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Vol. 11, No. 4_
OCTOBER 1, 1934 .
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Volume XI.
OCTOBER, 1934.
To Guiders, Guides, Brownies and Rangers. Now that the Guide Village, which has beb l thought about and worked for for so long, is over, I want to congratulate you all on the great success it has been. When a Handcraft Exhibition was first thought of as a means by which Guiders might raise money to help buy their Camp House, we estimated that we might make £500 by it, but we have found that we had under-estimated the amount consiu " and Guides have got the pleasure now of knowing that their Village has brought in more than £700 to swell the Guide House Fund. It has meant a great deal of work fo)' Guiders and for Companies, so it is delightful to feel that it has been such a success. It would be a good thing, I think, if Guiders would tell t heir Companies how much interest was taken by visitors to the Village in the variety of handcrafts in which Guides were interested. Another thing which the Guides might like to heal' is that amongst the things t hat Lady Huntingfield bought at the Village were two wastepaper baskets and a wool m:Jt for Government House. A few very nice things were set aside for the Guide House, and I hope that we will be fortunate in getting the rest of the money we want, so that we will see these things before very long in the setting for which they were made. SIBYL CHAUVEL.
THE GUIDE VILLAGE. This year marks the hundredth birthday of our State, so it is a fitting one to see the fulfilment of one of our greatest ambitions-a Guide House. We have £1000 in hand and, we hope, another goodly sum in the bush-that is to say, t he Exhibition. As for the Exhibition itself, I was very impressed by what can be done where thllre is a good will, and lots of enthusiasm lavished on a cause. Considerable talent was displaved in the organisation as well as in the handicraft itself. Starting from the door, this is an account of what I saw:The first thing that met my eyes when I stepped into the building was an attractive little garden full of Spring flowers boasting a crazy path bordered by lawns which moved on close examination to be real p'rass. There wa~ a beautiful and patriotic-Iookin!! hammock. the 'Work of 1st and 2nd Surrey Hills, 1 was told, and a great credit to them. too. There were fine garden chairs and lots of attractive thing~
Number Four.
for sale, such as kneeling-mats, bags, raffia dolls, garden cushions, pot plants, etc. To the right was another garden breathing sunshine, with its gay flowers and . ornamental shrubs in painted tubs. And at a rustic table some guides were demonstrating basketmaking. Oh, I forgot to tell you something that I thought was such fun: there was Cap. tain Cook's cottage behind t he first gardenonly a painted cottage, you know, but a beautiful one, complete with hills in the distance. The next scene I saw was a bit of bushland. There were bark huts, creeks, a billabong, lots of animals, and, in particular, a large kanga· roo and a little girl in a pink frock-this was Dot. The wonderful exhibit was the work of all the Brownies. The kangaroo was made by the 1st Moonee Ponds; the creek by the 7th Malvern, and the billabong by the Kew Brownies, both made of cellophane paper glued to brown paper. The children collected it from chocolate boxes and tooth brushes. I liked the frogs, and when they told me that they were the work of the blind Brownies I was very impressed. They were given a frog, then they modelled what they felt it looked like. The cape weed was made by the Brownies at the Austin Hospital. They used crepe paper in greens and yellows. Then there was an anthill. The bull-ants were made from small black beads strung on wire, and then they were placed on a hill of earth glued together to make a mound. There were spiders' webs made of fine silk knotted together in strands, and a few brown velvet snakes, a platypus, r. heron, a parrot and a blue WI·en . Also sonu! flowers-buttercups, sarsaparilla, pincushions and blue-bells. Altogether a remarkable exhibit. Just at the top of the steps I found a creche. right in the centre of the hall, a fitting place for the all-important king-baby. Here the harassed mother who wishes to see the exhibition in peace may leave her child, confident that It will be well cared for till she wants It again, also she may get bottles heated, etc. There were toys for sale for all ages and sizes. I went down the steps, and there before me stood a fine swinging garden seat, sold, of course, and for ten guineas. I envied its prospective owner. A circle of chairs and some small tables marked out the site where tea could be ob· tained, for as the programme stated, "tea is the necessity of our daily lives." It being early in the day when I passed, I didn't partake, but I was assured by a disinterested party that I missed something that was excellently done. There was a very attractive round stall just near by. A black-Jettered yellow pennant told
MATILDA. me that it was the TOY stall, but this infor mation was scarcely necessary- what elst) could this profusion of stuffed animals be 7 There were elephants, dogs, polar bears, rabbits, dolls, a beautiful bed for her Ladyship, Madame Dolle, and so on. I could scarcely tear myself away, only that I espied a pretty little kitchen with check curtains in the windows, rows of tins, tempting-looking cakes, scones, biscuits, and some attractive cooks baking there and then on a fine electric stove lent, they said, by the Commission. "We learn at an early age that 'feed the beast' is a good maxim," I read in the programme. Certainly the beasts prowling round the village were very taken by this shop. Next door was a CURIOSITY shop. All the little Brownies contributed to thi s one, an,j there were all sorts of surprises there which the little people have been making for weeksvery clever ones, too! Round the corner was a NEEDLEWORK shop. Some people had been working harr!. There was a rug made from little bits of wool crocheted into an elaborate pattern, babies' clothes, underwear, pretty jumpers, gardening aprons made from hessian dyed into most attractive colours, dress hangers, etc. (That last covers a great many things.) Apparently there isn't much a guide cannot do, even to mending her own shoes. I found this out when I came to the COBBLERS' shop; here was a last, bits of leather, knives, etc., all very professional, you know. And they make babies' shoes, slippers, moccasins from old felt hats. And you can give orders, too. What about those Christmas gifts? No need to worry now. The Extension Shop interested me, not only because it had some very beautiful articles in stock, but because of the object in view. It i" hoped that a Depot such as the London Guides have established may be established in Melbourne. The sick guides will then be given any opportunity to earn some money by their own efforts, and become in time, we hope, self supporting. This is a great ideal, and worth working for, but it calls for the wholehearted co-operation of everyone. So please give your orders in at the depot for almost everything you can think of. The articles on display at the 'E XTENSION shop show what diversity of talent there is among the Post guides. There were some fine specimens of weaving, beautiful lingerie, socks for schoolboys, garden requisites, work bags, lavendel' bags, babies' wear and many more things distinguished for use and beauty. Then there came the THRIFT shop. Here we have inventive ingenuity at its height, everything on this stall was made from scraps. No one could recognise the old tins and boxes that went to make UP these saleable articles. The ~rch-deceiver, Mercury, could not have done better, though in this instance the motive was not so much deceit as economy. The flower stall next caught my eye down the other end of the hall. A round stall similar to the tov exhibit up the top end. It was a mass of colour and scent. Cut flowers from the country in prof~ ion arrayed the counter -
Oct ober, 1934.
hanging baskets, window boxes, pots all fill ed with bulbs were qffel'ed for sale. Months of watching and waiting were the history of this shop, that was quite certain. The PRODUCE stall had a milk bar, and some good things for sale. Some guides are bee farmers, dairymaids and poultry experts and evidence of their activities were arrayed along the counter, and so as to be really up to date, they had a milk bar. All very superior. So were the Empire Trade posters, and "Buy Au stralian Produce" maps. This shop was the special effort of the Lone guides. A laundry was next door. Come and g et your uniforms pI'essed. No time like the present. Home-made soap, poker-workec1 copper sticks, sprinklers made out of empty tomato sauce bottles, laundry bags-some made for campers like little guide uniforms, they were rather attractive; so were the ducks' heads sticking out of coloured bags. It had been intended there should be a demonstration of electric washing, but space did not permit it. I passed on to the Babies' Stall. Heri! I was told I could get everything for King Baby. Certainly there was no lack of stock on this stall. Every garment a baby ever wore was represented. Here, too, was a basket for his powder, pins, etc. Not to mention woolly balls, animals, and toys of various descriptions . And, I was told, under the counter were bonnets in enormous quantities, enough bonnets for all the babies likely to be born in the next twenty years, it seemed to me. The GOODWILL shop had been stocked by non-Guide well-wishers, and depends on the public for its stock. Well, the public responded very generously. Here was everything yoa could think of and more-jam, woollies, bridge scorers, dress hangers and so forth, not forgetting Granny Goodwill, with her lucky pockets. I saw a pressman taking her photograph. Everything for the camp was to be supplied from another stall. Well, there is no need t o describe the things I saw there, as you probably know more about it than I do. Not forgetting the OPPORTUNITY shop, which featured many things of interest. It was so called because it gives to every Guid ~ an opportunity to display her individual talents. Here was macrame work, fancy work, dogs' leads, shopping bags, baby harnessesindeed, everything you can imagine. We had with us Constable X3806 from th ~ Central Garage, Point Nepean Road, Brighton. He was temporarily transferred, because even the best-behaved villages such as ours must have a policeman, for who else can tell people the way? The OrchestTa. composed of Guiders, and under Miss Crellin and Miss SinclaiT, was another noteworthy feature of our Village. It was to be heard every second evening. All things considered, the Exhibition was :l success. As yet I cannot quote you any figures, but that will come, and I hope they win bp as gratifying as the general impression given by the Village as a whole to an onlooker. MARGARET LARKE .
October, 1934.
6
MAT I LDA.
Items of Interest from the Annual Report. The Annual Report for 1933 of the Girl Guides' Association has recently arrived from Imperial Headquartel's, and for those who had not seen it, a few extracts may be of interest. The following is from a foreword by the Chief Scout. THE FUTURE. Realising what has been achieve.d by our Guiders in the initial twenty-one years of our Movement-and difficult years they were at first-I can visualise to some extent what may come about in the next twenty years. I shall not be here to see it, but I can see it fairly well in my mind's eye, and it is to .me. an inspiring vision, full of possibilities, full of hope. It is an advance that is going to bring a big measure of satisfaction to you who have in your hands the fun of working it. The nature of that development largely depends on local needs. The technical kn6wledge of homekeeping and mothercraft will, for instance, continue to be of paramount importance in a woman's life, the practice of economy, skill in cooking and nursing, all are invaluable not only for the bringing up of healthy children, but also for keeping the menkind strong and contented. This is all a direct contribution to the welfare of the country. But just as no one could foresee. twcnty years ago the vast changes that have come over our social life in that period, so no one can foretell what further changes may be in store for us during the coming decade or two. Unless and until education takes a new liue by which the younger generations are prepared to meet such changes instead of merely continuing as of old to become proficient scholars, the training in character which w e aim to give in the Guide Movement is as important as it ever was-nay, it is more important than it ever was. Of one thing we may be sure, and that is t hat women will be taking a bigger part in the management of the world, in facing the risks and responsibilities of public and commercial life., in addition to their duties in the home.' But their service in all such direction ..; will be effective and valuable exactly in proportion to the amount of character they possess and exhibit. So go ahead with that-the important item in the Guide training-and develop it on a yet better basis than I have been able to suggest in "Girl Guiding" and the Guide Law. Our great aim is to serve' God by helping to develop Peace and Happiness in the world. Let us go about that business with cheerful hearts and smiling faces. BADEN-POWELL OF GILWELL, Foundt>l¡. There is also an interesting account by Lord Baden-Powell of an Audience which the Pope gave to the Chief Scout and the Chief Guidp.
His Holiness said that he fully approved of the Move.ment; that he considered Scouting and Guiding "a magnificent work," and looked upon t he Movement in it's disregard of differences of class and creed and race as "a great family carrying out the ' ideal of unity"; and in parting he wish ed us all success. Apropos of repeated .inquiries as to what part the Guide Association should take in other public movements, it might be of real help to Commissioners and Guiders to quote the following paragraphs from an article by Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan (Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Council) entitled "Guiding in Relation to other Public Movements." N ow the world has many good causes, causes we want to help, causes we ought to help, not only the prevention of cruelty, but temperance, peace, and other great developments. We are otten told that Guiding is wasted unless Its weight is felt in these great efforts to improve the world and that a definite pronouncement is expected from us. Relevant to this is a recent letter from our Founder. "We have our distinct line of work and development," he says, "we are putting the right foundation into girls-of all classes-so that as they grow up they will naturally support and take active part in good movements. But 1 am averse to changing our policy, which has brought us to the standing we now occupy. Our training has still some way to go before it is actually telling in its results on chal'ac .. tel', so that it makes every Guide a distinctly better woman than she would otherwise. have been. "It would be a wrong step to associate our girls with public movements--nor do I think that our Charter would allow it." By helping the development of Guides we are surely doing more, in our capacity as Guiders, to forward the good causes which call to us for support, than by giving our adhesion as a Movement to even the best of them. But, as people who have been helped by Guiding, we have outside the Move.ment no lack of opportunity. SIBYL CHA UVEL.
FURTHER RESULTS OF COMPETITIONS. P OEM. Ist-"Silences," by Miss Marion Sinclair. 2nd-"The Fairy Tree," by Miss Hazel Gross. STORY. Ist-"Shipwrecks," by Mrs. Clive Fairbairn. 2nd-"The Call of the. Bird," by E. M. Thompson. "MATI LDA" COVER. As not a sufficient number of entries was received, it has been decided to extend closing date till November 1.
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October. 19!;.\.
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"L,t "y to a wise man is a new life."-Seneca.
WHY THE SIGNPOST PAGE? "How," ask the Guides, "do we tie this knot? And how do we 'take' this test? How can we cook without any pot? And how can we 'do our best"! "How How How And
can can can how
Patrols practice Pace in our hall? we swim when we can't? we hear the out-of-doors call? can we get a new slant
"On how to do this, then some other thing, And something else after that's done?" Oh, this is the song that the Guides like to singAnd then watch some poor Guidei.' run! But why get frantic and teal' your hair? Here's "how," full of answers galoreRead the Signpost Pages- and then your Guides 'Will never chant "how" any more! R.V.H . (Apologies to Scouting Book, U.S.A.) .
Moments for the Meeting.
I NDOOR GAME F OR A SMALL SPACE-"TAILS." .Guid.es stand in pairs, holding left hands, WIth nght hands on waists. Each Guide has a handkerchief through the back of her belt At the whistle they drop left hands and tr; to ~nat~h each other's "tails" without taking t~ e ll' r~ght hands off their own belts. The vIctor m each pair keeps her tail and th" game is played right out in heats.' ~
NEIGHBOURS. Each patrol supplies a neighbour, and they go away and deCIde what they will act which must be something that a neighbour might ask to borrow, such as a garden-roller saucepan etc. (a different article for each patrol). The~ go . to ~he patrols in turn, acting what they re . qUll'e m dumb show, and the whistle is blown to warn ~hem to move on when they have had half a mmute at each. The rest of the Guides c ~n s ult amongst themselves and make a list. Fmally the lists are read and corrected. - "Girl Guide Gazette" (Now "The Guider")
MINUTE LAWS.
Health.
Many a Captain feels diffident about delivering pow-wows to her Company on the Law.:;; and it is doubtful whether serious talks are given because a Guider feels she must be very very effective. At the close of the meeting, a matter of present public interest may be mentioned, which attracts the Company's attention; and this idea may be skilfully worked to bear upon a Law. Short minute-talks of this kinds will be sure to appeal more to the Guides than long, solemn discourses. Be brief, be interesting, be to the point, are the chief rules for Guiders to follow, and it keeps a Captain's mind alert (should nothing else do so!) looking for the "connections" on which t o mould her minute-talks. For example, to introduce the test matche5 as a subject while these weTe being played would be a means of arousing a response from many of the Guides. Then ask the Company how many of them have seen a Test match? Have watched a crowd going to a Test match, or to any match? If the onlookers were intending to stay a long time, what things might they take with them? Air cushions, or cushions of some kind, will sooner or later be mentioned . Then it can be pointed out that one of our laws is like a cushionwhen acted, it makes things pleasanter. After suggestions and discussion, if) which by this time t he Company will be thoroughly involved, quote to them a saying: "Courtesy is like an air-cushion- it make R the hard places more comfortable." This Law could then be made the motto for the ensuing week.
This is not so much a dissertation on the six rules of health required for the Second Class Badge •. as it is a kind of background for our regardmg of them-a wider vision of theil' meaning, and a way of making them interesting to the Guides. The whole universe runs on an ordered plan. Nature's ways are not haphazard. There al'e natural laws which have been proved by scientific research; and, in consequence, we are abl~ to harness water, steam and lightning, and make them serve us in the everyday affairs of life. We know the dangers attached to them if uncontrolled, and are correspondingly careful. Many dangers are t he consequence of laws which we do well to observe, e.g., tbe law of gravitation- one does not, unless mentally deranged, throw oneself from the top of a ladd er! Nature's laws are seen in operation at all times. Some of the most obvious are the sea· sons, day and night, and the tides; we can be certain of them. In just such a way there are laws for our physi.c al well-being, of which the six mentioned as necessary for the Second Class Test are the most elementary and essen· tial. If we are careless of t he purity of t he air we breathe, or of the amount of rest we take; of the food we eat; the suitability of our clothes; the amount of exercise and t he degree and cleanliness in wh ich we indulge, we sh all find that Health, our most valuable possession, will slip fl'om us. We can not break the Health Rules; we are broken by disregard of them. They are trustworthy in their action, and are here for our guidance and support.
October, 1934.
MAT I L
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Noone wants the Guides to be morbid or priggish in the study of their health; but we do desire to train them to have sense. The 11th Law is "A Guide is not a fool"-and to think of their physical fitness as an asset to God and to their country. The more careless people there are, the more demand will there be for public hospitals, and the greater will be the tax on the community. The country supports those who are unable to support themselves-and no Guide should be an unnecessary burden. There are those who are in no way responsible for their physical and men tal infirmity-that is quite a different matter. On the other hand we do not wish them hard and callous, intolerant of those who are less strong naturally; and it is a difficult thing sometimes to arrive at the happy medium. We Guiders must do two things; firstly, to interest the Guides in the simple facts about tho Health Rules, and secondly, to inspire them to practise these principles as far as possible in their own everyday lives. Both these things are rather difficult to do. One way of creating interest is the Poster and Slogan Way. Hold patrol competitions for the best posters, and slogans illustrating the Rules. All the rules may be done in one fell swoop, or some, or one only. The l'esults are always interesting, usually witty and amusing, and certainly atttain the objective. They make excellent club room and corner decorations. "Germs can't bear Good fresh air" is an example of one Patrol's effort. The accompanying illustration, unfortunately, can not be given here. An appeal to vanity serves often to inspire the Guide of fourteen and fifteen to carry out the Rules. Health is more beautiful than sickness. The body is a trust, and our personal appearance is a duty to our fellow beings, particularly to those whom we claim as our friends. -M.S.
"Over the Hills." PRODUCING AN OUTDOOR ATMOSPHERE. One of the ways in which an outdoor atmGsphere is produced in the writer's own company is a scheme which echoes the suppressed longings each one of us had at the tender age of twelve for romance and adventure Instea(1 of the semi-miltary "Captain" and "Lieutenant," we consulted the ever-useful Aboriginal Word Book (Kenyon, 2 / 6), with memories of a joyous Ranger Camp where we all were "giniO" and "lubras," and Captain miraculously emerged as "Arira," which meant "elder sister." (She hoped she was, anyway). Then there were two Lieutenants. One became "Karthina," which has to do with "woman of the water" (this Lieut. was a Sea Ranger), and the other, who did everything quicklyrunning, talking and taking Roll-Call, became "Nooroo," which meant "Speedy." Then th~ P.L.s clamoured for recognition. Couldn't they earn some woodcraft names? Of course! 'l'hey could if they wanted them, and Court of
A Honour debated long and earnestly as to whether "Kinta" (which meant "gaiety") was suitable for the jolly, rotund and ever-chattering Leader for whom it was designed. In the end we had four solemn leaders to be named as ¡ Wai-wilta (valiant), Mermeran (cheery), Kagoola (gum-tree) and Kinta. Then-what about a naming ceremony? Splendid! thought Arira, with memories of the exciting birchbark ceremonies she'd read about in overseas children's movement periodicals, and with great excitement Court of Honour devised a most thrilling ceremony which was to be performed on a hike. This included writing the old name of the PL. on some tea-tree bark, and with the company standing in a circle, round the camp-fire, this bark was burnt with suitable incantations, the while the company chanted a home-made and encouraging verse. Then the new P.L. received a gum-leaf on which was written her new name, after which she made a solemn notch on Captain's weird and wonderfully carved hiking stick. The ceremony ended with another home-made chant, and many a hike has finished with the spectacle of a long line of deeply-impressed Guides wending their way home through the Vermont bush, each secretly hoping in her heart that one day she would be worthy of Lead mship and a woodcraft name of her very own. The names are not given to the Leaders till they have served for three months, and it is apparent what sort of a name they need. The Keeper of the Cupboard and the Keeper of the Company Log also have woodcraft names. This scheme has definitely started the oompany along the woodcraft trail-Arira hopes so, anyway. R.V.H.
Silences. Here do we find great things come silently; There is no boastful din When Dawn with outflung arm unbars the sky To let the sunlight in. The clouds are soundless, Heaven's ships float On quiet dream of blue; Silent the daisies in the cloistering grass Open their stars anew. Joy is a singing bird, who soaring keeps One song in a strange key, That none may hear, but on the rapturolls height Wonder, and wordless be. Deep tides within us go for ever bound, We know, with catch of breath, Stillness of shadow on a breaking heart; Love has no sound-nor Death. -Marion Sinclair. Every man must walk in the garden of his so ul-alone. (Chinese).
8
MATILDA.
"Happiness IS rarely absent.
October, 1934.
It is we that know not of its presence."-Maeterlinck.
GUIDE CAMP HOUSE. A few weeks ago the Owls of Melbourne left Toadstool and Fairy Ring, their customary haunts, and entered the world of hUmaI) grown-ups who DO THINGS! Their doings took the fOl'm of raising money as the Brownie Guiders' effort for the Camp House. They enlisted the sympathy of Mrs. George Bell (to whom their grateful thanks are due) and hey presto! on the 11th August, in the Kelvin .Hall, were performed two delightful one-act plays by compe.tent amateur players. To these were added numbers by the Guide Village Orchestra under the baton of Miss M. Crellin, a charming song interpretation, songs by Miss M. Kent, and a violin and 'cello solo. The aforesaid Owls wish to thank most sincerely all those who so kindly gave their services. The financial result was quite satisfactory. D.M.
How the Dragon Got His Tail. The dragon, which was a very different animal from the one we know now, was the mos: powerful animal in all the world, even though he only had a very little stumpy tail. Everyone was afraid of him, be.cause if he were attacked, he just stood still and spat fire at his enemies, and there is nothing animals are afraid of more than fire. Not even the lions with their claws or the. tigers with their teeth could overcome him. At last, even the gods became angry, fol' the dragon was so proud that he thought himself ruler of the world and, of course, the gods were. the real rulers. They therefore sent the fire-fiend, the messenger of the god of fire, to reprove the dragon and to tell him that he must mend his ways. The fire-fiend was sent because he wore armour that no fire could tarnish, and he also canied a spear to protect himself. With these he ' set off for the dragon's lair. After travelling for several leagues, he f';lund the dragon, and told him of the gods' dIspleasure at the way he was behaving in claiming to be ruler of the earth. The dragon at once fle.w into a roaring rage and rusher! at the fire-fiend, who being taken unawares found himself in the midst of smoke and fire' which the dragon poured forth. Catching ~ glimpse of the dragon through the smoke and fire., the fire-fiend hurled his spear, and the dragon not being able to move very quickly because he was so large, found his little stumpy tail pinned to the ground by the fire.-fiend's spear. He pulled and pulled, but he could not free himself. Each day the gods sent the fire-fiend with food for him, and every day the dragon's tail
grew longer and longer in his attempts tv gain his freedom. But the spear held fast and. his tail grew longer and longer. At last an Idea occurred to the dragon, and to carry it out, he turned around and spat fire over ¡ the spear-at once it broke, and the dragon was free. again. . He roamed ~he forests proudly flourishing hIS newly-acqUIred tail, plundering and killIng, untIl, many years later, he was vanqUIshed and killed by St. George and the earth again regained peace. ' R.L.S.
HANDCRAFT EXHIBITION. After many months of thought and work, the Handcratt Exhibition is at last over and the question In everyone's mind is-has It' been a success? The answer is definitely-YES! All Brownie Guiders WIll be. pleased to know that "Dot and the Kangaroo" was one of the most taking exhibits as far as the public was concerned. There was so much to see that did not immediately meet the eye hence the crowds that gathered to .gaze and gaze, go away, only to return agam to find still other objects not seen previously. Such items as the ant hill, snails, butterflies, blackberry bushes, frogs and toadstools seemed to be t~e greatest attractions, chiefly because of theIr unusualness, but everything was greatly admired by an enthusiastIC and interested audience. Of course the Curiosity Shop was by no means forgott~n, and if some h~~ thoughts i,n the early days of the impossibIlIty of stocking the stall for ten days their doubts were quickly dispelled. ' Articles of all sorts and sizes, from thimble hats to dolls' houses, arrived by the dozen, ~nd although a larger space than originally mtended was allotted to the stall, it was not . large enough to hold everything, and fresh stocks h ad to be taken in every day 01' two . Brownie. Guiders took it in turns to attend to the wants of the many customers and keen up with the demands of Brownies for penny things. The most exhilarating moment, however, was on Friday night in the region of ten o'clock, when it was realised that the Curiosity Shop alone had raised over ÂŁ46 in ten days' Now I ask you-was it a success? A.V.H.
Games. THE FAIRY TOUCH. Half t he Pack have been caught by a wicked ~iant, wh o has tied them up and flung them mto a dungeon. T he only part of their bodies that they can move are their heads. Fortunately, some fairies are passing, and hear the Brownies calling out for help. They fly into
October, 1934.
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the dungeon, but it is so dark they can se,') nothing. They have to feel about with their hands till they can succeed in giving the Brownies the Brownie handshake; then the Brownies find they are free. again, and can run away with the Fairies. That is the broan outline, now for the game. Half the Pack sit cross-legged against a wall with their left hands on the ground and their right hands tucked behind. Their fairy partners sit opposite, blind-folded. At a cry from the Brownies, the Fairies cross the room carefully and, guided by the voices of their partners, who may address them by name. to avoid confusion, succeed in reaching the Brownie they want to rescue. The Brownies may not move their left hands, but must help the fairies to touch them by directions-"More to the left! A little to the right! Now down!" as the case may be. When they reach their partners, they give them the Brownie handshake, and the Brownie is free.
the right method. How? First the mud must be brushed off and not scraped with a knife, as this is bad for the leather, then the polish put on, not forgetting under the instep and the heels, and then the shoe well brushed, and, last of all, finished off with a polisher. The result should be well worth the labour, and the Brownie feel that she can be really useful. M.H.
A SEMAPHORE GAME. This game is useful when there is only one person to take the Pack. Take all the Brownies who do not know Semaphore and pin one or more letters of the alphabet on them. Then send them down to the other end of the room. Those who know Semaphore are up the other end of the room with Brown Owl standing about half way. She signals a letter and the Brownies immediately run down and find the one with that le.tter pinned on her and run up with her to Brown Owl. M.H.
PARCEL TYING.
MONTHL Y LECTURETTES.
Just to wrap paper round an article so that it will look tidy is not very thrilling, but to wrap up a little box when you are not quite: sure what is inside, address it to yourself and post it, see it go in a van to the station, Oil the train, in another van, and finally back to oneself to be opened at last, is exciting. Just an ordinary cotton box, one for each Brownie, with perhaps a "Min tie" in it, is all that is needed, besides paper and string, pens and ink. The Brownies are postal officials, vans, trains, etc., alternatively, and even a postman or two to finish off the game. Any Brownie will feel it worth while to learn to tie the parcel nicely with this end in view, or to play shop when the Sixes would take it ill turn to have the shop while the others buy, and this could introduce. the rolled type of parc~l used for soft articles as well as the box or book type. For Golden Bar, the Brownies are expected to be able to do both types of parcels and g-ames after a practical illustration will stimulate them to aim at well tied parcel>. The main points to note when tying parcels are that the outside edge of the paper is folded to prevent it tearing, the ends are nice and square, and well folded in. The. string tied firmly round the parcel both ways and twiste.d wherever it crosses, and finished with a reef knot. The address should be clearly written in ink. A.V.H.
Wednesday, October 3rd, will be a "Knotty" evening, when all sorts of interesting ways of teaching Knots will be demonstrated, well as games to play at Pack meetings. Th.(~ usual charge of 3d. will be made, which includes supper. ThE' November meeting will be on "First Class" work and "Proficiency Badges." This wiII be the last for the year.
CLEANING SHOES. Here is a chance for Brown Owls to teach their Brownies to take a pride in their appea1'ance. Clean hands and face, shining brooch, and a carefully brushed uniform all look very nice, but how easily the effect can be spoilt by dirty shoes! Teach them this, and that if they clean their shoes regularly, the leather lasts so much longer. They will see the wisdom of this, and how scornful they will be of any.body who cleaned the fronts of their shoes and forgot all about the heels! There is definitely a right way and many wrong ways of cleaning shoes, but teach them
as
"THE TIME HAS COME-." This column is a limited space Problems. Captains are invited to "The Walrus," 66 Sutherland d!ile, S.E.3, ~ho will be glad to sIstance pOSSIble, through this
for Companv to send thell1 Road Armagive 'any asmedium.
Matilda Knows. Do You? l.-The meaning of the following nativ2 names: Ballarat-camping place. BenaIIa-musk duck. Echuca-meeting of waters. J erilderie--a reedy plac:e. Mooroolbark-red earth. 2.-That the habit of barking-, which is almost universal with domestic dogs, is not a feature of any species of dog in a wild state. It is said that when dogs relaose into a savage state they lose their habit of barking. 3.-That a bird is like a hot-air balloon; ore paratory to fli~ht. it fills internal air sacs with air, which. being warmed enables it to rise. Experiments seem to' show thM t.he bird regulates the amount of air oass~" into the air-sacs by the distance it intend s to fly. 4.-'I'hat in their stocking feet the King and Queen are exactly the same height. 'I'h ", Queen has no shoes with h ep]!, morp t.'h~Â an inch high, and her head-dresses and tiaras are low, so that she shall not appe'l.l' taller than the King,
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What to Look For in October. "Where fountains sing and many waters meet October comes with blossom-trammelled feet: This is the q~een 'of ail th~ ye~r. She brings The pure, chief beauty of our southeJ':' Springs, Fair lady of the yellow hair!" (Kendall). Wildflowers-Milkmaid, sarsaparilla, scarlet coral pea, clematis, chocolate lily, buttercup, bluebell, stackhousia, everlasting, bachelor button, Austral indigo, love's creeper, golden guinea flower, pink-eye, etc. Orchids.-Hare, "Pink Fairies," "Pink Fjr gel's," white Caladenia, small ¡spider orchid, fringed spider orchid, common spider orchifl, tall leek-orchid, stout leek-orchid, golden leak orchid, mayfly, large helmet-orchid, red-beak brown-beaks, large duck-orchid, white duiris. purple duiris, snake, tiger, tall duiries, peaked beard-orchid, brown-beards, copper beards, common bird-orchid, Alpine bird-orchid, waxlip, common leek-orchid, swamp leek-orchi rl. (Jlender, dotted and common sun orchids, rabbit ears, sickle, nodding and Alpine greenhoods, etc. Nesting of most birds, ex. Kingfisher, willie wagtail, pardalote, tree creeper, etc. Stars-Andromeda (the chained maiden).
A Bunch of Wildflowers. Strolling through the bush in October, thp month of mid-spring in Victoria, the l'ambl ~ is delighted with the wealth of wildflowers which carpets the ground. Many of the winter wildflowers also remain until well on in the spring ,and 'so we have the mingling "r two seasons' flora. Foremost among the winter flowers is the native heath, both pink and white, and too well known to need any ( ,scription. Near by may still be seen the COl'a'eas, or native fuschias, their slender gr"'''''' or scarlet bells providing ample food for the honey-eaters. Akin to the scarlet correa jcolor is the smaller trailing flower of the scar"let coral pea, more familiarly known as scarlet postman on account of its way of leaving a trail of crimson through the grasses. Th" so-called sarsaparilla is first cousin to the scarlet nostman. but its gay profusion of purple flowers is rarely found about th,¡ ground. The purple coral pea, to give it its correct title, prefers to drape the saplings and smaller shrubs with garlands of color. Two other creeping wildflowers are love's creeper and clematis, the former a leafless, wiry plant with tiny powder blue flowers--the latter an extensive climber with an abundance of creamy, starry blossoms. A gleam of gold is provided by the many types of scrub wattle, also the tall b\lttercup
and bachelor's button. Where patches of moist grassy turf are found here the ground is carpeted with yellow stars and blue squill, both small blossoms which close up on being picked. "Bacon and eggs" is the term applied to the very many species of yellow and red peashaped flowers-the most common varieties being the parrot pea, bitter pea and hop bittel' pea. Only an expert could give them their ocrrect titles at a glance. It has been said that our wildflowers possess no scent--this may be true of some, but others, again, have rich perfume. Foremost among these are the purple chocolate lilies, with theiLdelicious vanilla-like fragrance, the boronias, mint bush and wedding bush, the latter the predominant spring wildflower on coastal heath lands, while for grace and beauty many more might be mentioned, such as the bluebell, mountain daisy, quaint orchids, milkmaids, stackhousia, wild violets, and blue flax lily.
Bird Architecture. All birds' nests are not the same--they vary considerably both in shape and composition, as well as in the position in which they are found. A nest is not a bird's sleeping place, as many people imagine. It is the nu!'sery where the eggs are hatched and the young reared, and is no longer necessary after the babies have flown. Some nests are very elaborate, others are more primitive. The dotterel's, for instance, is a simple affair-just a slight depression on the sandy shore, and because the eggs are colored similarly to the surrounidng pebbles, is extremely hard to detect. The pipit also chooses a slight depression in the ground-such a~ tlJ" ff)otmark of an animal or human being, but it lines it carefully with dried grass. Such birds as pardalotes, kingfishers, and bee-eaters actually tunnel into the ground or a bank, and then build a nest inside, that of the pardalote being an elaborate domed structu re of bark. Turning to the birds which build in the branches of tree, we find that the pigeon ha~ the simplest kind of nest--just a frail platform of hastily arranged sticks, through the gaps of which the white eggs occasionally fall. Typical cup-shaped nests of fine twigs anti grass are those of the introduced thrush and blackbird, t he latter being distinguished by its mud lining. Our own shrike thrush chooses to make a nest entirely of bark. Robins also build cup shaped nests, their smaller and daintier nurseries being woven of bark, ornamented externally with moss and lichens. and lined internally with soft rabbits' fur. The rare rose robin builds an exquisite nest made entirely of green moss. Blue wrens and thornbills construct domed nests or grass or stringy bark, and line them snugly inside with feathers. The yellow-tailed thornbill places an extra cup-shaped chamber on the top of its nest, for which no use has yet been discovered. Some are inclined to think it is a resting place for the male bird. others suggest . that it is a means of deluding the cuckoo. Quite a different kind of structure is built by the grey and rufous fantail and the wUly
October, 1934.
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MA TIL DA.
wagtail. It is similar in shape to a wineglass. and is beautifully covered on t he outside with grey cobweb. Parrots, cockatoos, kookaburras and owls do not bother about building nurseries for their young ones. They merely select a hollow in a tree and lay their white ,eggs on the decayed wood at the bottom of the cavity. The last nests to be mentioned are those which are made of mud. First, there is the well-known swallow's nest, and the bottleshaped structure of the fairy martin. A mud nest about the size and shape of a puddinJ; basin is built by the magpie lark, while the chough builds a similar but much larg:er affair. Feathers are chosen by the magpIe lark to soften the hard interior of its basin-like home, the chough preferring grass. J.H.
An Invitation from Ulster. An invitation has been received from the ¡C hief Commissioner of Ulster to an International Camp during the English Summer of 1935, from July lSth to July 29th. The Camp to be held near Belfast, and the Girl Guides Association, Australia, has been invited t<l send a party of eight (if possible one Guider and seven Guides). The letter says "Our guests will have nothing to pay except their travelling expenses; we ask them to accept our hospitality for the ten days in Camp. We hope to show them our Country, exchange ideas, and help to increase the chain of international fellows hip, through Guiding. Displays of national folk dances, games, and songs will be h eld during the Camp, and it j" h oped t hat the visiting Guides will take part in these, and will bring their national costumes. It will be a great honour, as well as pleasure, to the Ulster Guides to entertain sister Guides from overseas, and we sincerely hope that you may be able to send a party." We hope t hat some Australian Guides or Guiders are likely to be in England next year, .and could go. Applications should be made through the State Secretary. S. H. IRVING.
BEDS NEEDED ! Appeal t o Metr opolitan Guider s. The number of applications for the Indoor Camps (to be held from 2Sth December to 7t'lt January inclusive) has far exceeded our ex'pectations, over 2000 naving applied. We are hoping it will be possible to find accommodation for all, but it will mean that a great many campers will be sleeping on the floor on pal liasses, unless we can borrow stl'etchers or single beds. Would you be able to help us by lending, or borrowing for us, a camp-bed, stretcher or single bed? If so, will you please let Miss Barius know at Guide Headquarters as soon as possible? We realise that we are not asking you to ;30 an easy thing, but feel sure t h at every Guider wants this very big venture to be a success. E DITH H. PURNELL, Commissioner for Camping.
Equipment Notes. We have in stock story books for Brown Owls, some of them being recommended by Miss Paling for story-telling purposes; the list is as follows:"Stories for the Story Hour," by Ada Marzials, price. 5 / 3, postage 4d. "40 Good Morning Tales," by Rose Fyleman, price 5/3, postage 3d. "40 Good Night Tales," by Rose Fyleman, price 5 / 3, postage 3d. "For Brownies," by W. M. Williams, price 5 / 3, postage 6d. (containing short stories and singing games). "Tales for the Brownie," by Lane, price 3/ -, postage 4d. "Woggheguy" (short Aboriginal Legends), by C. Stow, price S/ 6, postage 4d. (Very good). "My Book of Beautiful Legends," price 7 / 13, postage Sd. We have now in stock brown Tobralco, which will make more serviceable uniforms than the brown lin ene, which, however, will still be stocked. The Tobralco will be sold at 2/ 6 per yard. This will only be procul'able by the yard, and will not be sold in readymade Brownie overalls. We have signalling charts which contain Morse, Semaphore, Flag code, deaf and dumb alphabet, and a cipher code; t hese are 1 /9 each. Old Copies of "Guida" We have here a large stock, which we are selling at 1 / - a doz. Country Orders. This is a complaint. Frequently hats are returned in very bad condition . We take the trouble of packing hats in suitable boxes, but when they are returned they are frequently done up in a brown paper parcel. The hats are therefore considerably damaged, especially linen hats, which need reblocking before we can re-sell them. Would Guiders in future please take a little more trouble if it is necessary to return hats to Headquarters? We have a few Centenary Air Race Games and Charts. This is both a game and a reliable ch art, giving distances between stopping places for t h e Air Race, which is soon to happen. We sell t h em at 3/6, and the proceeds will go to the Guide Camp House. Sample Bags, stamped with "Girl Guides." similar to those used at Guide Village, are obtainable for 7/6 per 100, or 1d. each. Shou~d be useful for fetes and bazaars. CLARA BROADHURST, Commissioner for Equipment.
FOR SALE. A LMOST new Guider's Costume and Hat. Anvone interested sh ould communicate with MAI MI E W ILLIAMSON, 139 Osborne Street, South Yarra.
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October, 1934_
CENTENARY INDOOR CAMP.
TRAINING.
There has been a wonderful response to the suggestion that Indoor Camps for Guides and Rangers should be held in lVlelbourne while the Scouts are at the Jamboree at Fi·ankston. Country Guides and Rangers, representatives from all the ::ltates and New :tealand, have applled III large. numbers, the total being over :wuli. New :::'outh vvales is sending, in addition, a party of 90 Rangers who nave found their own accommodation. Seventy Lone Guides and Rangers are coming from different parts of Victoria. These camps have been made possible by the generosity of many Church and School authorities, who have granted us the use of their buildings: these include Teachers' Training College, Glamor gan, C.E.G.G.S. (Merton Hall, Morris Hall and Phelia Grimwade Hou se ), Ruyton, Carey Grammar School, Firbank, Emily McPherson Hostel, Tintern, So. Hilda's Training College, Lauriston, St. Catherine's, Korowa, Homecraft Hostel, Lowther Hall, the Swinburne Technical School, St. Columb's Church Hall, Hawthorn, Hawthorn Congregational Sunday School, and Hawthorn Presbyterian Sunday School. We still need to find accommodation for several hundred more if we are to accept all the applications received. The Guides attending the Camps will have a very interesting time, we hope. The Activities and Entertainments Sub-Committee are ar·· ranging an attractive programme, in most of which the metropolitan Guides will be taking part a s well. We are all looking forward to the opportunity of meeting so many Guides from othe~' parts. EDITH H. PURNELL, Commissioner for Camping.
Guidel's who have not previously attended a Training Class at Headquarters must bring to the first class of any Course a N ominatio'l Form signed by their own Commissioner. Unless otherwise announced, all Training Classes are held at t he Guide Office, 60 Market Street (7th Floor), Melbourne, C.l. Brown ie Training.-The last Course for the year will begin on Monday, ,1st October. Guider in Charge: Miss N. Thewlis, Guide Training.-The last Course for the year will begin on Friday, 5th October, 1934. Ran ger Training .-At the request of Guiders, a Refl'esher Course of four Classes is being held, beginning on Friday, 12th October, 1934, Commissioners.-Miss Bush will be at the Guide Office on the t hird Thursday in October, (18th), from 10.30 a.m. till 12.30. M. E. BUSH, Commissioner for Training.
A TORCHLIGHT ENROLMENT. My clear Matilda, We want to tell you of the fun we had last Tuesday, when Grace Lind and Doris Wilkinson were enrolled. When Captain was in India she saw a Rang er Torchlight Enrolment, and it gave her the idea to try it out on us! With Matron's permission all the lights in the Ward were put out, and each Guide held an electric torch , All those who were already Guides had their's burning, and as Miss Campbell enrolled the recruits the "new light of Guiding" was enkindled. , We were so lucl y having Miss Campbell, Mrs. Pearse and M; 5s Kyra Smith with us, a s well as Matron an.· Sister. We had a lovely talk fro m Miss C:npbelI, and Mrs. Pearse told us about "Ziej ~ried the Centipede," and Miss Smith taught us a new song. We sang , ' other songs, and ph yed some games, and thell Captain said they ll1us.t all go home, 'cos we were excited and tire~ We thought perhaps you'd like to hear about the good times we Extensions have, a ~ also that other Guides might like to ha 1e Torchlight Enrolments also, All Guide g Jo eetings from THE GUIDES OF 1st MT, ELIZA COY" OrthJpaedic Hospital.
GOLDFISH IN A BOWL. Get a piece of white cardboard, about postcard size, On one side draw a fish, on the other a bowl, seeing that t h e fish is not too big fO"l:" the bowl. The fish must be drawn upside down , Colour each differently. Make four holes in the cardboard, ; of an inch from th e ends, and H ins. from th e side. Thread string. or elastic, t hrough so that you have a loop at each end of your card. Twist the string, and as it flies back, the fish will appear in the bowl. M.H . ~®®~®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®®@@@®@€
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Snows are to be just a s much relied upon for COl', ~ rectly cut Girl Guide uni- ~ forms as for regulation ~. College Wear. The same ® care in finish and the ~ same attention to detail (.~ are apparent - and the ~ prices a re just a s reason-@. able! ® ®
John Snow & Co. Pty. Ltd., Melb.CI
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