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;Vol. 10, No.5.
NOVEMBER, 1933 .
.... " OFFICIAL TREASURE BAG O F GTIIDERS' INFOlU1A'I'ION FOR
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November, 1933.
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November, 1933.
MATIL D A
Meetings of Executive Committee. Meetings of the Executive Committee were held on t he 15th and 27th of September and the 13th of October. The following business was transacted in addition to the usual routine and financial busi· ness. It was agreed(a) To accept the recommendations made by Miss Steuart in regard to the Equipment Depot. (b) That the Annual Meeting should be held in the Meeting Pool between the 21st and 23rd of November, and that Commissioners be asked to especially invite all mem· bel's of Local Associations to the Annual Meeting . (c) That t he gift made by Mr. Simpson of an acre of land at Frankston be accepted. (d) That a combined quarterly letter be sent to all Commissioners by Commissioners for Departments in accordance with the recommendations at the Commissioners' Confei·ence. (e) That Mrs. F. W. Faulkner represent Victoria at the meeting of the Federal Council to be held in Adelaide on the 14th to t he 16th of November. (f) That a Thanks Badge be given to Mrs. Desailly, Camperdown. (g) That Miss Guthrie be granted leave of absence from t he State Council from January, 1934. It was reported(h) That Miss Margaret Crellin had agreed to be Editor of "Matilda" in place of Mrs. Eric Wilson, whose resignation on her marriage was accepted. fi) That Imperial Headauarters hp.d approved the holding of the Pan-Pacific gathering for Guides and Guiders. (j) That t h e Members of the Commissioners' Conference had contributed a sum of money to be spent on a Visitors' Book for Headquarters. (I;) That t he Chief Scout and Chief Guide will visit Australia in t h e summer of 1934-35 to be present at the Guide and Scout PanPacific Gathering. S. H. IRVING, State Secretary.
Our Editors. GOING AND COMING. As most Guiders probably know "Matilda's" first real Editor was married a s h ~rt time ago, and leaves at the end of October for Darwin where her home is to be for the next tw~ ye.ars. Mrs. Wilson will be tremendou~iy mIssed, not only by "Matilda" and her subscribers, but also by the many other membel"
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of the Movement with whom she has come in contact in the carrying-out of her mullifat'iou~ jobs. House-keeping in Darwin should be 'ft mere pastime to her after the varied expel'!ences Guiding in Victoria has given her. I feel that readers of "Matilda" would like like me to express to Mrs. Wilson their sincere t hanks for all her endeavours to make the paper more helpful and informative. We hope that she is somewhat recompensed by the increased interest which has been taken III "Matilda" during the five years of her Editorship, always l'emembering that through her efforts the magazine became a monthly insteac of a quarterly publication. Happy Days and Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. Our new Editor is Miss Margaret Crellin, whom you, Brownie Guiders particularly, hav~ known for some time as the Editor of t he " Brownie Page." We are extremely grateful to Miss Crellin for agreeing to enlarge her sphere of responsibility in regard to our magazine. S. H . IRVING.
Report of Sixth Annual Guiders' Conference Held in t he University Build ings on Satur day, 23rd September, 1933. Miss Daisy McKinnon opened the Conference by welcoming Miss Barfus to the Chair. A telegram from the New South Wales Guiders was read, conveying best wishes for a successful Conference . Miss Barfus then welcomed Lady Chauvel. Lady Chau vel, in opening the Conference, said: It is very nice to see you all here again this afternoon, and I hope there are many country people down as well as town Guiders. I want to tell you about the various interesting things that have taken place during the year. You may not know that Lady Somers has been made a member of the Imperial Council, and more recently she has been made Commissioner for Guiding in Schools and Colleges, so t hat she is definitely starting to take an active interest in Guiding in England. Another interesting t hing that has happened is Miss Paling's Eagle Owl Diploma (Applause). It is only the second one we have had in Victoria, and we all feel very pleased about it. Another event of the year is the opening of the Guiders' Club. I do think Miss McKinnon and the Committee who arranged it should be congratulated on the furnishings and decOl'ation of the room, which looks charming. The All-Australia Camp which took place last January was the first Australian Guiders' Training Camp that has been held so far, and there werE' about 30 Victorian Guiders, representing all the Divisions of t he State. It was a great success, and is to be a biennial event, if it can possibly be arraog-ed. What I wished to talk to you about principally to-day are the Centenary plans. We have a lot of Centenary plan , but we are not as
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MATILDA
far advanced as we hoped we would be at this time, so therefore are not able to give you more definite information. We have in our minds an idea for a Pan-Pacific Rally. We discussed it here amongst the Executive, and then wrote to the different States to ask them what they thought about it. With the exception of one State, they were all very encouraging, but before we took any furth~r steps we cabled to Imperial Headquarters and asked them to let us know what they thought of the plan. A cable of "heartiest approval" was received. Now we are writing to the Pan-Pacific countries, asking them if they can send guiders or guides. I do not think there will be a great number of guides from those countries, because in some of them it would not be the custom for girls to travel about much, but I think we would be sure of getting guiders from most of them. In Honolulu they approached Mrs. Brookes about it, and asked her if the idea would be welcomed if they came for the Centenary and: they thought they might bring their whole company of guides-about 20 strong. We plan to have a joint rally of Scouts and Guides during. ,o ur respect ive Pan-Pacific gatherings. Instead of having a camp, which might present difficulties', and. would, have to be necessarily quite close to town, we hope to be able to have indoor camps, which would be much simpler, and would involve less responsibility. It is hoped that a member of the Royal Family will be here, but that has not been definitely arranged yet, and also the Scouts think that Lord Baden Powell is almost certain to come, in which case we have received word that the Chief Guide will accompany them . The other thing to do with our Centenary Plans is the acquiring of our Guide Camp House. I expect that you are the people who realise most of all how much we need it. When we have Training Weeks we have to borrow houses and schools and properties for camps, and so on. It would be a tremendous help if we had a house and grounds within easy distance of toWn so that we could have our Training Weeks there, and could not only use it for training, but could also use it for Guides. A property big enough, say about 20 acres, 01' a littfe more, in which we could have Guide Camps, and also close enough to town so that Metropolitan Companies could go out very frequently on Saturdays. That property may not be easy to obtain, because we must, first of all. heal' of a suitable place, and then we would have to get it for a price within our means. We hope that perhaps someone who knows our urgent need might even give it to us, or nerhaps someone who sympathises with Guiding, and its aims and objects might let us have a property perhaps more cheaply than the ordinary buyers. We want to get about £5000 not only to buy the property. but with the idea of nutting about £2000 into trust to pay rates and taxes and the small running repairs that would have to be made every year to keep it in good order. The T 'eaSUl'er thinks that if we had thi!\ woney
November, 1933 .
put by for our Guide House, it would not be a strain on our r esources, and a worry to us if times were not quite so good-just as the £3000 which was raised about nine years ag o was put in trust, and has been used ever since for paying the running expen ses of Headquarters and Office. We have various schemes for obtaining the necessary funds. Next year we hope to have one or two big entertainments by which we could raise money. I am very anxious to give the Guides an opportunity of doing something themselves t owards buying their Guide House, and we hope perhaps at the Rally to make some money towards it. At the last Rally we made about £450, and if we had a Royal Visitor here, we might expect t o make at least that, if not more. We planned to have a Guide Handcraft Exhibition, to be the Guides' actual opportunity of making money for their Guide House. The last one was not held with any view of making money. All we wanted to do was to covel' actual expenses, and over and above that w '.! made £200. This time we thought that if we pla~n~~ to have a really. good and interesting exhIbItion, we would do It absolutely with thE' view of helping Guides to make as much money from it as they possibly could, and that should be the Guides' contribution towards their Guide House. We are very anxious to have ideas for the Exhibition. We have not been able to give you any definite plans because of the' difficulty of getting a hall in which to hold it. All the halls are engaged or are too expensive. Mrs. Faulkiner has a sub-Committee for COLLECTING IDEAS for this Exhibition so that we will be able to do something different from last time, and as original as we can make it, and that Committee, composed of Commissioners and Guiders, has met once or twice already. If anybody could give us any good ideas, Mrs. Faulkiner would be very glad to have them sent in to her at Headquarters, and I do hope you will do all you can to make it a very great success. After pausing for questions Lady Chauvel went on to say: I just want to say that though we are looking for any clever ideas, we want, if possible, suggestions that will be really interesting, yet will not involve too much interiermce with ordinary Company work. We do realise that it means a lot of extra work for the Guiders, and we want them to feel that it is really worth while doing, and so that is why we are so anxious that it should be r eally good and original, and a great success in every way. Miss MacNeil proposed a vote of thanks t o Lady Chauvel. The Minutes of the last Conference were taken as read and adopted, as proposed by Miss Weickardt. It was proposed by Miss Bedggood that the Draft Constitution of the Victorian Guiders' Club, as circulated to Guiders, be adopted. with the following clau e substituted for Clause (6) :
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N.. .;".,:. ov_e:. ,;.m; :,.b;.,;e; :,.1":. .,.;:,.19;.,;3:.,:.3.;.,. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _-=MA=:...:T:..I L D A "The Victorian Guiders' Committee shall meet at least six months before the Conference and from time to time as required by (a) the Secretary, (b) three members of the Committee." Seconded by Miss Broadhurst, and the constitution was unanimously adopted. The Conference then adjourned for Group discussion on Nature Work-testing and training. At 5 p.m. the Conference was resumed, whe;1 Miss Barius introduced Miss Marshall, who addressed the Guiders. Below are a few extracts from her remarks: "A great man that lived in the same century that I spring from said that there is no ideal in conformity with the principles of civilisation dreamed by any realist which cannot be realised within the lifetime of those about him. Whatever ideal it is, it can be realised as long as it is in conformity with the principles of civilisation. "I think that perhaps Christianity is the nearest we can get to those principles, the principles we are certain of. Perhaps we can go back even as far as Plato-'beauty, truth, goodness-those three give certain satisfaction.' We are sure of this. Power. pleasure, position are good things, they give great pleasure, but they are not worth sacrificing the tiniest fragment of beauty, truth or goodness. "Discipline is a good thing, but freedom is a better thing, and freedom and discipline together can do anything. "We are not trams or trains-we're buses. We can go anywhere, we don't have to run on set lines. "Be buses-ready to go anywhere, not only anxious to seize the opportunity, but anxious to find one. There are always things to do if you are the right person to do them. There is always some particular thing for you to do. "I want to say to you that everything that has really mattered-the beginning of Christianity was only twelve men-everything that has really mattered has been done by a willing thing, by a band of people who cared." Miss Hayman moved a vote of thanks to Miss Marshall, which was seconded by Miss D. Irving. The Conference then adjourned till the evening session. The personnel of the incoming Guiders' Committee will be announced next month.
CAMP EQUIPMENT FOR HIRE. The Kew District Guides have the following equipment for hire for the approaching camping season:4 tents, 8 x 10, fly 12 x 12, charge 5/ per week. 1 tent 6 x 8, fly 9 x 10, charge 5/ per week Complete with poles. 162 tent pegs. 120 brailing pegs. Apply to District Commissioner, Mrs. F. Tate, 54 Harp Road, Kew, EA.
Orchids. Springtime is the most interesting time of the year for hiking. The birds are nesting, and their song is to be heard throughout the bush. Wild flowers grow all along the way, and it is a poor track that hasn't a few flowers. Most interesting of all is the hunting for orchids, some are easily seen as they stand erect, in the open, while others are hidden in the long grass. Perhaps the most common of all orchids is the Nodding Greenhood (Pterostylis Nutans). It is to be found in big patches often round the base of big trees, and is called "Nodding" as it keeps its head hung as if it were shy. The colour is green. Waxlip orchids (Glossodia Major) are easily seen, as they stand on a long thin stem. Their coloring is from pale lavender to purple, with a white centre. Brown Beaks (Lyperanthus Sauveolens) are about the most difficult to find, as they grow in the centre of large tussocks of grass. They have four thin brown sepals, two standing up and two hanging down, with a kind of brown pointed nood shading a little yellow tongue. The Fringed Spider orchid (Caladenia dilatata) is another very common one, the sepals of this are a greeny yellow, with a red strip down the centre. The tongue is the same colour as the sepals, but has a wider red band down the centre, and each side is fringed. About the best scented orchid is the Musky Caladenia (Caladenia testacea). The sepals are white on top and a dark pink underneath. The tall Diuris (Diuris Longifolia) is very showy. Its colors are brown and yellow. -"ADELAIDE"
Newspapers! The TrainIng School of the Victorian Baby Health Centres is supported largely by the sale of old newspapers. Guides! Bring them in. Bring all you can! An order for ÂŁ100 was refused because the depot had not paper enough. Take your papers to the nearest Health Centre, or collect papers at one house and telephone the carrier to call. F5771. NEWSP APERS!
Correspondence. Dear Matilda, I wonder if you can help us? In the various companies in Fitzroy and Collingwood there are about a dozen Guides, ready to be enrolled, who have no uniforms, and no hope of getting them. If any Guides have old uniforms 01" hats to spare, we would be so grateful for them, and would gladly refund the postage. It does not matter how old or faded they are, as they can always be patched and dyed. Parcels should be addressed to me at 41 Spring Street, C.l., and will be thankfully received and gratefully acknowledged. JESS U. BOYES (Dist. Comm., Fitzroy-Collingwood).
"November,
Camp and Comfort. qne of our aims in taking GUIdes to camp is to show them how to be self-reliant and able to do without most of the things we are apt to take for granted in our civilised life. But this does not mean that we live in a state of acute discomfort--heroic Spartanism - "doing without things" for the space of a week or more as for an endurance test. Far from it--it !lleans that we (knowing all about it ourselves) Impart to the Guides the "thrill" of making for themselves the things they really need to be comfortable, out of a few sticks and odd pieces of string. We do not have a piano in camp, nor do we need one, so we do not bother to make one (there are probably too many mouth organs as it is). We do not have a wardrobe either, but it is very useful to have somewhere to hang the best uniform so we contrive something. It is not advisable'to have overc?ats and he~vy-weights hanging from the ndgepole, but If two sticks between three and four feet high are driven into the ground across the b~ck of the tent a foot apart, and a smaller stIck lashed across, we have quite a useful camp wardrobe, especially if a larger paper bag-as used by dry-cleaning firms-IS taken to camp, and Guides love making coathangers out of sticks a.nd clove-hitches. It may be necessary to guy the ends of the "wardrobe" out at eac~ s!de, and. it is necessary to make sure that It IS sufficIently far in from the back of the tent that the coat-hangers (and Goats) will not touch the tent wall. A pape1' bag for the best hat, tied on the "wardrobe" ensures a good shape, and the certitude that it is not under the bed when the time comes to wear it to Colours. Living in a tent provides great opport.unities for the practice of being comfortable m a small space. There is no need to "live in a suitcase"-that undesi r able sensation of never being able to find the thing you want, and crushing your best shirt in the process of looking for it. Many Guiders if they are to remain long on the same ca~p site, take with them a series of pockets made of cretonne or linen with tapes at intervals along the top, to hang- along the side or end of their camp beds. These are very useful to hold all the odd things, boot and badge-cleaning outfit, mending materials, scissors, cold cream, that are among the necessities that can NOT he done without! Those who prefer sleep" ing on the ground to taking a bed, take an assortment of bags which can be hung on forked sticks driven into the ground . A Guider new to camping taking inspection one day to relieve the Commandant, might well be amazed at the unnatural tidiness of the Guides' tents. nothing to be seen but three rolls of bedding and three suitcases kept off th~ ground by tent pCg f; . One glance in the sllltcaSt'S would reveal much lowels, washers. hl~cking. shoes and pyjama s indi ~ criminateJy mixed. Bul what fun to f;how them how to make a clothesline outside the tent for the towels, and a little criss-cross gadget with
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string and four small sticks in the ground, for soap, nailbrush and toothbrush; and a shoe rack, or sticks driven into the ground, each holding one shoe. How much more comfortable! And a place for everything. Most Guiders take a certain number of books to camp with them. A petrol case on its side stand!ng on four pegs in the ground, is a neat dressmg table and bookcase combined. It is possible to carve book-ends in camp. A wastepaper basket saves repeated trips to the rubbish bag-four sticks in the ground and a network of string. . Ma,ny of our friends (not in the jI.'[ovement) Imagme that we must have but little rest and less sleep when we are camping. Unless there is a minor cyclone, I believe (from experience) that they are under a misapprehension. Weare careful to have no lumps in our beds to tuck in our bedding securely, and there i~ no reason for undue wakefulness. The uninitiated who anticipate camping for the first time would do well to bear in mind that it is advis3;ble not to have. too much straw in their palhasse or they WIll roll off-and not too little or they will be over-conscious of their pro~
tru.ding bone.s. It is sometimes useful to dig a lIttle hole m the ground to fit the hip! Some people find blankets too hot without sheets during the summer-a silk bag made the size of a camp bed (allowing room to turn over in it) with a. good-size flap at the open end, to fold back, IS an excellent substitute for sheets and is quickly washed and dried. If mosquitoe~ are .troub~esome, a net can be arranged by lashmg stIcks too the bed, or driving them into the ground. I have heard of Guiders who cannot bear the idea of camp because they "have to clean their teeth into a pit." Let them be reassured ~h~t this is quite a simple and cleanly processIt IS most comfortable to stand with the back t o the wind. Bathing arrangements generally can be made very comfortable with very little effort. There is always a good supply of hot water, and everyone has a daily bath. A line to hold to,,:,els and pyjamas, a bath mat ma(le of rope tWIsted round and round like a flat snail shell and bound on to itself is excellent. and the f;oap and sponge the requisite distance fr0111 thc tub (which experience alone will s how). These are the only necessary additions to a tuh of hot water. About this tub-new campers may look askance at it--thel'e are dif(Continued on Page Eight.)
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November, 1933.
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special long pole, they emitted a hoarse barking sound. It would be interesting to know whether any G~jder~ have ever witnessed this. :
Nature Questions-III. 1.-How did the tea-tree get its name? 2.-How many eggs does a lyre bird lay in one season? 3.-N ame a common town bird, the male, female, and young of which have different plumage. . 4.-N ame a common wildflower, the root of which is edible. 5.-What dread sheep disease is partly kept down by the magpie-lai'k, and how'? 6.-Why is the wombat seldom, if ever, seen in the bush? 7.-Why is the fur of the male native bear more valuable than that of the female? 8.-Do slugs have shells? 9.-Name a bird of the ail' that migrates to Siberia and Japan ev.ery year to breed? lO.-What deciduous tree sheds its bark? n.-How is it that a nettle is harmless if grasped quickly and strongly? 12.-What plant lives almost entirely on insects? (Answers will be published next month.)
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A Malvern Guider wishes to know how near to Melbourne t he red'- capped robin and rainbow bird may be found? The red-capped robin, which is distributed generally over Australia, inhabits the open, inland scrubs. I have only met with this bird in Albury, when on a holiday there in November some years ago. It was perched on a fence in the town. Leach says this bird is nomadic, so that it may be seen in different localities' during the various seasons of the year. The red-capped robin is distinguished from other members of the robir. family by its scarlet cap'. The rainbow bird is also distributed generally over Australia, its locality being the open forests, where it is quite common. My first and only glimpse of this lovely bird was in the Riverina, in sheep-grazing country. Here, against the green turf of the paddocks and the blueness of the spring sky, it was in perfect harmony with its surroundings. The beautiful plumage of golden-green, turqoise blue, and bronze must be viewed on a living bird to be fully appreciated, especially one on the wing. Perhaos some country readers can give nearer localities for these two birds. ·· .. .. .. .. A question that seems to have perplexed observers of wild life is whether or not snakes make a noise when disturbed. At the October meeting of t he Victorian Field Naturalists Club, a professional snake-catcher declared that they do mllke a sound. He was procuring tiger snakes for the Wild Nature Show, and when the reptiles were being seized with a
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It is necessary to. call attention to the fact that certain of our wildflowers are now protected by law. Many people seem to have forgotten this, or else are ignorant of the new regul'ation. Foremost among the flowers which may not be picked are the orchids, very many varieties of which may be seen in the country places round Melbourne. It is always a great temptation to gather orchids, but these fragile flowers are best left growing. Ferns, too, are on the protected list, with the exception of common bracken. Also all wattles, except the hedge acacia. Other forbidden blossoms include the boronia, waxflowers, red correa and finger flower. Wildflowers wither so quickly when picked, that I hope many Guiders will agree with me it is better not to disturb them. Guides are not careful enough in their handling of wildflowers. In any case, it is quite sufficient to take just one or two of each variety. Many localities near Melbourne are becoming cleared of wildflowers through excessive gathering. This means we will have to go further afield for them in the future.
An insect to be seen on gum foliage now is the cup-moth caterpillar. It is a flat green creature, much shorter in proportion to its length than the avel'age caterpillar. At the head and tail there are eight bunches of stinging hail'S. These larvae are sometimes called "stars," and the sting is severe, suggesting a powerful stinging nettle. The cocoons from which these caterpillars hatch are smooth, brown and cup-like, and are usually found attached to dead, dry twigs. They resemble small gum-nuts when empty. A round hole is cut in the top to enable the larvae to emerge. The eggs are laid in a velvety sheet on the back of a gum leaf. Tree creepers feed on the cocoons, and thus help to keep down these caterpillars, which become destructive at times, often stripping the trees of leaves. Star gazers should watch for the constellation of Orion, the Hunter, which reappears in November after a six months' absence. It will be visible until next April. The three stars of the "belt" with the little stars that form the "sword" are known to most people, usually under the nickname of the "Saucepan." Two bright stars above the "belt" are Orion's feet, two below his hands, and three little stars below this his head. In the Southern Hemisphere Orion stands on his head instead of his feet. Betelgeux is the name of his right arm, and his left foot is Rigel. At the head of Orion there is a graceful curve of star3 called Lepus, the Hare. The Hare is supposed to be sheltering at Orion's feet from Sirius, the bright Dog Star on its right. Just below Orion, to the left, is Taurus, the Bull, with its red eye. Aldebaran, the Bull, reappears in November, too. -J.H.
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MkTILDA
j3ROWNj~
N()<ve:nber, 1!J33.
AG~.
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"Not failure, but low aim is crime."
HAVE YOU SEEN-
Recruit Games.
The Brownie Map of Victoria at Headquartel'S? With little brown flags flying wherever there's a Brownie Pack-and-all around the map-advertisements? No fear!-You just go and see for yourself-1d. a look! -A.E.F.P.
Played the same way as "When Mother goes to Town." Brownies either skip round while singing the first verse, or do the actions. For second verse the Brownie in the Centre alone walks l'ound. "When a Brownie goes to Pack, Her uniform she brushes front and back, Her tie is pressed, her shoes are clean, Nothing nicer could be seen."
If any Brown Owl has five uniforms and five belts to spare, the Brownies in 3rd Prahran Pack are badly in need of them. If left in at H.Q. would save postage. Thank you. JEAN JOHNSTON. 15 Airlie Ave., Armadale.
The Wiseacre Owl. Ques.-It is in R.P.&O. that for the recruit test, a Brownie must be able to tie her own tie. Does this mean the front knot only, or both that and the one under her collar as well '! -UNCERTAIN. Ans.-As this is not specified, it is left to B.O.'s discretion, but it is generally considered that if the child is to be a real help she should be able to do both knots in the proper way, and unaided. Ques.-What style of bandage do Brownies use for tying up the grazed knee? COUNTRY B.O. Ans.-In the latest R.P. and O. (1933) it says that Brownies are to use the tl'iangular bandage for this part of the 1st class test. WISEACRE GNOME.
Ideas from a Brown Owl. A Nature one we are going to do is small bark huts. We saw some at Wattle Park. Just like making a small doll's house, only it is made with bark. This could be collected, when the pack have a day in the country. For Christmas presents, coat hanger, painted. Also paint some spring pegs, 3 or 5 to one coat hanger, when dry thread a colored cord through the spring. With drawing pins attach the cord to the coat-hanger, leave a loop with a peg hanging from it. Useful for drying stockings or hanging skirts up, etc. A novelty for holding pins (safety pins). Two pegs, three small cup screws, and a piece of ribbon. Fir,s t paint the pegs, or gold them over. When dry cross them one through the other, screw the cup screws in, tie ribbon on each peg head, and fasten in a loop at the top. -T.M.
"Then when she passes down the street And sees a friend that she must greet, She sees she is from Brownie land, And shakes her by her left hand." The one the centre Brownie shakes hands with takes the place in the centre the next time.
Opening and Closing Ceremony. Tune, "Yankee Doodle." "Some little Toadstools deep in the ground Awoke from their sleep so safe and sound. 'We'll see the wOl'ld' they stal'ted to sing, And grew up into a Fairy Ring." B's in circle crouched down to represent Toadstools, B.O. and T.O. sing first two lines, B's join in on third line, and grow up as they sing. CLOSING. "Some Brownies in a Circle stand, A gay and happy helpful band, 'We'll lend a hand,' they gaily sing, And flyaway home from Fairy Ring. -V,H.
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A Pack Leaders' Afternoon will be held on November 25th, 3 p.m.-8 p.m., at the home of Mrs. Bull, "Medlow," Boundary Road, Surrey Hills. Take Wattle Park tram. Each Pack Leader to provide herself with own mug and food supply. Every Brown Owl should see that her Pack Leader attends. (Continued from Page Six.) ferent methods, some people can get right in, some cannot get their legs in, but everyone en.ioys it. It is much more luxurious than it looks. A wise Guider will be very deliberate when packing for camp. She will take the thing" she knows she will want, and not bother about the things that may "come in handy." They seldom do justify their presence, and are a nuisance. Well, then, if there is no place to put something, make a gadget for it-if anything is uncomfortable do something about it. There is all the bush to help you , if you will but help YOUl¡self. E. MORAN.
November, 1933.
MATILDA
Semaphore.
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Semaphore signalling is not a matter of merely "waving one's arms about"; there can be good and bad style in it as well as in Morse. Every Brown Owl should aim at being as perfect a signaller as possible. Semaphore drill is identical with that used ill Morse signalling as far as position of feet, falling in, extending, opening ranks, etc., is concerned, the only difference being in the position of the flags at the "Stand at ease," "Attention," and "Prepare to signal Ready," the latter in semaphore is all one order. "Stand at ease." The feet are placed about twelve inches apart and the arms are held straight down in front of the body, the pQles held about ten inches from the butt and the butts slightly crossed, right over left. The flags hang downwards and the tops of the poles must not stick o'ut from the body, "Attention." The arms are brought smartly to the sides and hang straight-bent elbows are not allowed. The poles are held upright lightly against the body, and the fly of the flag is gathered in the hand . Prepare to signal ready"-The points of the flags are turned quickly downwards in front of the body, right crossed over left, care being taken to see that the poles do not stick out sideways beyond the legs. . A few hints on sending may be helpful. The whole success of semaphore sending consists in having correct angles, both of flags and body. The body must be absolutely ri id and the poles grasped about hali-way down, with the fingers pressing them well into the forearm; thus the arm and pole work as one and when letters are made, the effect should be a straight line from shoulder to tip of flag. Any space between pol(l,. and arm tends to dropping flags and incorrect angles. For the letter A, for instance, the flag should be brought out to an exact angle of 45 deg. between feet and shoulder level, letter C comes at an an~le of 45 ¡ deg. between shoulder and head, and so on. The arm muscles must be kept taut and the arms strai~ht up in front of the face when making the letters D, T, K, V, P, J. When both arms are used to make the "double-side" letters, such as H. I. 0, W, Z, X, both hands must be at an equal distance from the bod v, and the points of the poles immediatelv in line with each other; this is attained by swingine: round on the hips, raising the off heel slightly and pivoting on the toe when bringing the arm across the body. It is most important to remember that for p'ood style. the arms must be brou~ht straight from the "ready" to the lettpr to be sent. and not allowed to come round in circles to their ultimate destination. This holds good. also, when double letters are being sent. For infltance, to give LL, !!'ive L clearlv, thpn straight back to '/rpady" and at once out again to L. Always keep vour eye on the di!';tant signallin!!' ~tation. T~is necessitates keeping the head tun1ed to the front when sendir,g double '1rm letters and one nepnlTlP' rOlllH-! whpn sending such letter$ as D, T, K, V, P, and J.
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----------------------------------Many people learn semaphore by "Circles," but this is not always a sound practice. Reading and sending should be learnt simultaneously, and if A, B, C, D, E, F, G, N, Rand U are commenced with, quite a number of words can be sent at the first practice. Some signallers prefer to learn the vowels first, including Y, and then add three consonants at each Semaphore practice. Although Brownies are not expected to know all the drill, they are expected to know the names given to the letters, such as:-Ack, Beer, Cork, Don, Edward, Harry, Ink, Johnny, Monkey, Pip, Queen, Sugar, Toc, and Vick, and must see the reason for these names. Brown Owls taking semaphore instead of Morse in the Guide 2nd Class test are expected to know the calling-up signs whic are here appended in case there is anyone who is not familiar with them. General Answer .. .. .. . . . . .. .. .. Ack Wait .. " .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Quod Calling Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vickeddy Carryon (used before sending anything) .. K End of Messaeg .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Ack R Message Received .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. R Erase .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Opposite to L Semaphore should be one of the most interesting parts of all the tests, and should be enjoyed out of doors as much as possible. -N.T.
SAINT GEORGE.
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When St. Andrew died the Governor of Greece thought that he had now stamped out Christianity all over Greece. A few years before St. Paul had been martyred, and now he heard that the city of Jerusalem was destroyed, and that the Emperor Nero was killing Christians everywhere, and the Governor thought that Nero would be very pleased with him. And Nero was glad; but he would not have been if he had known that all over Greece there were little bands of people who were secretly teaching their children about Christ. These children grew up, and taught their children; so that 200 years later, when a new governor came to Greece, he found that a great many of his subjects were Christians. The new Governor did not mind this, although as a Roman soldier he had been brought up to worship many gods. This Roman had married a wife who was the daughter of a nobleman in Palestine, and both the Governor and his wife became very interest~d in Christianity, and listened to aU that their new friends could tell them about it. They had only one child, a little son whose name was Georgius-but we know him as St. Georll;e. because that is the English way of sayin~ his name. When George was still a baby his father was sent to Cappadocia to govern the people there. and when he was old enough the boy was sent to school neal' his home. Lonl!: before this, from the time he could talk. St. George knew that he was going to be a soldier when he grew up. like his father. an'd all his fathel"s friends. He knew that he would have to go away to school. for the schools in Cappadocia could not teach him enough, and while he was small his father
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MATILDA November, 1933. =-----------------------~~ and mother taught him all they could about stan tine, commenced to torture and imprison Christianity, for they knew that soon he would all the Christians he could find in Palestine. go away from them to school, where he would In those days news travelled slowly, and Conmeet very different ideas, and they wished to stantine and St. George did not hear about the prepare him for this Everything he learnt persecutions until the summer, which in Engwas to help him to become a splendid soldier, land was about June. When St. George heard but while he was still only a little boy his it he went up to the ramparts to tell his father died, and his mother took him back to friend. He felt that he ought to go back to her people in Palestine. Palestine and see what he could do to stop Diocletian, but Constantine would not hear of In Palestine everything was different for the it, for he knew what danger there was for St. little boy. His mother's family were Jews, and George. St. George knew all about the danthe boy missed seeing the many soldiers that gers, but he also knew that he was an imhad been always at his father's house. He did portant soldier, and if Diocletian dared to touch not live there very long, because his father him there would rise such . a storm of protest had been a friend of some of the Emperors. In throughout the Empire thl\t the persecutions those days there were generally several Emwould perhaps stop. Constantine hated and perors reigning at once, and these friends sent feared Diocletian, and he would have kept St. him to a large military school in Rome, where George by force, but that w.!ls not possible, and their own sons were. We do not know, but we may read to-day in his diary of his love probably St. George's mother went to Rome for St. George, and his great fears for the to live near her son, because she certainly met safety of his friend. The day soon came when his best friend Constantine, who was the son a ship was ready to take St. George across of one of the Emperors. the sea, and on his last morning, as the two It was a military school, and St. George and friends stood upon the walls of York, watching Constantine learnt how to march carrying the sun rise from the sea that St. George was heavy loads, how to drill, and how to camp in so soon to cross, Constantine promised: "If the Silnds of the desert, and in the snow. One harm comes to you I and all my Empire will of the most important things they learnt was avenge your death." . engineering, how to build bridges, a~d fortiThen St. George went down the steps to his fications, and roads. The Romans bUIlt roads men that were going with him; and he knew that would last not for a few years, but fOl" that this was like his road-making, he must go hundreds, and when they knew their goal they straight towards the goa), even though he went straight for it, no matter wh.at lay in left his friend, and his life itself, behind him. their way. St. George and Constantme learnt When St. George reached Diocletian he found that if a mountain was in the way they must that he had gone to Nicomedia, and that many go over it, or through it, but never round it; of his friends had heen imprisoned and killed, and St. George learnt that lesson well. and all money and land belonging to Christian St. George was a splendid soldier, and befor.e people had been . confis<;a~ed. Because St. he was quite 20 years old he was made a leaClGeorge was rich and powerful Diocletian did er, and soon afterwards he was sent with .Connot at all wish to kill him. He remembered stantine to England. Here they were statIOned how he had known his father, and would havp in a town in the North, which the Romans been glad to let him go back to Britain. But called Eboracum, but which to-day has been St. George knew that this was not what he altered and shortened to York. When they had come home for, and he published the fact arrived there St. George and his friend found of his Christianity everywhere, and championed that York was on a flat plain, very close to the cause of all the Christians who were in the North and the warlike tribes that liven orison. At last, driven by fear of what St. in Scotland. It was a difficult town to defend, George might do, Diocletian had him imprisbut the Romans built a great wall round the oned. and threatened with death. When Concity, and every morning and every E;vening. St. stantine heard this ¡ he wrote' and warned DioGeorge and Constantine drove theIr chal'lots cletian that if he touched St. Geol'ge he would round the top of the wall, and looked out across nay for it with his life. Diocletian did not bethe plains to see that all was safe. The wall f; lieve that Constantine would keep his promise. of York still stand to-day sixteen hundred for he was not a strong man, and his belief years after, the marks of the ch.ariot whee!s in Christianity was very lukewarm. are still there, and so great an mflu~nce d'<1 St. George. in prison, still declared that h~ the Romans have that we to-day still make would do all he could for his faith and, at our roads the width of the old Roman roads, last. just one year after he had first heard and our railways run on lines the gauge of of the persecutions. he was beheaded. St. which was taken from the ruts made by the Georg'e, like St. Andrew. welcomed death Romans who drove their chariots round the gladly, because he knew that his dllath waf; walls. iust what was nellded to show his friend St. George and Constantine enjoyed being Conf;tantine what his faith meant to him and in York. and they enjoyed being' to~ether. Conall Christian!';. !'tantine's mother was a Christian. but althoulth It wa<; as St. Georll'e had thoul!'ht. Aftlll' his r;onstantinp liked to hear about Christianity dpath Consta.ntiDP, and his fripnds were norri-from St. George, he would not become one npd at what nao "'mpened. ann thpv led the himself. Romans in rebellion. ann Dioclptian was In Februarv 304 A.D. the Emperor DiocleIorced off' the throne. while Constantine's father tian who had been a friend of St. Georg'e's was put there instead. Constantine was too fath'er, but who WaS a bitter ~nemy of Conbusy for the next few years to l'emember his
Novembel', 1933.
MATILDA.
promise, but for the rest of his life he was never to forget entirely his boyhood friend, ,and his friend's religion. The year after St. George's death Constantine's father came to York to see his son, and there on a hot July .day he died quite suddenly, leaving Constantine to reign over the Roman Empire. That night, as Constantine sat by his father's bed, he remembered that only two years ago he had been so happy with his friend - life had stretched out so peacefully before them, they were both young and rich and good soldiers, and now everything was altered. As he thought of the life before him he rememberd his talks with his friend about religion, and an old legend tells us that suddenly there was a great light; and lifting his eyes to the sky Constantine saw a flaming cross, with these words in Greek below it, "BY THIS CONQUER." It was not easy being an Emperor in those <lays. There wel'e five other Emperors at the time, and Constantine was not at all friendly with one of them. He was not altogether a good Empen;r, but he was faithful to the memory of his friend, and his friend's religion, he did everything he could to help Christianity, although there exists no actual proof that he ever became a Christian himself. Constantine came to the throne in the year 306, and it was nearly 20 years before he had fought off the other Emperors and had become sole Emperor of the Romans. Now he had time to remember his vow, and he proclaimed Christianity as the religion of the Empire. The next year he called a conference of all the bishops which was called the Council of Nice. At this council was formulated the Nicene Creed, which with a few verbal differences we hold to-day, and it is the earliest published declaration of the Christian faith. Remembering how St.Andrew had died for his faith in Greece, Constantine had his bones reburied in a new town he was building, and called after himself, Constantinople. He sent missionaries to the farthest parts of the Roman Empire, even to the wild highlands of Scotland and Wales, where the Romans had driven the British. Everywhere the story of St. George was told, and the rose which St. George had taken for his emblem because it grew so well in Palestine was planted in far-away England, and became England's national flower. The Christian knights of the Crusades wore 'on their shields the red cross of St. George, indicatine: the blood he had shed for the cross of Christ. and all the poor and needy called on them for aid. Ever since then England has flown his flag; and the Knights of St. Joh!! took the red cross as their emblem when they helped the wounded in battle. To-day the n~Â tions of the world fly the red cross over theIr hospitals tc remind us of the Red Cross Knight who gladly gave everything he had for his faith.
Camping. The 13th Victorian Campcraft Week will be held at Mornington frol11 Monday, 15th, to Tuesday, 23rd January, 1934, inclusive. Miss E. H. Purnell will be in charge.
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The Camp will be open to any Guiders whr) wish to attend for general Campcraft training. The fee for the Camp will be 35 / . APPLICATIONS, accompanied by a deposit of 5 / -, should be made in writing to the CAMPING SECRETARY at the Guide Office, by 14th November, 1933, and the envelope should be marked "13th Campcraft Week." Deposits will not be refunded unless withdrawal of application is made a fortnight before the beginning of the Week. Guiders are advised that, as Training Camp life is strenuous, they should not apply if unable to take part in Camp routine. A limited number of Warranted Guiders, with previous camping experience, will be tested for the CAMPER'S LICENCE, on the recommendation of their District Commissioner. Candidates for the Licence Test are asked to come two days early, and to stay two days after the Camp, in order to have the necessary training in pitching and striking camp. Forms for the recommendation of Guiders to enter for the Licence Test may be obtained by Commissioners on application to me, and should be returned to me by 15th December. Kit lists and information about transport, etc., will be sent to applicants later. EDITH H. PURNELL, Commissioner for Camping.
Training. Brownie Training. The last Course for the year began on 5th October, 1933. Guider in Charge: Miss V. Hill. Guide Training. The last Course, which was to have begun on 18th October) has been cancelled, owing to insufficient numbers attending. Commissioners' Training. Miss Bush will hold the monthly meeting for Commissioners on Thursday morning, 16th November, at the Guide Office. Training Week. The 29th Victorian Training Week will be held from Wednesday, 3rd, to Thursday, 11th January, 1934, inclusive, at Morongo, Presbyterian Girls' Collelge, Geelong, through the courtesy of the School Council. The Weel{ will be for General Guide Tl'aining (there will be no special Brownie Training). Fee 30/-. The Guider in Charge will be Miss Marion Sinclair. Applications (envelope marked TRAINING WEEK), accompanied by a deposit of 5/-, should be sent in writing to the Secretary, Training Department, at the Guide Office, to reach her not later than 14th November, 1933. Deposits will not be refunded unless withdrawal of application is made a fortnight before the beginning- of the Week. When applying, will Guiders please state whether they have attended a Training Week previously. MERLE BUSH, Commissioner for Training.
MATILDA 12 -----------------------------------
APPOINTMENTS.
District CommissionersBallarat .. Mrs. Morton, Mail' St., Ballarat Camperdown .. Mrs. Law-Smith, Chocolyn, Camperdown Port Fairy .. Mrs. Rosse Woods, James St., Port Fairy
RESIGNATION.
District Com missionerCamperdown .. Mrs. Grey Robertson, Camperdown
WARRANTS.
Division SecretarySouth-Western Suburbs .. Miss W. Elvin, 279 Domain Rd., S.E.1. District Secretary Brighton . . Miss E. N. Nott, 31 Halifax St., Mid. Brighton Daylesford .. Mrs. Goodwin, State Savings Bank, Daylesford. Brown Owls2nd Camperdown Miss V. Law-Smith Miss F. Gavin 4th Caulfield Miss R. Law-Smith 1st Chocolyn . Miss D. Andrew 1st Echuca . . 10th Geelong . Miss E. Booth Miss E. Wilkinson 1st Hartwell . Miss M. Collins 1st Koroit . . . . Mrs. C. R. Campbell 1st Nyah District . Miss G. Smith 1st Surrey Hills Tawny OwlMiss J. McLeod 4th Colac . . . Captains1st Apollo Bay . . MIss J. Powell Miss L. Thomas 1st Blackburn . . .
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. College Wear· ~
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1st Apollo Bay . 7th Hawthorn . 1st Heidelberg . 1st Tyabb . . . Ranger Captains1st Balwyn . . . 1st Box Hill . . . . 3rd Vic. Lone Rangers Ranger Lieutenants1st Burwooo . . . .
Miss Mrs. Miss Miss Miss Miss
M. Colquhoun Gavan Duffy C. Thomson F. Martin D. Harlock F. Sears
Miss Miss Miss Miss Miss Mrs.
M. Nicolson E. Puckey H. Cawood DoidgG Heffernan Paganoni
Miss M. Green Miss E. Gordon Miss D. Norton Miss A. Flockhart.
REGISTRATIONS.
Packs1st Avenel 1st Carlton 1st Chocolyn 1st Koondrcok Companies1st Elwood 1st Leongatha Ranger Companies1st Maryborough
1st 1st 1st 1st
Nyah District Rainbow Seaford Vermont
1st Mt. Eliza 1st Rochester 8th Victorian Lones
RE-REGISTERED.
Pack1st Mt. Eliza (formerly 2nd Frankston). CompanyYal'l'am District, formerly 1st & 2nd YarraI'.1'
:
. for Uniforms
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1st Glen Iris . 1st Mt. Eliza. 2nd Oakleigh . 2nd Prahran . 1st Pomborneit . 1st Preston . . . Lieutenants1st Alexandra .
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iSNOWS'
.
November, 1933_
Snows are to be just as much relied upon for COl'rectly cut Girl Guide uniforms as for regulation College Wear. The same care in finish and the same attention to detail are apparent - and the prices are just as l'easonable!
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Fo r Yo ur Entertainments, Sports and Social Fixtures YOU NEED
PRINTING Of QUALITY at Better Prices GET IT AT
McKellar
Press
229 GLENFERRIE Rd. MALVERN Samples and Prices
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John Snow & Co. Ply. Ltd., Melh.Ct •
®®®®@®®®®®®®®®®®®®®(!)(!)(!)@~
on Request.
U 1875