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JANUARY, 1936.
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January, 1936.
MATILDA.
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lEVAN EVANS PTY路 .LTD路I . 1680-8 Elizabeth St., MELBOURNE, C.l. -I"
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" Matilda" An Official Treasure Hou"c for Guiders' Information for Victorln, Au.tr..lI.... OP EN D AILY f r om (l.30 a·m . to 6 p.m . 'A'l 'UIUlAY S, fro m 10 a. lll . to 1 p. m. P rice: 3/ · per Yea r . V· Posted. ~ in gJe Copies, 6e1. encb.
Volume XII.
JANUARY, 1936.
Number Seven,
Nrm trar. 193.6. m~is
l/alluury number of "mattllla" Is to me an n~lportunit!J nf gluiug mll but mtll~rll fnr tI,l' N pm Itar hI t~t (fiulllrrs of 1Ilrtnrla. 11 I)opt tl)at ollr QJulllt arfiuititll mtll f1ourllll) lIurlng Hl3li. allll tl,at it mlU bt It happy anll prnsptrOUII ytar fnr YOIl ull. ilt rurry may. Sibyl QJqauttrl.
"THINGS NEW AND OLD." BY NIGAHBAN. "Look, how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: There's not the smallest orb which thou b c hold'st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins; Such harmony is in immortal souls." Night flung o'er the earth its mantle, starin-wrought; and there were "shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over t heir flocks." The hours stole by in silence unbroken save for the savage cry of a jungle prowler, or some .a nimal in pain. At other times nature held a charmed life, breathlessly listening, it seemed, to the music of the spheres:"As when, upon a tranced summer night, Those green-robed senators of mighty woods, Tall oaks, branch-charmed by the earnest stars, Dream, and so dream all night without a stir," On such nights the shepherds turned their awed gaze heavenwards, telling the slow lapse of hours by the rhythmic movement of the stars. They studied their groupings and saw in their arr.ang:ement repToducti.o~s otf the familiar things of earth-the ram, the bull, the hunter, the crab, the lion, the scorpion, the archer, the fish, the serpent, the sea-monster, the river. Why they grouped them as they did, with but scant attention to the. natural configur.ation of the stars, and still less to equality of size, the Crab occupying a comparatively insignificant portion of space while Hydra sprawls over more than half the visible heavens is one of the mysteries in the sealed book of Time. Sometimes, in the names assigned the various stars, we stumble upon the problems of these early astronomers. Such a name is Algol, the "demon star." The ancients noted that the brilliance of this star was dimmed for nine hours at regular intervals, but they had no way of knowing that a dark satellite revolving round it was the cause.
To these shepherds and astrologers, "wise men" in their patient observations of celestial wonders, the erratic movements of certain brilliant objects were soon apparent. Eve,l a casual observer of the sky during the last six months has had a striking demonstration of this phenomenon. Some months ago Venus glowed on the western horizon as the evening "star." Each evening at sunset she was found higher and more to the north-west. During August she retraced her steps to the west with surprising rapidity, and now is no longeI' visible in the evening sky. Still more remarkable have been the movements of Mars, which has travelled backwards from a position near Spica, passing close to brilliant Jupiter on 27th August, and is now (September) heading straight for the jaws of the Scorpion. To these errant stars the ancients gave the name "planets," meaning wanderers. You may recognise them not only by their erratic movements, but also by their steady light, for as they are comparatively near neighbours of ours, the light wo.i.:h comes from them does not twinkle. From the wise men of old let us travel across the ages till we come to a keen-eyed, snowyhaired man gazing through the first astronomical telescope. Galileo lived in Italy at the time when James I .and Charles I reigned in England. Milton, the great Puritan poet, the "Organ voice of England," visited him while in Italy in 1638. Galileo was old and blind then, but those sightless eyes had seen, through the telescope, wonders incredible to the majority of his day and generation. He it was who discovered the moons of Jupiter, and calculated from the tables he comprised of t.heir revolutions that light takes time to travel. He, too, first glimpsed the rings of Saturn, but when he directed his telescope on the planet the following year disappointment awaited him. You know that a plate with it! edge, and not its disc, tQwards you is difficult
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MATILDA
to see; and the position of Saturn was such that the rings were in "edge presentation." So the great mathematician died thinking he. had been deceived. Since Galileo's day our knowledge has increased by leaps and bounds, e,s pecially in the last forty years. The quotation at the beginning is a poet's fancy, but, as so often happens, truth is stranger than fiction. The nearest star to us is our sun, some 93 million miles away. The sun has quite a large family of children and grandchildren-especially grand-children. The children are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. Uranus and Neptune, which revolve round their parent in various periods of time. Round the children cluster the grandchildren. Saturn is particularly rich in these, while our Earth has only one, which you call the moon. Of this family group the sun alo~e shines by its own light, the planets and their moons by reflected light, and this is the real difference between a star and a planet. The sun and its family form what we call our solar system, and occupy only a very, very small portion of the universe. Far out in space are countless billions or stars, each perhaps with a family of planets such as our sun has. These stars are moving, but, because of their remoteness, their motion is not apparent to us, and they keep the same relative positions. For this reason we call them fixed stars. Foremost in beauty among the groups of fixed stars is a constellation best seen in tr.e early months of the year"Great Orion, sloping slowly to the west." His scintillating belt and dagger are easily recognised, and it is not difficult to plot in the rest of the inverted figure. Rigel, in the left foot of Orion, is the brightest known star, 14,000 times brighter than our sun .. Anot~er fascinating summer group, and one With which legend has been busy, is the cluster of Pleiades or Seven Sisters, glittering "Like a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid." The Pleiades make a silver-white patch on the side of Taurus, the bull, while the Hyades. a triangular group near by, form the head of the bull, with flashing Aldebaran for an eye. Another constellation now a little past the zenith but seen to advantage about the middle of th~ year, when it lies sprawled across the eastern sky, is Scorpio. Antares (called by Cuthbertson the "Fiery Scorpion") in the creature's neck is the biggest measured star. with a diamete~ of 420 million miles; and the light which reaches us from this great red giant began its outward journey 360 years ago. . A.nd light is no tardy .travell~r; It. IS thE' 2reat record-breaker. beSide which S~r l'Y,1alcolm Campbell and his speed records smk mto insignificance. Light, too, is a great revealer, not only of the material objec~s around u~, but of the secrets of the umverse. fOl' lt "laughs at distance, traversing countless. billions of miles unchanged." By the analYSIS of a star's light in the spectroscope astronomers (Continued on Page 12)
January, 1936.
Editor: M. Hoffmeyer.
What to Look For in Camp. Eyes open-ears open! You cannot be a "little friend to all the world" unless you watch and listen. Rest hours were simply made for cultivating the acquaintance of the world's little. quiet ones. At one camp I spent each rest hour alone, under a certain tree, and watched the complete building of a nest by two Golden Whistlers. They were not at all afraid of me. What do you expect to see in camp? Flies? Good, there's a start! How many different kinds can you see? The little ones are not the babies, you know-all flies emerge from their cocoon full grown. Spiders-treat them with respect, but they are mostly harmless. Cicadas -hear them shrill !-and see their cast skins clinging to tree trunks. Ants-mar~llous creatures. Casemoth cocoons--eurious things, with sticks or leaves attached, hanging from trees. Butterflies-the Painted Lady, brown with black and white wing tips; Admiral, brown, yellow patch on forewings; a little larger, with pointed forewings, is the black and white Dusky Swallow-tail; larger still is the Monarch, a tawny beauty, with black and white edges to its wings, lazy and slow of flight. Birds-thrush, yellow robin, wrens, swallows, wagtail and grey fantail and various honey-eaters-these are there for the looking. Cuckoos you are sure to hear, maybe whistlers-you can't mistake their sudden wild rush of melody. Inland will be parrots, and probably ibis and herons. By the sea, silver gull, Pacific gull (larger and darker), and terns (rather like small gulls). By the sea, also, are sea-urchins-when empty you will think it a shell, round like a ball, with a hole at one side. Starfish, queer things, lazy, but are great climbers. Jelly-fish -watch their discs expand and contract. Beautiful sea-weed-see if you can find the roots, which are discs for adhering to the rocks. Find the air-vessels which help it float. Green sea-weed you will find in high water pools, olive on exposed rocks, and the red in deep water. After a gale you will find beautiful red pieces, torn from their home in the depths. Shells: we all love finding shells. Do you know that grains of sea sand are angular, while desert sand is round, because of the constant rubbing by the wind? Wild flowers, grasses, trees and fish, and the beautiful stars above-help your Guides to find and love them, Guiders. Do you remember what the Chief Scout said in Girl Guiding? "The aim in your Nature Study is to develop a realisation of God the Creator, and to infuse a sense of the beauty of Nature."
J_a_n_u~ar~y~,_1_93~6~ .. __________________~M~A~T~1_L__ D_A__________________________
CAMP MUSEUM.
Horrors! A despairing wail has come from Headquarters that, becau&e of the wording about this competition in the December "Matilda," Companies and Camps will be sending in starfish, jelly-fish, anemones, dead goannas, tadpoles, etc., all carefully packed in boxes. Headquarters apparently does not mind the collection so much, but--"Think of the smell"! It is lists I want, Guiders-LISTS! Read all about it in last month's issue, and put one of your spare Guiders in charge. Don't I>e the only camp left out!
Queries. 1st Melbourn.e Rangers: A note has been received about the shrike-tit. This bird is called the Yellow-breasted Shrike-tit as well as the Eastern Shrike-tit, to distinguish it from the Western species, which has not a yellow breast. I do not quite agree with Dr. Leach in calling it rare--though it is not common or stationary-sometimes it is in Bendigo and sometimes it is not! In 1929 large nu:nbers were in the trees, but otherwise I have only seen them in two or threes. It is a valuable bird, destroying insect pests. Cohuna: "Insect--very much alive-has ~ngs .." Such was the lal>el on the box! Openmg wIth great care I found a young praying mantis--the smallest I have seen. A recent /Article in "Matilda" describes this creature. What appears to be the chest are really the folded-up grasping claws of the mantis. Seen through a miscroscope the fine teeth on the claws can be seen. The "quaint homes" are tree galls. These curious growths may be compared to scabs on a wound. An insect lays an egg under the outer bark or skin. This sets up an irritation and the result is a gall. You will find them o~ stems and leaves, and the blossoms of wattle often turn into a gall. Cohuna Guides will be interested to know that about 30 tiny flies have emerged from their homes, and one curious one, with black and yellow body, of which I do not know the name. Bena: The following note has come: "Since the Training W.eek, I found a wooly bear down here. I fed it on grass for three weeks, and it made its cocoon, something lilre a silkworm only much thinner. I watched it very closely for six weeks, expecting to see a lovely butterfly come out and, after all my watching, it came out on a Sunday morning, while I waH at Sunday School! It was a cream moth with a black spot on the main wing. The woolly bE.'ar was dark brown with long black hairs. Is there any way by which you can tell if the woolly bear is to be a moth or a butterfly?" I think your moth will De a Darala, which is one of the woolly bears. One of my caterpillars made a cocoon, too, but the moth is not out yet. There are several ways to know a moth from a butterfly. 1-Moths usually spin a cocoon; a butterfly pupa hangs naked from a twig, or with a slight covering of leaves. 2-A moth's body is thick and heavy; the butterfly's is slim.
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3-When resting a moth's wings lie flat; the butterfly's are upright. 4-A moth's feelers ar¡e straight or hairy; a butterfly's knobbed at the tip.
EDEN GIRL GUIDE LOG CABIN. The cabin was designed by Mr. J. R. Logan, who supervised the erection of it; he also donated the land and fencing. The foundations ar,e of water-worn boulders, ranging from 2ft. to a few inches in size, set in cement. They are 4ft. Bin. high in front of the building, as the ground has a big slope. The logs are about a foot in diameter, and all approximately the same size. They have all been stripped of their bark and oiled, being so trimmed that they fit together perfectly without packing. The main room is 30ft. x 22ft., with two double red-wood doors studded with black bolts, each opening on to a porch. There is a very large fireplace at the end of this room, the whole chimney for which is of cobble stones, or rather boulders set in cement, as for foundations. The mantelpiece is a large slab of granite about Bft. long by 2ft. Two extra large boulders are set on either side of the hearth for &eats. An iron bar, chains and hooks are fitted in the fireplace. On either side of the chimney are two small rooms, 8ft. by Bft., one a kitchenette, and the other an office. The fittings for the electric light are interesting, being in the form oi candles set in wooden sconces, which are made of sections from tree trunks with the fork of the branch cut off near the trunk to form the braeket for the candle. Another interesting candl,e stick is made from a vine, the stick on which it originally grew having been taken out and the spiral fitted with a holder for the candle and att&ched to a base to stand on the table, polished and oiled. The central light is in the shape of a ship's lantern in a hexagonal shape, made of copper, with glass sides. It is suspended from beams by a heavy chain attached to a brass ring in the top of the lantern. The table is refectory shape, of Queensland black bean, and the legs and cross pieces are of natural pine logs with bark on them; the forms are made to match. The Guides are making jute curtains in natural colour, embroidering them with blue and gold Guide emblems, and fringing the ends. The roof is shingled-the guttering painted to match the logs so that it is not noticeabff! . The water butts are large casks, oiled, with copper bands. The Cabin is set in a nice area of land, which is being planted with native shrubs. The hedge along the front fence is of yellow and red Calistemon. The front fe n c~ is chock and logs, and the gate of logs swmgs from high posts like the old fashioned stock yard gates. The Eden Guides are anxious that all Guides from any part of Australia should look on this Cabin as a home, and will welcome visitors from other States.
AN INVITATION. Should any of yOUl' Guides or Guiders be touring through Eden during the holidays, or
______~~~___________M __A_Ti~L~b~A=_________.___________j_a_nu_a_r~y~,_i9__ 36. any other time, they will be made welcome. The Eden Guides would like them to use their big room as a recreation room, and I am sure would arrange for them to camp in the grounds. Mrs. Willings is president of the Local Association, and would be the best one to get in touch with until a permanent secretary is appointed to look after it. We hope the official opening will be in January, when we hold a Divisional Camp there. (I have been asked to publish the above warm invitation. Eden is on a coast, a few miles over the bordel1." of Victoria--a lovely spot. I am unable to print some delightful photos that were sent me, but the description will give you a good idea of the Log Cabin.)
NATURE OBSERVATIONS. Euroa: Peanuts grow under the ground like potatoes, the plant being about as high a!' potato plants, with smaller foliage. During the wet weather a colony of ants has carried countless numbers of "eggs" (I think they are really the pUpa!, which will develop into young ants as soon as the warm weather comes) to a shelf and made their new home amongst the folds of some old bags and hessian. Drouin: The grey fantail never sings. when it is flying, but it ma~es up for it when perched. A bat's wings are webbed and at the end of each main rib is a tiny claw, which is used for legs when the wings are closed.
A DISTRICT "ADVENTURE." The gold rush is not yet a thing of the past. News was circulated that gold was to be found at Matlock, and diggers from all over the State rushed to the scene. In danger from bushrangers, they were forced to work in deep secrecy, even to posting letters in their private secret code, and when one of the diggers was shot in the leg just within sight of the goal, luck seemed against them. But heroically they stood by their mate, and at last friends and families were united, a rich vein of gold was found, and--the Bleazby Cup went to 2nd Brighton (Firbank) Company. This competition was run by the Brighton District recently at Beaumaris, and was found to be useful because every child in all seven Companies· was really competing, with the Guiders merely supervising for safety; and because it covered much of the second class work. There was scope for imagination, ingenuity and jolly good fun from beginning to end. Points were given for finding "gold," for woodcraft signs, for being first to peg the claim, for first aid, for a scavenger hunt (nature), for fires--and for "comfort and tidiness throughout the day." Finally, when the Cup was presented to the most successful Company, even the camp fire logs blazed with enthusiasm. ISLA STAMP.
CAMP HOUSE FUND. Mrs. Littlejohn is delighted to report that the amount raise,d during Thrift Week total s £89 / 11/10, She appreciates the efforts every
one has made to swell the Fund. H.Q. is completely overwhelmed by the appearance of another anonymous cheque for £150. The Fund now stands at £3328 / 2/ 8.
League of Youth of Australia. The Uirl Guides' Association, as many know, is one of the societies co-operating with the League of Youth of Australia, and it is welJ that we, one and ail, should endeavour to carry out that pledge of co-operation as much as possible. This should not be difficult, as the League's aims and ideals will, I feel sure, but echo among our own, and are already carried out to some extent by all of us. However, if our association with the League is to be real and to fulfil its mission, it will need possibly the vitali sing of work already being carried on and the definite help and support of Guiders and of Guides. To further this end may I give you some extracts from a book just published by the League and telling of its aims and objects? "The League of Youth of Australia, founded for the protection and preservation of the flora and fauna of Australia, and for the development of ideals of citizenship in the minds of young Australians." "Above all we seek the development, through culture, of a well-balanced character it: every Australian citizen. In order to attam that goal, the League proposes to induce the whole youth of the Country to adopt nature study as a cherished pastime, and settled habit. For the League believes that only by faithfully observing and appreciating the works. of nature in the world around us can the relatIOnship of nature with human welfare be brought to the understanding of the individual citizen. And also only from such understanding can spring any really clear recognition of our common duty to cherish and perpetuate Nature's splendid gifts to Australia in the flora and fauna of our country." It should not be difficult to inculcate League ideals in our general guide work, by giving added and special attention to nature appreciation, and in the course of walks; at a Field Day; with woodcraft subjects and so on, frequent and natural mention ,is possible. On visiting rural areas one mIght study local problems; awaken the Guides' interest in phenology; a more definite attempt made to - know and understand the flora and fauna; problems of erosion, siltation and flooding studied--for at the root of such trouble will doubtless be found the thoughtless felling of trees. If you are as much a novice in these subjects as I, it will sound probably rather a tall order. And Miss Swinburne's article may be recalled from the October issue of this magazine, and one echoes the implication, " How can we tackle a job we know so little about?" But quite a fair amount of ground can be covered while still in the elementary stages if we, as Miss Swinburne did with her Awn, ,seek answers to "whys" and "wherefores." The League's little book may prove something in the nature of a help and guiding (Continued on Page 12)
January, 1\136.
MATiLDA
N ew Year Thought for Tawnies! - Brown Owls! In these days the word "obligation" !s unpleasant and unfashionable. W. e a~ w1sh to do away with cant and hypocnsy-m others, of course. Such sayings as "privileges entail respons,i bilities" are regarded as trite, and therefore not applicable to us. We pride ?urselves on our clear thinking, but we see httle evidence of it. Perhaps we enjoy a wide field of thought, but it is a~ extrem.ely shallow one. It is fashionable to mdulge m cheap sneers at things which others hold dear: things we can not or will not, understand. Such a one is duty. If others are more conscientious than we, then they are self-righteous. If they are more enthusiastic, then we feel that they are unbalanced. It is so easy to find excuses for our failings-failing? No, we scarce~~ admit even to ourselves that we have fa1lmgs, it is just that we see that others do such unnecessary things. Once upon a time we made a promise, and that word "duty" crept into it; perhaps we did not notice it, perhaps we did not understand it, perhaps we thought we would find out just what it all meant later-but at any rate iots of us, now, could well afford the time to give a few minutes' consideration to our duty to the Pack. What do you do, Tawny? Are you in a position to say that you do to your Brown Owl as you would that she should do to you-if your positions were reversed? Of course you are not. Or, perhaps you may think you are. Let us see. Do you help with the meeting? Do you do all in your power to make a suitable time when you and Brown Owl can meet to plan the meeting? Do you help her with the planning? Do you make intelligent suggestions? Or do you leave all that to her? Are you ready to give accurate :md intelligent opinions when she asks fOl' them? Have you studied the Brownies so you can give your honest opinion as to whether Mary's noisiness is due to inferiority or to excess energy? Do you offer to take your share of the meeting? DO YOU TAKE YOUR SHARE IN HANDCRAFTS? It does take a long time to prepare handicrafts and often it takes longer to tidy them up afterwards. Jane sews so badly and is so
keen t en minutes' work on her sewing would mak~ such a difference. Pat's glueing was not successful and it really was not her fault, hut it will take a good ten minutes to do that! Who does all that in your Pack, Brown 'Owl? Or do you do your share? .. You might say that you would do It all wlllingly if you had the time. What do you ~o with the time that you have? How much IS spent working or going to and from work? How much eating? How much sleeping? How much in getting dressed-and adorning one's self? How much in self-pleasing, in dreaming? How much is given to others out of the 24 hours per day? Do you feel proud of this? It would take you some time to work it out, but it would be worth it. And now, what is your attitude to your Brown OwT? Do you co-operate willingly and cheerfully, or do you make her wish she only had a Pack-leader? It would be a good test if you were to keep a diary with the answers to the above fo~ ~ome time. Give yourself marks and find 1f you fail--or come out with honours! Well, BROWN OWL-what about you? Do you use your Tawny? Do you help her w~ere she is weak? Do you share your meetmgs with her? Do you give her an interesting and varied share? Can she manage without you? Most of the Tawnies are future Brown Owh. -is yours being thoroughly trained? Are you punctual? Do you say what you will do and stick to it? Do you have your meetings so that evel'y'thing is centred 'round you-the Brownies attached to you, so that if you are away the Pack is dissatis,fied? It is so easy to attach the Brownies to the Brown Owl rather than the Pack-and so weak-we wouldn't admit it to ourselves, but supposing we do indulge in this-why do we do it? Not a pretty answer, but I leave it to you. What is your attitude to your Tawny-that of a friend-or an exasperated school rnarm? You know, Brown Owl, you too have faults. Don't be too critical about your Tawny, but at the same time let her realise she is making mistakes and that they matter. Is she unreliable? Takes home work to prepare and deos not bother? That is a very serious fault, and I should welcome an opinion from all Guiders. What to do with a Tawny who is unreliable, who does not bother. I should welcome replies fl'om other than Brown Owls if any chance to read this. I am sure some Guiders must have Lieutenants who are not perfect-who are given a job to do and
8_ _ _ _ _ _~_ _ _ _ _ _ _~M~A~T I L D A turn up with the thin excuse: "Oh, I would have done it-but I did not have time!" What should the Brown Owl do? L.T.
BUSY B's.
Once upon a time I had a Pack and we had Recruits. The only other alternative was "Tweenies." My Pack was in an orphanage, and the future loomed greyly in front of them -domestic service-hence no one liked the name "Tweeny." so we remained Recruits. One day I went to the 1st Eastern Hill Pack. There were a number of Busy B's. What an interesting name! B for Brownie-not quite ordinary little girls, but people at the beginning of being Brownies. How anxious they would be to get the rest of their letters! Of course, they would have to be busy to get them. Once they were Brownies they could drop the term "busy," for Brownies naturally are busy. Fairies, Elves and Gnomes have delightful homes and caverns of their own. So have my Busy B's! Where do you find B's or Bees? In a hive, of course. And, alas, sometimes, there are drones. But one day when the Busy B has made enough honey she will leave the hive, having grown into a fully formed BROWNIE! L.T.
Pack Holidays! N ow that the rush of Christmas is over and and the holiday month of January is here, Brown Owl's thoughts turn to the Pack again. "What shall we do in the Pack this year?" she thinks. "Something thrilling, something a little bit different, what can it be? Oh, a Pack Holiday!!" Yes, something thrilling, something a little different, something for the Brownies to remember always--THAT is a Pack holiday. Some Brown Owls will not contemplate a Pack Holiday because they think there is too much work in connection with one. Not because they are lazy and dislike work, but because they have so little time. There is a fair amount to be done, but there are always people interested who will help, and somehow when once you begin, difficulties seem to disappear, and all is well. The first thing is to have a Pack holiday permit. If the Brown Owl has not one of her own, then she must take one with her who has. Sometimes it is not easy to find a Brown Owl Vi ho can go at the particular time you want, so the best thing is to get your own. Then you try and go to someone elses holiday, or if you cannot do that, then you take with you someone who has been before. The size of your staff depends upon the number of children you are taking. You definitely need a Q.M. and Ii nurse or V.A.D. to look after the health of the children. Brown Owl may perhaps have either of these qualifications herself, but i she is wise, she will try and get others to help so that she is left free for the children. Tawny and Pack-leader may go, too; if Pack-leader is very young, she may feel lonely by herself. being neither a Guider nor a Brownie. It is as well to bear this in mind before deciding to take her.
_ _ _ _ _:::...J.:.. a~ nuary, 193G.
The two next things of importance are money and the house. Without either, a holiday is impossible. Brown Owls will have theil' own ideas as to whether they will raise the' whole amount required or whether the children will pay part towards expenses. Thi s rather depends on the type of Brownie Pack, but it is always a wise plan to encourage the children to save up however little towards their holiday. If the money is not actually required, it can be spent on a present to take home to Mother or something of the sort. If they pay a little, they feel it is really their holiday. The ways in which the money is raised will vary-perhaps a concert, or a handcraft afternoon, or the mothers will band themselves together to do something for you. It is wonderful how the money mounts up, and it is an exciting moment when there is sufficient in hand for Brown Owl to feel a holiday is really possible. . The house is often a difficulty, country houses are not built these days to hold large families, and a Brownie one is definitely large! If no friend of the Pack has a suitable house, an advertisement will often bring results and then Brown Owl has great fun going round inspecting before having the house passed by a Camp Adviser. House, money, staff-what else is there to do? There are meals to be planned, programmes to be thought out, outings to be arranged, and wet weather thought about!! All these things take time, and Brown Owl needs to meet her staff often so that each member knows exactly what to do. Then the great day arrives, the Pack is tremendously excited, so is Brown Owl. The days just fly past and too soon all is over, and everyone home again. What are Brown Owl's thoughts this time? "We must have another holiday as soon as we can!" So there must be lots of enjoyment in a Pack holiday, ano all the work beforehand is worth while. N.T. When in Swan Hill recently I was invited to attend the Brownie Pack. At the close of the afternoon, Brown Owl gave each Brownie two gum-nuts and a stick of plasticine, accompanied by the challenge, "Now, Brownies, what can you make with those while I am away?" Some of the results have just been sent to me. The cleverest is a small elephant-two nuts form the body, being joined by a wide piece of plasticine, which also forms the saddle; other features are made of the plasticine, and Jumbo stands sturdily on his four legs. A pig is made of one nut and the plasticine-curly tail and all complete. A plasticine gum leaf supports a candle-stick and snuffer, a tiny candle being inserted. The fourth exhibit is a decaT!ter and wine-glass on a tray. Everything is most realistic and a triumph of Brownie ingenuity and handcraft. M.H.
RECOMMENDED BOOKS.
Summer holidays people the I'eading Macauley entertain sures," a book in
are here, and for most must be light. Let Rose you with "Personal Pleawhich she describes the
January, 1936.
MATILDA
things that delight and amuse her. She has Dne essay cn "Bed" wherein are listed under two. separate headings the jcys Df (1) Getting into. it, (2) Nct getting cut cf it. The authDr wiII strike a sympathetic chord in many readers. "The Music Lcvers' Miscellany" shculd appeal to. a large circle. It is a cDllecticn cf a great variety of things that have been written abcut music. The cDllecticn is made by Eric Blom. Ancther bcok fcr music lovers, a similar publicatiDn to. the Miscellany, is "Lives Df the Great Ccmpcsers." It is edited by A. L. Bacharach, and the lives are written by Sir R. R. Terry, Max Pirani, R. H. Meyers and cthers. "Fifty Years a SurgeDn," by Rcbert T. Mcrris, M.D., is claimed as ancther "StDry cf San Michelle." Thcugh it is much mcre technical, it is cf great interest even to. the lay reader. Recent ncvels that can be reccmmended include "There Gces the Queen" by G. U. Ellis; "Here Lies a mcst Beautiful Lady" by Richard Blaker; "Virgin SDil Upturned," by the Authcr Df "And Quiet FlDws the DDn"; and WDdehcuse's latest, "The Luck cf the BDdkins." The seccnd series Df Penguin BCDks has arrived, and these will prDvide pDpular packing for many a hcliday reader. The first few titles printed in this Bcdley Head cheap series have prDved the pcpularity Df these little bDCks, which can be prccured fDr 9d. The seccnd ten include "Scuth Wind" by NDrman Dcuglas; "Fcur Frightened Pecple" by E. Arnctt Rcbertscn; "The Edwardians" by E. Sackville West; and "The Purple Land," by W. H. Hudscn. MARGERY HERRING, Chaucer Library and BCDk Shcp.
Notes of a Meeting of Ranger Guiders. Held on 18th November, 1935, at the Guide Office. Present: Miss Camercn (in the Chair); Miss J. Bcyes, and 3ij Ranger Guiders frcm the metropclitan area. WelcDrne. Miss Cameron welcomed the newly appDinted Commissicner fcr Rangers, Miss Bcyes, who. will be taking cver the Ranger Branch at the beginning cf the new year Miss Camercn then tcuched on varicus items cf interest to. Ranger Guiders:Pamphlet. The pamphlet, "What are Rangers?" needed revisicn, and Miss CamerDn lisked Ranger Guiders to. discuss with their Rangers what shculd be included in the new leaflet; suggesticns to. help with the compiling Df the pamphlet weuld be welccmed at the next meeting cf Ranger Guiders. Wider Field fDr Rangering.-Miss Camel¡cn said that Ranger Ccmpanies are nct the cnly clubs that give girls what they want, but our Ccmpanies have the advantage cf nct being bcund cr hampered as to. their sccpe, and therefDre cculd tackle some fields which cannct be reached by organisations such as th:: churches, Y.W.C.A., etc., and Miss Camercn felt that the time had come for us to take
definite steps to. extend Dur influence, e.g., in SChDDls and factDries. Ranger PatrDls. At the Guiders' CDnference the pDssibility Df running SeniDr PatrDls was discussed; it had been proved by experience that Ranger PatrDls attached to. Guide Companies were never successful even as a tempDrary measure; these PatrDls never flourished until they had a Guider Df their own, and thus became a Ranger CDmpany. Rangers' Own Service. Miss CamerDn repOlted that, although each year the MetrDpDlitan Ranger Committee Drganise a Rangers' Own, this has the smallest attendance of all the annual functiDns. She asked the Guiders to. think seriDusly about this, and to decide whether this side of our Guiding needed mDre thought. Co.urtesy. All through Guiding the law of courtesy seemed to demand attention. NDtices did not reCâ‚Źive attentiDn, letters remained unanswered, and it became very difficult for those respcnsible to crganise any functicns. There seemed a real need fDr a CDurtesy campaign thrcughcut the MDvement. Miss BDyes then thanked the meeting fDr her welccme. She said that the Ranger branch had, as it were, just shed its ccnstricting skin like a snake. The Ranger PrDmise still remained the same, and the new Tests shculd b(! lDcked upcn, nct as a "difficulty," but as 'unexplcred ccuntry." There were so many by-ways to. explDre by means Df the new tests, and tlte guiding star thrcughcut was "service." It was likely that, within the next year, numbers cf enrclled Rangers wculd drcp, but in time the standard' wculd be ccnsiderably raised. The thecry that "Rangers run thems~lves" can Dnly wcrk well if they are trained to. do so., and it is the Guider's respcnsibility to see that they get this training. A Ranger CDmpany is nDt a blind alley, but a clearing-hcuse, to which recruits frDm the Guide CDmpany and elsewhere ccme, and where they prepare themselves to go out into
the Wider WDrld fDr Service.
The New Ranger Tests. EnrDlment. Raw Recruits, i.e., nDn Guides, joining the Ccmpany in future will have to. be trained fcr the GUIDE Tenderfcct Test, pass it, and be enrDlled as Guides, with the RangeT Ccmpany tie. Guides cDming cn frcm a Guide CDmpany will nct be actually re-tested, but will need to revise their Guide TenderfDct Test; revisicn games, etc. wculd prcbably be a help pericdically. These Guides will simply change their tie, still wearing the Guide badge. BefDre being enrDlled as a RANGER, with a l'ed badge, a Guide must pallS the RANGER PRELIMINARY TEST, cf which the fcllcwing is the syllabus: 1-Must have passed the Guide Tenderfcct Test. 2- (a) Must kncw hcw Sccuting and Guiding began, and must read either "Sccuting for Bcys," ",Girl Guidingj," 0.1' "The Stcry of the Girl Guides."
11)
MATILDA
(b) Must know the World Flag and what it stands for. 3-Must know how to deal with four emergencies (household and out-of-doors). 4--(a) Must follow a map for three miles in unknown country OR cook a two-course meal out-of-doors. (b) Must know the Highway Code, and be able to use a Public Telephone Call Box. 5-Must understand the Rules of Health and must have taken 20 minutes' exercise in the open air for 30 days, if possible, consecutively. 6--Must have studied and understood the Promise and Law from the Ranger point of view, and have proved herself dependable and steadfast of purpose by carrying out some definite undertaking for others. After being enrolled as a Ranger, with a red badge, a girl may proceed with Proficiency Badges, or with the Ranger Star Test (details of which will not be available until next year). The Star Test will include a number of Proficiency Badges, we understand. There is no longer any Ranger Second Class Test. To consider the working of the new Ranger Tests in Victoria, Miss Cameron, the retiring Commissioner for Rangers, called a Meeting of Ranger Guiders in the metropolitan area. Thirty-six Guiders attended the meeting, which was held on the 18th November at the Guide Office. Miss Boyes, newly appointed Commissioner for Rangers, referred Guiders to the October number of "The Guider," which published the results of experiments in working the tests in a Rangel' Company in England. We should all have to experiment, and probably adapt somewhat to local conditions. Some difficulties would no doubt arise in connection with training of Country Guiders, testing of these and of Lones, Guiders' Warrant tests; and the training for classes and correspondence training would need complete revision. We would all start now with our own experimenting, remembering to tackle everything in the spirit of Adventure. Miss Cameron then read out sections from the October number of "The Guider," and asked Miss Dell Hayman, who had iust returned from abroad, to help by telling of what she had seen and heard about the new test work while she was in England. Miss Hayman said that she could only tell of what she had actually seen herself, and we should not !!'eneralise from what she s-aid, as all Companies were doing their own experimenting, for which the new test allowed lots of scope. In other Countries the Ranger Companies consisted mostly of ex-Guides. As formerly for the Rang'er Second Class, testing' was still done largely through outside examiners for the new tests. All these tests have been done experimentally for the last two years in England by certain Companies, before they were decided on finally. The following are the sections of the new Test, with Mi:;,s Hayman's commentSl:-
January, 1936.
1. Must Have Passed the Guide Tenderfoot Test. A Guide coming on from a Guide Company should not be re-enrolled, as she is already a Guide. A Recruit is tested for the Guide Tenderfoot, and enrolled as a Guide, with Guide badge, but wears' the Ranger Company tie. There was some discussion as to whether an ex-Guide should be re-tested in the Tenderfoot work; it was generally agreed by the Guiders present that one should make sure the Guide's knowledge was up to the required standard, by means of revision. 2.-Must Know how Scouting and Guiding Began, and must read either "Scouting for Boys," "Girl Guiding," or "The Story of the GirL Guides." Must Know the World Flag and what It Stands for. Miss Hayman said in answer to questions, that the World Flag could certainly be used at Enrolments, and would be saluted. It was used in England sometimes as the only flag at an enrolment, but the meeting thought it might be wiser here to have the national flag as well-the Union Jack or Australian Flag representing the national ideals, and the W orId Flag our international Guiding ideals. Miss Moore explained the symbolism of the World Flag, and said, that the design and description had been published in 1936 Guide diaries, now available. Miss Hayman said that an alteration in the shape of the "flame" at the base of the trefoil in the World Flag was shortly to be made. 3. Must Know How to Deal with Four Emergencies (household and out-of-doors). Most of this testing was done by outside examiners, and English Guiders seemed to be able to enlist the aid of all kinds of people to helpfiremen, policemen, shopkeepers, post-office officials, etc. Some of the "emergencies" seemed rather risky. Guiders needed to beware of involving too much danger in such cases. For practising these "emergencies," everything was done realistically, and often exceedingly well "staged," so that the candidates did not know whether the accident was real or not. 4.-Must Follow Map for Three Miles in Unknown Country, or Cook a Two-Course Meal out-of-doors. Miss Hayman said that mapping standard in England among Guides was much higher than here. Some discussion arose l'e suitable "courses" for the meal cooked outside. This is one of the tests that must be practised actually out-of-doors. (b) Must Know the Highway Code. Miss Hayman produced copies of the English Highway Code, which includes the rules for all kinds of traffic including pedestrians. We would enquire when the new traffic for Victoria would be available. Be able to use a Public Telephone Call Box. -Some difficulty might arise in the country districts, thou!!'h Guiders even in town had Rangers who did not know how to use a public telephone. Miss Hayman said that this part of the test was frequently included in the "emergency" one-the candidates dealing with an "accident" would need to know the nearest telephone and how to use it. A combined test Miss Hayman had seen had included the following items: The candidates
,
January, 1936.
I
MAT I L D A
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had to follow a map for three miles; there they found a public telephone (out on the moors) which they used to order supplies from a store (including necessary utensils), some difficulty being experienced in producing two pennies for the slot! and on arrival of the goods they cooked a two-course meal in the open. -' 5. Must Understand the Rule. (}f Health, and !\lust Have Taken -20 l\Iinutes' Exercise in the Open Air for 30 days, if possible, cons-ecutively. ~iss Hayman said that there was at present in England a wave of enthusiasm for Keeping Fit--in some Cases much overdone. This test had been modified by the Committee to include exercise before an open window in cases where it was quite impos1>ible to do it outside. The type of exercise needed to vary according to individual needs. It was the 30 days that should be consecutive, not the 20 minutes each day, which might include different types during the day. Miss Campbell and Miss Boyes stressed the importance of habitual positions in every-day activities-standing position included walking, sitting, lying. Attention was drawn to a helpful article published in the December number of "Matilda." 6. Must have Studied and Understood the Promise and Law from the Ranger Point of View, and have Proved Herself Dependable and Steadfa!'t of Purpose by CaJ{rying out some Definite Undertaking for Others. Attention was directed to an article in missioners, nelp last April; the speech by Sir Arnold Wilson gave many ideas along the lines of this sectio~ of the test. , It was agreed by all present that we should all carryon with thEj new tests in our Companies after the new year, 'and meet again in March, before E.a ster, to pool OUl' ideM and experiences, for the benefit of others. Miss Boyes will call the meeting after Companies resume in 1936.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT! A LEAP YEAR- MYSTERY PARTY!!
I¡
to be held at Meeting ., Pool, H.Q., 60 Market (Street, Melbourne, on Saturday evening, 29th FEBRUARY, at 8 p.m. Who committed the murder? Will the Soothsayer be able to clear up tbe dark mystery? Are your love affajrs proceeding smoothly? If not, why not? BRING YOUR FRIENDS, and FIND OUT! Admission Gd. V.G.C. Club Members, and Guides 3d. Supp-er Id. A Vic. Guiders' Club Entertainment. P.S.-Have you any Christmas gifts you have no use for? If so, bring them along and you may (or may not) get something better at the Jumble Sale.
the chair, and the meeting was attended by over a hundred members. The adoption of the Report was proposed by Colonel H. Coben, President of the Boy Scouts Association, and the adoption of the Balance Sheet by H. R. Hamer, Esq., Miss Dell Hayman, District Commissioner, Sandringham, gave an interesting talk on the Guide Camps sbe had vis~ ited in England in 1935. Tea was served after the meeting. S. H. IRVING.
MEETINGS..... OF THE EXECUTIVE ,-,OMMITTEE.
Meetings of the Executive Committee of the Girl GuidE's Association, Victoria, were held at the Guide Office on 15th and 21st November, and 11th December, 1935. Equil)mertt Depot.-Mrs. E. I. Littlejohn agreed to be responsible for the Equipment Depot during Miss Broadhurst's absence abroad. Mrs. Broadhurst agreed to help Mrs. Littlejohn. State Council. It was reported that the following had agreed to be members of the State Council: Mrs. Arthur Amies, Mrs. Clive Disher, 1\1rs. A. Boyce Gibson, Mrs. T. O. Guthrie, Mrs. C. W. G. Littlejohn, Mrs. McGahon, Mrs. Alan Mackay, Miss M. Russell. Guide House. It was agreed to give up the idea of acquiring a property which would pe uitable for metropolitan compani~s, et!!., to hike to and to concentrate on finding a property which will have on it a house which will accommodate an Indeor Camp of 20 and will have sufficient land for at least two camps. Guiders' Club. It was agl'eed that the Executive Committee should stand behind the Club for rent until June, 1936; if the membershi ' does not then cover expenses the fate of the Club is to be considered. Thanks Badges. It was agreed that Thanks Badges should be granted to Mrs. D. Greenham and Mr. J. Borrie, of Corryong. ~ Office Holidays. It was agreed that the office and Equipment Depot be closed from 24th Dece;mber to the 6th January. Stradbroke Cup. It was reported that a mE'eting of Division Commissioners had agreed that the competitiQn for the Svadbroke Cup ilt 193/i should be for singing, acting, country dancing. and an international story. It was agreed that the sub-committee should be 1\'[iss L. M. Andrews (convener), Mrs. Clive Fairbairn and Mrs. F. W. Faulkner. Ccmnyssioner for Lones. It was reported that Miss Macneil had taken on the Commissionership for Lones. Commissioner for Rangers. It was agreed that Miss Boyes be elected to the Committee. Leave of ab:;;ence. It was agreed that Miss Moran, Assistant Commissioner for Camping, be granted leave during her absence abroad. Routine and financial business was discussed. S. H. IRVING, State Secretary.
ANNUAL MEETING.
TRAINI~G.
The annual meeting of members of the Association and subscribers was held in the Meeting- Pool on Friday, 22nd November. The State President, Lady Huntingfiel4 was in
Guiders who have not previously attended a Training- Course at Headquarters must bring to the first class of any Course a N01l'lination Form signed by their Commissioner.
12
MAT I L D..:A:.::..-_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _J:.-a_n_u_ary, 1936.
Unless otherwise stated, all Training Courses are held at the Guide Office, 60 Market Street, Melbourne, at 7.45 p.m. Br ownie Training.-The first Course will begin on Thursday, 20th February, 1936. Miss E . L. Lar dne will be in charge. Guide Training.-The first Course of General Training will begin on Friday, 6th March, 1936. Guider in Charge: Miss D. Hayman. For NEW Guiders there will be a prelimin · ary Course of elementary training for three evenings-Friday, 14th, 21st and 28th February, in charge of Miss 1. Watson. All new Guiders should attend this preliminary course before continuing with the General Course. M. E. BUSH, Commissioner for Training.
CORRECTIONS TO ANNUAL REPORT. Mildura Division: Curlwaa should be shown a separate District. Pol warth D ivision : District Commissioner for Colac, Miss Arkell, is now Mrs. R. H . Morriss, 47 Gravesend Street, Colac. a~
"HUTHO" DEPOT. (Help Us to Help Others ) We have in hand at presentAn Official Overcoat .. .. .. . . . . £2 0 0 Guiders' Coat and Skirt Uniforms £1 to £3 Guiders' Coat Frocks . . .. . . .. 15 / - to 30 / Overalls, Guide , and Guiders' Hats, Belts, Lanyards, etc. MAISIE LYNN, tpe Ranger in Charge. "SOMETHING NEW AND OLD." (Continued from Page 4) can t ell not only its composition, but whE:ther it is r eceding or approaching. One of the finest sonnets in our language deals with man's fir st night. The poet imagines Adam and Eve fearful at the disappearance of the sun, and at the thought of darkness blotting out the world. But "Neath a curtain of translucent d~w, Bathed in the rays of the great setting flame, Hesperus and the host of heaven came, And lo! Creation widened in Man's view." The onward sweep of thousands of years has confirmed that truth. Creation is still wid· ening, and the solution of each mystery only adds to the sum of its wonders. The stars sang for shepherds and poets; may they not do even more for us? "LEAGUE OF YOUTH OF AUSTRALIA" ( Continued f rom Page 6) factor, especially with regard to the preservatie.m of forests . A copy will be ;found in the Library at Headquarters. And maybe 'Matilda' will kindly publish helpful information from time to time. M. H. JOLLY (Representative G.G .A. on the Governing Council of the League of Youth.) \\, h .. I1~· St'l I I' anti I'rintt·,1
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WARRANTS AND REGISTRATIONS.
Registration. 1st Aberfeldie Pack. 1st Frankston Ranger Co. ar ra nts. Division Commissioner- Upper Goulburn, Mrs. H . S. Officer, Duneira, Yea. Br own Owl. 1st Burwood-Miss Jean Boyd. 3rd Camberwell-Miss Jean Boyd. 1st Kerang-Mrs. N. H. Bishop. 1st Tallangatta-Mrs. North. 1st Sunshine-Miss G. Houghton. Tawny Owl. 3a Geelong- Miss M. Merrylees. Lieutenants. 1st Cohuna-Miss R. Aicken . 7th Geelong-Miss M. Harding. 1st Victorian Posts-Miss M. Burmeister. 1st Victorian Posts- Miss E. Couch. Cancellations. Brown Owl-1st Ararat, Miss L. Cooper. Captain. 1st Ararat- Miss F . Milman. 2nd Ararat--Miss G. Foster. 1st Carnegie-Miss C. Pillar. 1st Creswick-Miss E. Northcott. 1st DayJesford-Miss N . Shellard. 1st East Melbourne-Mrs. 1. Robinson. 1st Rain bow-Miss Lindsay. Lieutenants. 1st Ararat-Miss N. Hunt. 2nd Ararat-Miss J. Tardrew. 1st Camperdown-Miss E. Ball. Ranger Captain. 1st Al'al'at--Miss G. Foster. 2nd East Malvern.-Mrs. Hughes.
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