the inspiration of a tradition in many cities and towns, and in many lonely places; but some Guidel's are reviewing their ideas and their plans, and are feeling that the next step is not so plain as were the Ol1es before it. Actors and actresses know that the danger of "drying up" occurs after a play has run for many weeks, and I think the questioning is mainly from areas where companies began eight or ten years ago, perhaps mostly in the suburbs, where life still becomes more and more complex. I have put down some thoughts which I hope may help those who are wondering. I have put them partly as a list, to save space, and make them clearer. Please do not accuse me of being brusque and heavy-handed because I could not wait to qualify and expand. I have been asked "Where now?" I have been told that a district is in a rut, and I have been asked point-blank if I think the spirit has gone oui of Guiding. "No!" I answer very firmly, but the question was serious, and in some places it may have happened. That is why I have written this for "Matilda." Grown-ups must stop worrying about whe!'e they are going. Give the Game of Guiding back to the Girls, and watch them go. An accepted principle of teaching is "No Impression without Expression .. " To-day we need to drive into our heads "No Expressiu'l without Impression." Grown-ups read Guide books and magaz:nes, and meet the interesting people and make np games, and say "We must do this becau~e Guides do, or "because it is in the tests." Grown-ups allow Guides to help to raise funds or appear in public for objects of whtch they know little or nothing, and arrange rallie, which are so large that Guides must go wber₏ they are put and do things that have been planned for them. It is a long way from the days when girls purloined a book that was not meant for them. and were urged by an impulse that came fresh from the thrill of their own discovery. A Guider should provide the mean/> for Guides to discover Guiding, not centering their thoughts on her as the source of all information, but turning them away from herself ('x¡ cept as a companion in absorbing interests. Girl Guiding, The Guide, The Biennial Report, pictures and accounts of Guiding shouid be the first demands on company resources. To use Guide funds and guide time for outside purposes before the children have had an oppOltunity to discover Guiding is to arrange a superficial expression of "service" before the impression has been made that would lea.l to it spontaneously. It exploits the enthusiasm cf the Guides, and shows lack of faith in what we are doing . Going to Church can surely be more than a matter of course arranged by grown - ups. An invitation to Chmch should be put before the company for free and natural qiscussion; or, if no suggestion of Chmch or Guides' Own
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Service comes from them, let us consider cur own attitude of reverenc'e and our leading in the quiet times of the Company meetings. Guides do not seem eager enough about the different parts of the second class test, hut we expect them to be interested before they have had a chance to see their own aim. They should see a big part of any activity before they begin to enter into it. Imagine a child of six who had never seen a book or heard a story-would we begin to teach him "This is 'A'," and expect him to be interestc!d? A country dance teacher who wants a class to perform "If All the World Were Paper" will teach everything BUT that dance for two or three lessons, when the pupils can run and set and side and arm and turn she will show it to them, and they will do il easily, and be delighted because it is fresh. So let Guides see really interesting First Aid, and know a little about all sorts of injuries, before they begin to polish up "test things." Let them practise the management of a bandagefolding, pulling firmly, tying, on anything BUT "ankle" and "sling." Let them see signalling stations and learn secret codes before saying "One dot for Edward." Let them use an11 ~ , feet, torches, anything to get time and rhythm, before trying to manage code and flag at t~e same time. Guides cannot "express" a wish to do something before they have been "impressed" with its usefulness and interest. The Patrol is the unit which makes it possible for Guiding to belong to the girls, but it is not always the natural jolly gang it should be. We pull against the patrol idea when we emphasise too often and too early our great numbers. We contemplate our world-wide millioll and grown ups feel inspired, but the Chief understood the youngster; to the girl the first important thing is not that she should belong to a big thing (there are hundreds at her school and thousands in her town) but that she should belong to a small thing. The patrol is a unit she can compass-there her conduct matters intensely, there is time for her to speak, and often she is absolutely needed for a jo1} or to make up a team. Tell the Guides all we can about those in other countries and with lives different from their own, but with definite personal dptail. not just vaguely as units in a great number. Large numbers may be an easy refuge f1'om responsibility, and an excuse for an individual to sink back into the apathy from which it is part of our purpose to rouse her. Consider rallies very carefully in proportion to our precious Saturdays. Remember that when we meet in large numbers it is difficult for the little unit to be spontaneous and T(,' sponsible. The Patrol idea may settle into a routine as may nearly everything else. First rate leaders do not exist in the proportion of one to eight, and we tend to . scale down the responsibilities of all leaders in a company to the standard of the least able . Each patrol need not have the same length of patrol time at Company meetings. One lead er who has kept her patrol interested for as long as she feels able can bring them to a Guider . . The Guider can show them some-
_4_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _-=M=A:.:..T I L D A thing out of the rut-stretcher, making bed for invalid, star fire-plaster casts, stalking walk or crawl. When they are keen about a subject as a whole they will clamour for leadcr to show them the "test bit." This idea can b<l used for group time, when no leaders ~te with patrols, but of course Guiders can help with test things, too, if the Guides wish. Be brave about allowing some leaders responsibilities for which others are not suited. Pay less attention to even numbers-Qne leader may manage excellently her own group of three or four, but be hopeless with the recruit who wanders in because she is lonely at school. Such a recruit may be the most difl\cult in a company, but she may be put into the smallest patrol with the least able leader, just to even numbers. Two or three recruits may join together and demand to be put in lhe patrol that already has six! Let them go-thE'Y are the natural gang we are looking for. Very few games demand even numbers, and the Guides will meet the situation themselves if we give them time. Guiders tend to keep talks on the Law too much in their own hands, and yet Guides know the difficulties of their lives better t han we do -let them talk and discuss among themselves and ask for our help when they feel they need it. The community is catching up in many of the ways that Guiding pioneered-domestic knowledge, community singing, country dancing, handcraft, hiking and camping-and the feeling that interest in them is becoming general may leave us at a loose end. Have we "imported" some of these things and forgotten that Guiding is not teaching, but training? Let us go back t.o make sure that our foundations are firm upon the Promise, and the Patrol, back to simplicity, adventure, happiness in the simple deeds that lie near to us-back to training our powers by practice and expefiment. We may be on the eve of new developments t hat spring from the only possible foundations, but if they are developments in the true tradition they must come from the Guides, and we will block them by crow din ~ our suggestions into their thoughts and tim.;). We can clear the way and give them the material- the Guides must see for themselve;; where they want to go and build the road. "And when Mother Carey saw Tom ,,;h c looked at him very kindly: "What do you wa'1t, my little man? It is long since I have seen a water-baby here."
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"Thank you, ma'am," said Tom, "then I wor.'t trouble your ladyship any more. I hear you are very busy." "I am never more busy than I am now," she said, without stirring a finger. "I heard, ma'am, that you were always making new beasts out of old." "So people fancy. But I am not going to trouble myself to make things, my little dear. I sit here and mak~ them make themselves." "You are a very clever fairy indeed," though:' Tom-and he was quite right.
.June, 1933.
"Know, child,'~ said Mother Carey, "that anyone can make things if they will take time and trouble enough: but it is not everyone who, like me, can make things make themselves." But some people do not yet believe that Mother Carey is as clever as all that comes to. -(Water Babies, by Charles Kingsley) . G. H. SWINBURNE.
Guiders' Club. The new Clubroom was opened on Thursday morning, May 11th, by Lady Chauvel. It was possible to invite only a small number of guests, so one representative was sent from ' each of the metropolitan divisions and one to represent country Guiders, the executive committee and the commissioners. Lady Chauvel expressed her pleasure that the Guiders sh ould be receiving the benefit of the proceeds of the Handcraft Exhibition, into which they had put so much effort. The door was then opened with the key tied to a card which asked Lady Chauvel to accept honorary life membership handed to her by Miss D. McKinnon, President of the Guiders' Committee. The visitors then inspected the rooms, and later were given morning tea by the committee. The rooms are looking delightful, and now want everyone to come in and see for yourselves, then become members, and then use the Club.
GENERAL
MEETING.
A General Meeting of the Guiders' Club will be held on Monday, June 26th, at 60 Market Street. All financial members will be invited, so-JOIN EARLY.
On Keeping Accounts. By Sir Percy Everett, Hon. Treasurer of the Girl Guides' Association. (From "The Guider") The Girl Guides Association is bound by law to keep proper accounts. These are duly audited each year by a firm of chartel'ed accountants and arc published in the Annual Report. There are many reasons why accounts should also be kept by Counties, Districts, Local A Gsociations and Conferences, and why these accounts should be made known to those who are likely to be interested. Firstly, where money is received from the public, the public has a r ight to know how the money is spent. Secondly, the public is much more likely to subscribe to an organisation which keeps proper accounts than to one whose financial position is wrapped in mystery. T hi rdly, the keeping of accounts is an excellent training in businesslike methods. Therefore, I would urge Guiders not only to keep full and accurate accounts for their companies, but to explain these accounts in detail
June, 1933.
MATILDA
to their Guides. No girl can learn too early in life the value of money, and the importance of(1) Keeping a correct record of money re·· ceived and money spent. (2) Buying within her means and not l'unning into debt. What, then, are proper accounts, and how s hould they be kept? Proper accounts consist essentially of an accurate record in writing of all money received, and of all money spent. The simpler these records are, the better, because one cannot expect Guiders and Guides to be trained in all the intricacies of the accountkeeping which may be necessary in a big business concern. These records can best be kept in ll. Cash Book. The simplest form of accounts will show on the one side (the left-hand page) the money which has been received, and on the other side (the right-hand page) the money which ha:,; been spent. The three guiding principles for all r.ccount keepers are:(1) Make a record at once of every financial transaction. (2) Get a receipt for all money paid out. (3) Give a receipt for all money paid in. I might add a fourth: open a banking account; into which all money received is paid, and out of which all money required is issued by cheque. To keep accounts in this way, the following books, etc., will be required (in addition, of course, to stationery, envelopes and lette!' tiles) : (1) A Cash Book, in which is recorded 011 the one page all money received, and on the opposite page all money spent. The use of an Analysis Cash Book with various columns for C:ifferent items, such as Subscriptions, donations, uniform, equipment, sundries, Gtc., is helpful when preparing the Annual Statement. (2) A Receipt Book with counterfoils, so that an acknowledgement can be given and a record kept of all money received. (3) A Cheque Book and paying-in book to be obtained from you!' bank. All accounts should he paid by cheque-thus providing !tn automatic record of money spent. (4) A Petty Cash Book in which will be noted all such small items as postage, telegrams, etc., which cannot be paid out by cheque. (To start the Petty Cash Account, a cheque ~hould be drawn to petty cash or bearer for, say. £2, and cashed by the bank. This money will be kept in a small box an<i llsed as necessary, entries being made in thp. Petty Cash Book of each sum when spent). (5) A Spike File for holdinl\' receipts. All the above are supplied by Headquarters. In the Cash Book and Petty Cash Book a sample page is filled in to show how the ,~ ntries should be made. The prices are as follows:(1) Cash Book . '. .. .. .. .. .. 2s.0el. (2) Analysis Cash Book .. .. .. 3 6 (3) Cheque Book and Paying-in Book (from hank) ,. " ,.
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7 1 A Petty Cash Box, containing 8s. 6d., fittect with look and key, can also be supplied for those who can afford this luxury. At the end of the year, from these records, it will be easy to prepare a "Receipts and Payments Account" in the following form: Receipts and Payments Account For the Year ended December 31st, 1932. RECEIPTS. Dr. £ s. G. To Balance at beginning of yearCash at Bank .. .. £2 14 3 Petty Cash in hand 0 17 6 3 11 9 Donations (in detail if thought advisable) .. .. .. .. .. 10 10 0 Subscriptions (in detail if thought advisable) . . . . . . . 5 0 0 Interest on Investments .. .. 4 0 0 Receipts from Badges, Camps, Entertainments, Uniforms, etc. (in detail) .. .. .. .. " .. .. 6 6 6 £29 PAYMENTS. Cr. By Uniform . ........ . Postage . . . . . . . . . . Telegrams . . . . . . . . . . Insurance . . . . . . . . . . Travelling Expenses .. Other payments (in detail if thought advisable) . . . . . . . . " Balance at end of year. Cash at Bank .. .. £6 9 8 Petty cash in hand .. 0 9 6
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There should also be a statement showing the property of the Company or Association, including all Equipment, with approximate value at the end of the year. It is advisable to have these accounts audited by an independent person. A friend who is an accountant, or a business man, or in a bank, will probably be only too willing to check them free of charge. If you are fortunate enough to have any money invested, a note should accompany this Receipts and Payment Account, giving the exact details of the investments. With the New Year, new pages should be started in the Cash and Petty Cash Books, showing, of course, at the top the balance itl hand (or deficit, if unfortunately there be one!) This form of accounts is quite sufficient for all Counties, Districts, Associations, and Companies. except in cases where a trade is carried on in badges, equipment, tents, etc. If a big stock is held, and there are considerable transactions during the year, a more elaborate system of account-keeping will be necessary.
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J'me, 1933.
"Duty makes us do things well, uut love makes us do them beautifully."
BROWNIE PAGE COMMITTEE. The Brownie Page Committee ha<; been enlarged with the addition of the fo llowing members:- -Misses G. Boyd, L. Tulloh, T. Mullen. M. Butt. The resignation of Miss M. Freeman ha::: been received with regret. The Page Secretary wishes to acknowledg~ and thank t he following Guiden for their contributions to the Brownie Page: Miss A. Bullen (1st Footscray); Miss Haydee Brown (1st Box Hill), Miss F. Davis (1st Surl'l'y Hills), Miss N. Pearce (3rd Colac), Miss L. Tulloh (1st Parkville) for the month of June. Miss Paling, Commissioner for Brownies, also received two songs and list of ~uggested stories for B.O.'s unsigned. She wishes to thank and acknowledge same.
WHERE'S THAT SMILE? B.O .- Why does a Brownie promise 1,0 "specially" help t hose at home? B.-Because they are stuck at home !
"ITS AND BITS." 'Come to " Its and Bits," and bring your friends and their friends to an amu sing evening planned by t he Brownie Holirlay Com mittee, to be held on Wednesday, 28t.h June, at the P.G.F. Hall, Gipps Street, East Melbourne. R p.m. Admission 6d., Supper Id. To YOU we say DON'T stay away-Please!
AN IDEA FOR
ATTENDA~CE.
Each Brownie has a notebook (the Brownie::: can make these themselves from brown paper, covered with wall paper) with her Six's emblem on the front. Each page represents a month, with a square for each week. If the Brownie attends she gets a colored •)aper emblem of her Six to paste in he ~' book. A star is g iven for a fu ll month's at· tendance. -N.P. [N.B .-Thi s may be a good idea, especially in a Pack where reg ular attendance needs a little "extra" encouragement, and will be mor,~ effective if not carried out for too long a time -say not more than two or three months. -A.-F.P.]
THE STOLEN MOTTO. Cut out separately all the letters contained in the Brownie motto in cardboard, as many sets as you have Sixes. mix them well, and nlace bundles at end of haJJ on a form at wide intervals. Brownies stand at other er:d of hall with another form at t heir backs, on which
to place the rescued letters. B.O. tells how some very naughty Imps stole the Brownies' Motto and cut up all the wOl'ds into single letters. Now Tawny (who is on guard near the bundles), discovered where the Imp '~ had hidden the pieces so we must get t hem back into our Homes. Brownies have been nUfllbered 1, 2, 3, etc, so when B.O. calls "ones to the reSC'.le" the ones in each Six run and secure >my lettelbringing it back and placing it on the form, then "twos to the rescue" and so on until all the letters have been rescued. The first Six to get the letters into their correct p05ition are the real rescuers, and t he other Bro\',nies form a ring and dance round them singinf-l' "Thanlc yo u, Elves, for bringing back om' Motto." Then at Pow-wow have a sheet of brOWl! J)aper with white lettel's cut out and pasted on to form the motto. Have it ['olled and und·) graduall y, asking the Brownies to r el'eat what they see. - A.B.
WILL YOU, PLEASE ? Deal' Brown Owls, Would you let me know of anyonp, yourself, your Tawny or Pack Leadel' perhaps, who would be willing to do some odCllnents of sketches and little drawings at odd t imes for 'ne? I would be so grateful! And please don't thi nk anyone might not be "good enough"-it's a willing hand I need, not necessarily 3 finished :1rtist! A Brownie is always hopeful! So am I!! ADRIENNE PALING.
GOLDEN BAR "HEMMING." "Make something useful showing hemming." We made covers for books in which ear.:h Brownie keeps words of songs, poems, etc .. which we leal'l1. - N.P .
Meeting of Pack Leaders. On Saturday afternoon, May 6th, ~. meeting cf Pack Leaders was held at Surrey Hills. By the kindness of Mrs. R. J. Bull, the picturesqll'~ grounds of h er residence at 42 Bouncl.)1'y Road were made available for the occasion. This beautiful garden gives the impression of .a ren~o te rural situation, and forms a dC')ightfully natul'al setting for such an pvent. Nine Pack Leaders, under the leaciership of Miss Coles and Miss Holtz, attended. and the afternoon and evening were fully occupied. Games were played and hand craft practised. Skipping steps were demonf;tratNI and learnt ;
June, 1933.
MATIL D A
a novel competition testing proficicncy in nature-lorc was arranged; and a "Treasure hunt" provided an exciting contest between the Pack Leaders. After tea followed games and story telling, while an exchange of ideas was one of thf: most profitable items of the day. Songs in the moonlight concluded an interesting, instructive and very enjoyable outing. D. WOODS, 1st Ivanhoe Pack.
What Does R.S.V.P. }\tfean? Why wait for the New Year to make ALL our good resolutions? Why not mak.! at least ONE this mid-winter, and thus not only lighten the load of accumulating resolutions for 1934, but also bring immediate comfort ~nd good humour to all concerned! "Now what IS she dl'iving at?" you ask! Well, just this-that R.S.V.P. does NOT mean "Don't answer"! Joking apart, is it quite fair to ignore notices that definitely need an answer? Of course, there are exceptions, but mlil1y of us have suffel'ed and have made other<; suffer in this direction. Just pause for a moment, and look at it from EVERY point of view-from yours, from thc other person's, from the point of view of the children we are "guiding"--And is it ever necessary to put anyone to all the inconvenience of waiting in v!lin for a reply of perhaps only a word or two? Just pause again, and be quite homst- whcn you ask yourself, is it ever necessary? 'Nuff said! I am making my mid-wintcr resolution- it's up to you to makp yours! A.E .F.P.
Guides of Trinidad. Away in the mountains of Trinidad the native girls of a little town decided to become Guides. The Commissioner lived in the capital by the sea, and they worked eagerly towards the day when she should come to enrol them. Alas' The uniform material was delayed, someone was slow with her test, and before they were ready for enrolment t he rain descended. The mountain road became impassable-in some places a rus hing torrent. Th e Commissioner would not be able to drive across for months. Soon after the rain began the girls were ready. Wait? Not they. They packed up their bundles, popped them on their heads, and started off barefoot, on a thirty-mile tramp to t he coast. They spent one night at a village on the way, and on the afternoon of the seco'1d day appeared in an orderly row at the door of the Commissioner's home, and gently but firmly requested her to enrol them. And enrol them she did, in her own drawing room, with full ceremonial . The guides of the city put t hem up for thrce or four days, and back t hey marched, bad!l"es shining in grand array, and arrived among their own folks-Guides . (Told by. Miss Anderson, of Trinidad, at Foxlease CampfirC', Nov. ]9:12). G.H.S.
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Boy Scouts Association. EXTRACTS FROM LAST ANNUAL REPORT (1932 ). F r om TTIE FOREWOR D, by t he Chief Scout. "With all due respect to the efforts of the League of Nations and Disarmamen'.; Committees and the like, history does not hold out high promise of success of any pro:libition by legislation and regulations, whether it be prohibition of war, or drink, or of the speed of motor cars, unless there is the Spit it of th" people behind it. F RO M T H E REPORT. Rovers.- "This branch . . . . is pl 0gressing slowly but surely, and is endeavouring to mak(¡ its contribution to the character training of t he Nation in difficult times." ... Rover Scout.,; are finding avenues of service in the Wolf ub section in increasing numbers, and proving most successful with small boys. LITERATU HE. "A new and enlarged edition of 'Scouts witil a Handicap' has been brought out (1 / -). The magazine for blind Scouts and Guides, 'The Venture' keeps up its steady circulation; 'The Arrow,' for cripples, goes from strength to strength . . . . and is getting quite a large circulation overseas and in foreign lands. A thirJ magazine, 'The Colonist,' for Mentally Defective Groups, has been started. . . . and is very popular. These all form invaluable links between isolated communities. "There has been a not unwelcom~ pause in t he flood of training literature - valuable though it all is. Particular mention shoulrl, however, be given to 'Letters to the New Scoutmaster,' by Dr. W. L. Stephen. This oook should be placed in the hands of evcry new Scoutmaster." D~velo pm e n t. One of the bigges~ practical problems lying in front of the Movement at the moment is t he question of unemployment. 'lnd what should be t he relation of Scouting to it . .. As t he Pri nce of Wales pointed out in his great appeal at the Albert Hall . . . . it is no use being dismayed by the extent of the probl em: the thing is to break it up into little pieces .. . It is up to all Scouts to make their cor:tribution to th e solution of the problem . Discussion with the Churches on the sub:ec;; of co-operation was brought to a lonclu;;ion with the pub lication of a pamphlet. 'Scouting in relation to the Churches.' It is bellev('(1 that these conversations have been usef ul in obta ining recognition for the value to religiou bodies of Scouting and Guiding as a mean of character-training. A ~eries of articles on the value of Old Scouts and how to organise their ASl:'ociation ~ h as been written by the H.Q. Commissione" for Old Scouts. The loan of printing blocks hm: been cxpanned considerably.
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MATILDA
Drama. One of the outstanding features this year has been the Play-Writing Competition, which produced well over a hundred manuscripts, twelve of which have been selected for publ;cation . . . . Overseas. The figures for Overseas show a further sat.isfactory increase of just over 25,000, makinga grand total of 372,558. To this India and Burma have contributed over 11,000, Canada over 6000, and Australia over 4000. Good Turns. In Canada, many tons of clothing, vege¡ tables and other food have been collected, anJ in some instances purchased, with the procaads of Troop entertainment. An annual Easter Egg' collection is also developing, and thi<; yeal' 568 dozen eggs were collected in one district alone and distributed amongst hospitals, orphanages and sick and needy families. Re-afforestation work has continued in a large way in Ontario and Nova Scotia, an additional 180,000 trees having been planted. Scouts also played a prominent and useful part at the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa, where they acted as specal guides and ushers and guard::; of honour, and assisted in various ways at receptions to the visiting delegates. Scouting in Australia has received much encouragement by the following resolut' on, which was passed at the first meeting of the Headmasters' Conference of Australia:"That this Conference consider" that th~ Scout Movement is a sound educational adjunct to our school life, and should be encouraged in addition to the Cadet Corps.:' It is hoped that as a result of ihls much help may be forthcoming from ihe Public Schools of the Commonwealth. Western Australia is to be congratulated on now having a Gilwell of its own. The Govern¡ ment recently gave five acres of land, which is being prepared for practical use. The present depression would appeal' to be helping the movement in Australia as elsewhere since it has brought into it numbers of men of the right type who see in Scouting the mean<> of preventing the recurrence of many of the evils which exist to-day. In India numbers continue to increase. Mr. H. W. Hog-g, the Provincial Secretary, in the course of the year paid a visit to Ladakh, having walked for six weeks i~specting scho )1., ril>'ht across the mountams. He found Tl:'OOPS and Packs wherever he touchad. The Troops in the Lahaul country, composed mainly of Tibetans and Ladakhians, are doing fine service for the Movement, especially on the hil;h snow passes. Trey have built protected springs, where wayfarers can obtain clean drinking water, and in Kyelaing, the capital of Lahaul, they are carrying out a system of S.P.C.A. work ~y examining the backs of the baggage pOUles for sores and applying ointment and generally caring for them. In Ceylon a Scout Colony has be3n inaugul'ated at Kalutara, where a grant of 20 acres has been obtained from Government with the option of additional land, if, as seems prob-
June, 1933.
able, the project proves a success. '1 he underlying idea is to prevent unemployment by Scout methods. No unemployed Scout need depend on charity, since the colony will always find him work. Four-fifths of the estate is being set apart for agricultural activities, and on the remaining portion it is proposed to e;:tablish a Training School for rural teachers to provide agricultural courses and to build a Bilingual School and carpentry shop.
The Charm of the Lyre Bird. (By J.H., in "The Age.") . Wh~n :ve think of any particular ~pecies of bU'd, It lS usually associated with a mental picture of the place where it is to be found and bird and environment are linked together: Thus, if mention is made of the familiar spa!'row, our thoughts at once dwell on a scene of ~usy streets in, the town, where this hardy httle songster (if so he may be called) is probably the only conspicuous form of bird life. In the same way the thought of a seagull invariably brings to mind some coastsl scene 0" stretch of moving waters. So, when the name of lyre-bird is mentioned there rises at once in the minds of those who have been fortunate enough to see this unique bird in his native haunts a vision of a fernclad gully where singing waters flow. and the light of the sun scarcely penetrates the dense foliage of sassafras, musk and haz ~ i, and the tall white gums above. Such a place is Sherbrooke Gully, which is visited by l?rge numbers of people during the year, the majori';', possessing the same desire-namely, to see the lyre-bird. For to go to Sherbrooke and yet to fail to see this wonder bird i~ indeed to have missed a great opportunity. It certainly seems fortunate that the lyrebird's nesting season occurs in the winter time and not in the summer, for then the gully i~ frequented by many tourists. But in Jun~, when the large domed nest is built, the gully is usually free from human intrusion. By the time the solitary purplish egg is h~,tched anll the young chick fledged, spring is well on the way. It is extremely important, too, that every chance be given to the lyre-bird to nest, and rear its young in safety. Carelessn('ss in the past has caused this bird to become rare, ann every effort must be made if we are to saY", it for future generations. The best kind of day on w!1ich to look for lyre-birds is, I think, a wet one, or one on which there has been a goon shower of rain. Then they come freely into the ooen spaces [;0 scratch for insects with their big powerful feet. Along the edge of the tracks and besid~ decayed logs may be seen oatches of freshlyturned-up earth, showing clearly that Menura the lyre-bird has passed that way just l' cently.
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June, 1933.
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MA TIL D A
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Though fine days are usually desired for most adventures with birds, moist weather is ideal for IYTe-birding. Then the slippery tracks make it almost impossible to keep one's footing, and the gully trees are draped with mountain mist. On such a day as this I once observed tw') or three birds in the camping ground near the kiosk, one of which was perched on the back of a log seat, giving a good exhibition of his mimicry, while the rain fell steadily. Yet another day, some years ago, a ramble through the gully resulted in the sight of eleven lyrebirds in various places. But it is rather unusual now to see so many at one time. There is no doubt that the main attraction of the lyre-bird is its marvellous power of mimicry, which ranks it among the foremost birds of the world. Australians are beginning to realise the value of this remarkable bird, but is it too late? Let us hope that its protection is now well ensured, and that public interest will help to preserve this wonder of our bird world. Then, no doubt, in years to come the lyre-bird will be as famous and as much sought after as the nightingale is in England. Like the Nightingale it, too, may become a tradition. To really enjoy the "mocking-bird's" performance it is necessary to have a passing acquaintance with the notes of some of our more common forest birds, otherwise the concert of borrowed bird notes falls on deaf ears, and half the charm is lost. Sitting, perchance, on some old moss-covered log in the heart of the gully, Ot hidden in the shelter of the surrounding forest, the quiet listener may delight in a shower of mellody such as wO\lld 1:> c hard to rival anywhere in the world. First, as a rule, comes the oft-repeated . c-cluck, c-cluck, a cry peculiar to the lyre-bird , and one that announces its presence in some particular patch of scrub. Then, having given information as to its whereabouts, it next proceeds in its own leisurely manner to whistle joyfully like the grey thrush, and then, may be, to follow rapidly on with the laugh of the kookaburra. But this is a call I have never heard it finish properly-perhaps because it takes two kookaburras to make a real laugh. After which, may come the glorious carol of the butcher bird, th~ ringing crack or the whip bird, the sociable chatter of a flock of crimson rosellas, the shrill "guinea-a-week" of the pilot bird, or thE' hars h screams of the black cockatoo. These represent only a few of the IYTe-bird '<; calls. for they Tange from the loud cries of the bigger birds to the tiny notes of the little yellow robin and scrub wren. When MenUl'a has gone once through its repertoire. it repeat., it again and again. always in the same order. A short while ago I was very interested to hear one lyre-bird include in its performance the alarm cry of the English blackbird-an introduced bird which is now quite common in the surrounding forest . Another reason for the charm of the lyrebird' voice is the fact that it is heard, as Ii rule, in the depths of the forest or ~ul1y, an-l this appears to give it a certain richness of
tone. Other forest birds' voices are affected in the same way, but, of course, to a smaller degree. The surrounding trees seem to make the lyre-bird's voice vibrate or echo in a very powerful way, so that the bush rings with its melody. Most people think that the lyre-bird is very shy, but it is no more so than many other birds, and with care and patience may be approached quite closely. Unlike the rest of the gully birds, it cannot flyaway at the approach of danger, but has to rely or its 10n6" legs to carry it as quickly as possible into the thick shrub. The lyre-birds in Sherbrooke are now becoming more accustomed to thE' sight of visitors in the gully, and owing to the protection afforded them do not always show fear. Possibly the season at which one finds the greatest number of bird lovers endeavouring to stalk a lyre-bird whilst singing on its mound is in the summer, during the Christmas holidays. Often on going to the gully as early as 6 o'clock in the morning for this purpose, I have been surprised to find other people there for the same reason. Perhaps I would not meet them at first, but after having made my way carefully into the midst of some thicket, from whence sounded the voice of Menura, I would presently become aware of other enthusiasts cautiously trying to creep up unheard. Fur at the slightest sound-the snapping of a twig or the rustling of leaves-the performel' wouln dart quickly away from the mound and vanish into the scrub. Many a morning have I thus crept. into the bush to watch a male Iyrebird at its antics on a mound-to watch it struttting on its chosen gl'ound and draping its beautiful tail over its body, to the accompaniment of its f-lsci nating music. Fortune favors the lyrebird stalker, in that the floor of the gully is usually moist and covered with decaying vegetation, so that footsteps are muffled, and with care the mastef mimic may be observed without heing disturbed. One of the most thrilling bird sights it is pos ¡ sible to witness is that of the lyrebirds going to roost among the treetops. This is seen, unfortunately, by comparatively few birdlovers, because it occurs at nightfall, when the gully is almost in darkness. To escape hom their enemies during the nigh t, the worst of which is probably the introduced fox, these ground birds ascend into the tall gum s every evening. At a certain spot in the Sherbrooke Gully, by the side of a track, is the leaning trunk of a small mu k tree, and up this the lyrebirds walk, and from its branches climb into a blackwood tree alongside. The ascent i~ u sually slow, accompanied by many pauses and a few s hrill cries as the birds mount the trees by jumping or half-flying from one branch to the next, until the top is reached. Some of the birds then proceed to vol plane over to the giant gums, in which, after mounting to the summit--a height of about 140 feet--they prepare to settle down for the night, after having first preened themselves. Though the gully is by now almost dark, the tops of the tall gums are clear;y outlined against the bright evening sky, and thus the
June, 1933. 10 MATILDA ------------------------------~~ long time ago, before the King died and the figures of the lyrebirds are well defined as they young prince disappeared. Then, the princess ascend the trees 01' glide from one to anothc .'. had never thought of being a Queen, and never When the male bird is flying the long tail is wanted to be. trailed gracefully behind, and the main feat!'!But a day came when the King called the ers become separated and their shape is seen prince to him and said: "My son, on,~ day you perfectly. will be called upon to take my placp. as rule~: I know of few spectacles to equal the sight of the land, and in order to become !l wise and of these big, dark, long-tailed birds vol planing just King, you must study hard. To-morrow easily across the deep gully from cne giant we will depart on a journey to the Wise Gnom;;, tree to another, their wings and tail evenly with whom you will remain until ei~her your spread, and looking like some huge species of sister or I send for you." And the fo llowing butterfly at such a height. Especially is this day the King departed with his two childrell so on fine summer evenings, when they are and Tatters' grandfather, and, whea they resilhouetted against the afterglow ¡of a gloriou3 turned, the Prince was not WIth them. sunset sky. About a year after this the King died, to b0 Then when they have settled in the tree tops followed a few days later by Tatters' grandfor the night, safe from their enemies, and father. On the day of th e royal funeral, a great secure even in a howling gale, the darkened commotion was caused in the palace by the gully will suddenly echo to the ringing song of princess falling downstairs, and for :.t time evone of the lyrebirds-a final tributp- tu a deeryone was afraid that she also would die. parted day. But after a while the Princess grew quite well, excepting for one thing-she could remember nothing which had happened prior to the fall. In the meantime, where was the young Prince? The Princess was the only living "That will do," said Tatters, as, with a sigh person who had ever visited the Wise Gnome, of relief, he snipped off the last thread (l£ but although she tried very hard, ~ he could cotton and held up his Sunday suit :for inspecnot remember where he dwelt. tion. For quite a long time they searcher! diligentTip surveyed it with a slight feeling of envy. ly, whilst the country remained without a King, It certainly was a fine suit, with its little yelhw but at last all hope of finding the Prince was waistcoat and blue trousers and coat. There abandoned, and very much against her will, were actually two pockets in the trousers, and the Princess was crowned Queen. She was now Tip had never possessed a pocket. Bd, like all too busy and had too many important things Tatters' clothes, it had been cut and ton to attend to in order to see much of Tatters, through scrambling up trees and in and out but once a year he was permitted to visit the blackberry bushes. To-morrow Tatters was palace, on which day all restraint was put going to visit the palace, and even he dared aside, and they talked with each other as old not appear before the Queen in a torn suit, so friends. he had spent the afternoon mending the tears. "I have brought you a small gift," said Tat"What about the lining, Tatter;:?" asked ters, after they had been chatting cheerfully Tip. "You've mended the outside, but look for a while. "I hope you will like it." "I'm sure I shall," answered the Queen. at the holes inside." "Oh, it doesn't matter about til em-they "How thoughtful of you, Tatters!" Tatters blushed crimson, as he placed hL, won't show," answered Tatters, and throwin~ hand in his trousers pocket to produce the gift the suit over the back of a chair, he called Tip -but, alas! it was not there. Hastily he fumto come out and play for awhile before it grew bled in the other pocket, but that also 'wal:; dark. The sun shone brightly the next morning, empty. and Tatters was up early, as he wished to in"I can't find it," gasped Tatters. ThE' Queen smiled. "You've forgotten t ha;: spect a magpie's nest on his way to the palace. you owned a pocKet, and have put it somewh ere Once a year Tatters visited the palace, and else, Tatters," she said. "Look up yOul' on these occasions, he never went witr.out some sleeve-or, better still, take off your coat anJ small gift for the Queen. Very carefully he I will search it whilst you look in your cap placed his present in his trouser's pocket. It was a curious article, the shape of which reand waistcoat." Tatters took off his coat and handef! it to the minded Tatters slightly of a snail's home, but Queen, whilst he searched his cap and wais;;even the handsomest snail he had ever seen had not possessed a home colored a pale pink on coat and even felt his shoes and stockings, bu~ there was still on trace of the gift. the outside, and lined with pearl within. His Once again, he plunged his hand s into hi<1 grandfather had brought it back a long time ago from a journey on which he accompanied pockets-and then, pe understood! There was a hole in his pocket. He hadn't b othered to the Queen's father (who was then King) and as it was so pretty, Tatters had decided to ofmend it--it couldn't be seen; but he'G forgotten all about that hole when placing the present fer it to the Queen as a jewel case. Tatters' grandfather had been Captain of in his pocket. Just then the Queen, who was searching the the Royal Guard, and when the Queen wa~ merely a small pl'incess, almost eyery day, coat, turned it inside out and the lining wa., TaUers had played wiih her and her twin <1i snlaycd to view. brother in the palace grounds. But that was a "Oh! Tatters," she said.
Tatters.
11
MATILDA
June, 1933.
That was all. But Tatters felt the blood rush to his face, and in order to hide the tears in his eyes, he turned and walked miserably out of the palace and down the road towl}]'ds home. "Tatters, Tatters," he heard a voice calling him just as he reached his garden late, and turning, he saw Tip standing there with the precious gift in his hand. "Tatters, look what I've found. Do you know to whom it belongs?" For a moment, Tatters felt like graspin~ the gift and throwing it as far away as he pos .. sibly could; but, steadying his voice, he replied instead: "The Queen was expecting a gift to 路 day, Tip, but it went astray. Maybe t his is it. Will you take it to the palace?" Tip, delighted to be of possible service to the Queen, answered "I will go at once," and set off immediately.
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A week later Tatters sat in his tiny sittingroom, looking a picture of misery, and mm路路 muring to himself for the hundredth time, "Will she ever speak to me again?" when the door opened and there she stood, with a small workbox in one hand and the precious gift in 1:he other. Tatters could hardly believe his eyp.s. "How comes your majesty here alone," he gasped. The vision smiled . "I am no longer a Quee;'l, Tatters, but am free to go where I please." "Listen," she said, as she placed the preciolls gift close to his ear. "Do you hear that sound? It's the voice of the sea." "What's the Sea?" asked Tatters. "It's miles and miles of water-sometimes blue sometimes green," she replied. "I cannot 'describe it but once I saw it, when I visited the home of the Wise Gnome. As soon as I saw your gift, I knew that I had seen many similar at some time, and when I ph路.ced it t:> my ear, I remembered the sound of the sea." "Then, you know now where the Wise Gnome lives." cried Tatters. "Yes, in a large cave beside the sea. I sent for my brother at once, and yesterd:::.y he wa~ crowned King." "So Tatters," she added, with a humorous smile, "as I am no longer busy with affairs of the State, perhaps I will be able to find some time to help you with your mending." Eut Tatters looked up into her eye!' and replied with a joyful voice, "Dear Princess, I thank you for your kind offer, but I have all'eady mended every hole and tear I possesserl -even the ones that did not show. E.T.
TRAINING. TRAINING CLASSES. The second Course of BROWNIE TRAINING will begin on THURSDAY, 1st June, at 7.45 p.m. at the Guide Office. Guider-in-Charge, Miss Nancy Thewlis. The third Course will begin on WEDNESDAY, 19th July. The third Course of GUIDE TRAI ING will begin on FRIDAY, 9th June, at 8 j).m. at the Guide Office. Guider-m- arge: Miss G. H . Swinburne. The fourth Course will begin on THURSDA Y, 27th July, at p.m. in the Guide Office Guider-in-Charge, Miss M. Hoffmeyer. The next Course of RANGER Tl{AINING will be held about July. It would be helpful if Guiders wishing to attend this course wOlllrl send in their names now, stating which evening would suit them best. SPECIAL CLASSES. The third Class of the special sene" will Le held on THURSDAY, 22nd June, at the Guide Office, at 8 p.m., for Ceremonial and Drill. Guider-in-Charge: Miss Bush. At the request of Guiders attending the previous Class, the fourth class will be held on MONDAY, 17th July, instead of Thursday, 20th July. It will be held at the Gui(le Office, the programme taking the form of Group Discussions, chiefly on Company Management. TRAINING WEEK. If app lications wanant it, a Training Week will be held between 25th August and 12th September; details will be announced later. M. E. BUSH, Commissioner for Training.
APPOINTMENT. Secretary. Parkville-Miss E. F. Batten.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mrs. K. S. MacKinnon, District Commissioner, Corryong. On leave, June-December, 1933.
THINKING DAY FUND. We regret very much that the following were not included in the Jist of subscribers published in the April issue:5th Prahran. 3rd St. Kilda. S. H. IRVING.
LOST PROPERTY. Cutlery, tea towel and Brasso were left at "Lansellstowe" by trainees at the Bendigo Training Week-End. The owners may have these on application to Miss M. Hoffmeyer, 194 Barnard Street, Bendigo. Please state ider.tification marks.
WARRANTS. Brown Owls. 1st Wangaratta Pack-Mrs.
orth.
Captains. 1st F.N.D. & Crib Point-Mrs. Armstrong. 1st Sunshine-Miss Clinnick. 8th Victorian Lones-Miss R. He,~th. Ranger Captain. Richmond District Rangers-Mrs. Stokes.
June, 1933.
MATILD A
12
GIRL GUIDE SESSIONS. 3 L.O. Children's Corner. Talk for Lone Guides.
Miss Rosemary Heath (Captain 8th Vict. Lone Guides, 4 Angle Rd., Canterbury
15th June
Guiding Overseas.
Miss Gwen Swinburne (District Commissioner, Hawthorn) Kinkora Road, Hawthorn.
29th June
A Playlet about How the Blue Wren Patrol Prepru::ed for Proficiency Badges.
Miss E. Moran (for the present).
13th July
Talk for Lone Guides about Guiding out of doors.
Miss Elaine Moran (Commissioner for Lones), 57 Queens Road, Melbourne.
27t h July
Talk for Extension Guides.
Miss Alison Campbell (Commissioner for Extensions) 41 Spring Street, Melbourne.
10th August
Talk about the Child-Nurse Badge ani the Toymaker's Badge.
Miss Dell Hayman (Commissioner, Sandringham) 1 Campbell St., Sandringham, S.8
1st June
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