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S E PTE M B E R, 1 9 3 8.
MATILDA
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September, 1938.
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"Matilda"
An Official Trensure Bag for Guiders' I nformntion for Victorin, A ustralia. SATURDAYS, from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. OPEN DAILY, from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Price: 3/- Per Year; 4/- Posted. Single Copies, 6d. each. Editor: MARGOT ANDERSON, Guide Headquarters, 60 Market Street, C.l.
SEPTEMBER, 1938.
VOL. XV. EDITORIAL.
Would the editors of various pages send copy to me by the 22nd of each month now as the printer has extended the time again. "Matilda" will probably give you a big surprise next month, but I won't say in "what way." Very son'y Shepparton, your news will have to wait until next month; too much copy this time. Here, 1 would like to acknowledge a Thinking Day lettel' from France, sent in by a Guider. It olso will be published next month. ---:0:---
WHAT WE ARE DOING. "Vhat an active month, or so it seems to me. Firstly the picture night, which was so very successful and ,yill help general funds for the year. I missed it as I was speeding up to Mt. Feathertop with the Rangers for their Snow Week, the second activity-a very active oneof the month. "To put Adventure into Guiding" was the great idea, and ski-ing cel'tainly does that. Its one of those sports that insists upon so many virtues; endurance, cheerfulness, comradeship, cooperation and courage. (In retrospect-DefinItely couI'll-ge!) You cannot get away from it being an adventure (however careful you try to be). And you simply can't rule out thrills (and sp ill s) from it, excitements (anticipated and unexpected), and a sense of achievement and self-respect when you succeed in struggling up a stifC slope (and coming down successfully). But you will see more about it on the Ranger Page, and you will hear more about it next year, as the Rangers are quite determined to make it an annual event. I gathered up the results of the Questionaire during the week-end in order to start sorting it out. It seems to me that the whole State has been active about that. It was sent out with the idea of finding out what Guiders and Commissioners thought or could suggest about Gu iding in their own Districts, and to see if our numbers were down, if so why?, and to what extent the Infan t ile epidemic of last year had
No.3.
affected our Companies and Packs. When the sub-committee has worked on the answers we will be able to print more about it, all I noticed in the first sorting was that the country had been more active about it than the town. From the cou.ntry 28 Commissioners and 90 Cos. filled it in, and from the town 17 Commissioners and 50 Cos. I am sure I can, on behalf of the subcommittee, thank everyone very sincerely who has answered this Questionail'e, and so have helped them to draw some interesting conclusions from it, and perhaps some useful suggestions for ensuring the value of Guiding to the g irl of to-day. As I write the whole community is being very active about Health Week. I hope we are too and will keep it up the whole year. Not just the enthusiastic campers, but everyone of us; it is such a vital part of Guiding. We have the Camp House now, so if we can't camp we can indoor camp, and if we can't indoor camp we can hike, and if we can't hike we can get into the country somehow, cook chops and boil a billy, and if we can't do that (which I don't believe) we can at least encourage and practically help our Guides to learn and love the open places, In order that our youth may, as Plato stipulated in his ideal scheme of education, dwell in a land of health, amid fair sights and sounds, ~o that beauty shall fiow into eye and ear, like a healthgiving breeze, and insensibly draw the soul from earliest years into likeness and sympathy with the beauty of reason." -ENID FAULKNER. ---:0:---
GUIDERS' CONFERENCE. The Guiders' Conference will be held in the University Arts building on Saturday, 24th September, at 2 p.m. The total cost of afternoon tea and tea is still 1/ 9, but afternoon tea is to be 4d. and tea 1/5. The Sunday Guiders' Own will be held at Sill's Bend, via Heidelberg. For those Guiders coming in their own cars afternoon tea will be 1/-. The next Guiders' Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, 13th September, at 8 p.m. B. CERUTTY, Secretary Guiders' Committee.
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RANGER PAGE. Edit'Or: Elsie Coutts. "If you have known yourself to have failed, you may trust when it comes the strange consciousness of success, if you have faithfully loved the noble work 'Of others, you need not fear to speak with respect of things duly done of your own." -Ruskin.
Extracts from an English Guider's Letters The New Test. rEmergencies.-"I started off by teaching a little First Aid, as so many home emel'gencies require it. It wasl quite easy then to progresf; to such things as House on Fire, rescuing inmates, fetching fire brigade, jumping sheet, bucket drill, etc. We examined the "hut" for switches, water, etc. Also our own homes and business houses. The Rangers suggested likely practices, studying syllabus indicated. For the test, we gave up part of the evening recounting emergencies that had al·isen. It was highly interesting, amusing and ghastly. One of my girls was at school, and a pipe burst. She arrived on the scene to find them endeavouring to mop up the mess-she knew where to turn off the flow and so saved a flood. What she enjoyed most was th" Head, somewhat damp and agitated, fruitlessl} wielding a broom.
Must Follow a Map. I.-Study maps-mapping signs. 2.-Go out armed with map and have "family" discussions on the right way to go. 3. -Actual test.-Ranger taken out into unknown country and left to follow the route and to be picked up (if she arrives!) at the end of three miles. Or
Cook a Meal. Ranger prepares her own menu, showing that she has a good idea of a well-Balanced meal, and then cooks it. I always sample each one's effort.
Snow Week, Mt. Feathertop, 1938. Led by Mrs. Faulkner (Deputy State Commissioner) and Miss Olive Norman, of the Government Tourist Bureau, fifteen Ranger~ turned their backs on the noise and rush of the city to the peace and restfulness (? ?) of Mt. Feathertop. The journey was made by train to Wan-
September, 1938.
garatta, thence by service car to HarrietvilIe. where the party spent the night at "Moum View" Guest House. The completion of the jOllrney was then made on foot by the bridle track leading to "The Bungalow." Snow fell continuously all the way, whicl: rendered ski-ing conditions excellent, but wae not appreciated that day by. the Rangers reduced to a sad state due to the stiff climb of over 2000 feet. We dragged our weary bodies to ha ve our ski fitted ready for the first lesson. after which all spent the remainder of the day resting on their laurels in the white roofed building where a high piled wood fire greeted us_ We all attended the two two hour daily lessons on the nursery slopes. After the first two of which the majority could stand on thei! feet. The thil'd lesson completed, three OJ feur were brave enough to tackle the higher slope; and soon after, though some more successfully than others, everyone gaily ski-ed down this stupendous Alpine peak (the higher of the Nursery slopes). Every day 'was full of some new interest the lessons themselves from first to last werE' full of thrills and spills, four of the girls passing the test for preliminary ski-ing-Mars Harvey, Alma Cockerell, Gwen Eades and Francie Weppner_ Country Dancing, a Sailors' Hornpipe, 3 Highland Schottische (music being supplied bJ mouth-organ duets), a Table Tennis Tourna· ment-a trophy for the winner being presented (one only tin of sardines)-and CamI' Fire Selections provided excellent evening en· tertainment. The downward trek from the Mount wa~ more interesting than the climb up. Aftel lunching at HarrietviIIe we stepped into 3 service cal' ready to carry us back-all too quickly-to the train at Wangaratta and home. Passing through the Ovens Valley we could see back to our last glimpses (till next year) of Mt. Feathertop. The entire party-Debbie Bradshaw, Gwel' Eades, Jess Joy, Betty Molyneux, Dorothy Landmann, Jean Eades, Olive Logan, Alma CockerelI, Francie Weppner, Mary Harvey, Ida Gunn, Laurie Wright and Mrs. Faulkner and Miss Norman-unanimously expressed the view that the tour was a great sqccess and that as well as hoping to introduce a new badge for ski-ing, the event should be made an annual Ranger fixture. -L.W.
September, 1938.
Editor:
MATILDA
ELSIE SYDES.
Kookootonga? Whatever the final name of our Guide property, it certainly is a "green leafy place of birds," a paradise for the bird-lover. The slope of the paddock near the house is alive with blackbirds and song thrushes (not the harmonious shrike thrush-he is both seen and heard in nearby trees).
T reecreepers. Watched a pair of these at work in the timber along the fence. What a noise they made as they thrust their beaks into the cracks and crevices of the bark, bustling up this tree, then across to a fresh one, up that in the quick, jumpy, sph-al course they follow. I was particularly interested to watch them "freeze"once when I moved, once when a distant bird gave a warning. They hung to the treetrunk perfectly motionless.
Sittellas. Miss Jermyn told us that she has sitteJlas down her way. They differ from the treecreeper in that they work DOWN the tree, also they have a sharp beak which turns UP at the end. I once saw a flock of five in the bush near Bendigo, and got a great thrill out o~ it, so ""Ne'll hope Miss Jermyn got a thrill too, and will write us some news.
Robins. Of course!! Didn't they come and inspect the gardening committee's pruning while they were on the job. And the grey currawong is there, and the parrot family; I heard peculiar noises which I don't know whether to attach to apostle birds or friar birds, as I spent so much time watching and identifying a
Crescent Honeyeater. Smallish and plai?ish, he has a black bar each side of his white chest, and a yellow marking on his wings. That's what tricked me, because I didn't know he "orter" have this, until I verified it in Leach. He had a very strong, single-noted cali, and was busy feeding among the leaves on a diet of insects.
Oil
What Do Quail Feed On? This query in the July "Matilda" brought the following interesting notes from Numurkah:-"In this part of the Goulburn Valley, the majority of the quail migrate south to the green feed in the summer, and return again
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when the crops are green here, though there are some who stay the whole year. They feed mainly on natural grass-seeds and wheat, but very rarely bother about an insect diet. Farmers here won't allow them to be shot during the harvesting, as they do so much good in cleaning up seeds and wheat which falls. They are not destructive like the sparrow which perches on the ears of wheat and shakes out the grain." -N. A. Levings, Numurkah.
Mallee Root Grubs. The mallee root grubs I got from the woodman are still alive! They are in a jar of blan and have burrowed all around. Fancy, no water Or food for six months now! !
Eggs and Still More Eggs. Written in April. Remember those small green caterpillars that lived together in a sort of silk-bag effect, only coming out at night and then one by one disappeared. I found a lot or their eggs-bluish and in clusters on gum leaves. Now they are hatching and I have hundreds, so am determined to find out the . rest about them this time Or die. Have more eggs of that little brown hairy caterpillar with. the long hairs on, its head. It has a habit of piling up the old head on the new one when it does a moult. They are brown eggs laid in parallel lines, as straight as they could possibly be. -T. E. Mullin. NOTE.-I wonder how many of us have even thought of eggs as being different in colour and laid in different formation . I'm sure I haven't. Eggs is eggs !-Ed.
Birth of a Pupa. One day I was given an unknown caterpillar to tend and rear. It was brown with an orange point on the tail end. I kept it until it seemed to have eaten so much that it just sat there for the last few days. It seemed to have a slight crack in the skin over the centre of the head. I was taking my Brownies for their first Pack Holiday at Easter, so just couldn't leave this specimen at home, so offl we all went. On the Friday it was on the sitting room mantlepiece, and just as we were about to sit down to dinner I noticed it moving. Had another peep, and 10 and behold!-it was coming out of its skin. Dinner was off, we all clustering round the jar. The crack opened and out came a pale green pupa, head first. It wriggled and wriggled, much to the Brownies delight, until it was eventually all out. A beauty!
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MATILDA
September, 1938.
THE SIGN POST FLOWER LOVER'S BADGE. "September the maid with the swift silver feet She glides and she graces The valleys of coolness, the slopes of the heat With her blossoming traces." So Kendall, Australia's lyrical poet, sang of the coming of our southern spring. "Fair lady of the yellow hair," he also called her. At thii:! time of the year our thoughts turn once again to the awakening beauty of our bush, with its living carpet of wild flowers. and the glory of the wattle gold. What more fitting month in which to consider the new Flower Lover's Badge? PART 1. The first clause says, "Know the wildflowers, reeds and grasses common in her neighbourhood (or for Town Guides-in a suitable area chosen by herself), the places in "hich they are to be found, and their habits." WILD FLOWERS. This first part has a delightful link with wild nature. Book lore may assist or supplement the observations, but for the main part the student must make her own discoveries. This should encourage a life-long friendship with wildflowers, from which the chal'm and fragrance and the many appealing graces of color, shape and habit may be learnt. Incidentally this teaches patriotism of the truest type--a real love and understanding and oneness with one's own country, and therefore of every other country. The artificial life today is tending to separate us from this natural open air recreation. Let us make haste this spring to make first-hand acquaintances with our lovely and varied native flora.
Bush Calendar. bush calendar is a good idea. This, if kept throughout a year would show the flowers in their order of appearance. First, Early Nancy, the Harbinger of Spring, appearing while winter is still with us, and the nodding Greenhood orchid, purple hovea and correa or A
green fuchsia. Then after these in swift procession, a host of springtide blossoms-milkmaids, yellow stars, "spiders," waxlips, purple coral pea (sarsaparilla), chocolate lilies, buttercups, daisies, and golden guinea flower. Later still blue-bells, sun orchids and blue pincushions-blue as the blazing summer sky"leopards" and purple fringe lilies. December brings the snow-like Christmas bush, so different in character from the scarlet Sydney variety or the brilliant Christmas bells of New South Wales.
Quiet Times. In these days of feverish haste, the value 01 quiet hours spent in the company of wild flowers cannot be over-estimated. It is of the greatest importance to the development of the modern child. Nature will not be hurriedher laws are age-old, and her secrets have to be patiently wooed sometimes in solitud,' and silence. Let us hope then, that the Guide~ may take away something of the serenity which these little blossoms are able to impart to ever y lover of their charm and beauty.
Reeds and Grasses. Grasses which might be harder to identify as there are over 130 different kinds, are just as interesting. For are they not wildflowerf of a different order? Specimens could be pressed and sent to a local authority to be named, possibly a grazier. And there is always the National Herbarium if no neareI help is available. Under the heading of reeds we have many varieties of rushes. Here again, as with the grasses, these differ with the locality, and a local knowledge is necessary according to th(1 type of country, ex river, swamp, etc.
(To be Continued.) --------0001--------
Thinking Day, 1939. It is proposed to make the February Signpost Page a special International one, and it is suggested that! extracts of letters from Guides in other countries be included in it. Would
September, 1938.
MATILDA
you, Captains, please encourage your Guides to write to Guides in other countries N OW and then send some of the answering letters to me in the first week in J anuary? Miss L. Bowes Kelly, 10 Malvern Road, S.E.3, Commissioner for Post Box, would help with names and a d dresses . -R.D.
THE GUIDE CAMP HOUSE. The most important piece of "Guide House" news is this letter which Lady Chauvel has received from the Chief Guide: "I can't tell you how thrilled and delighted 1 have been to read of yoU!' Guide camp houfle being really an accomplished fact. \Vhat a wonderful thing it will be fOl' your Guides in Victoria to have this lovely place for their own, It is particularly interesting for me to see the completion of the scheme which was afoot wh en I was with you in 1935, and I am so awfully glad that now at last you have really got yoU!' heart's desi re! As you know, my thoughts are very often with you and all my Guide friends in Victoria, and I do rejoice with you all in this lovely new possession. Please give my warmest greelings and good wishes to the Guides w ho are to en joy it' fOI' "good camping" and the beRt of success in their work." The next important "news item" really consists of three things-all donations to Camp House Funds. The Brownie Guides who undertook to raise a substantial sum for the Guide House announce that they are within ~ight of theil' first hundred pounds. If those who have not yet subscribed to the fund would do so-Treas urer, Miss Mullin -the announcement could be made at the State Co nference. And next-as I expect most of you have seen in the papers-the Camberwell Rangers have given u s the magnificent Hum of £l77. This money is to be used to furnish the main room-a room which, when it is finiflhed, will be L shaped and will extend right thl'ough the house, with a fireplace at each end of the L. It will be such an exciting room-the sort where one can play games, and have conferences, a ll g rouped round the fire, and after everything is over, and the last light of the evening is going, we can gather round the fire and sing a ll the songs we know. \\Te are deeply grateful for this money, and all'o for a donation of £10 / 10/- from Miss Zoe Glanville-furnishing is a fascinating time, but we must have SOME money for it! Speaking of furni hing--you do realise, don't you, that any unit (a division, a district, a company or pack, or a group of individUI1\s Qf a
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single individual) may apply fOl' a room which it desires to furnish. For instance, the big room will be known as "Camberwell" and the same thing will apply to any room furnished by a group. The Extension Branch hopes to furnish some room (even if it's no larger than one of the lats!) and someone else talked of g ivin g all the necessary cquipment for one of the smallcr camp sites. Not very much money is needed for furnishin~' -one has to buy paint, of course, and some matel'ials-but so much can be done in the way of handcraft and ingcnuity-as evidenced by th e "handcraft" Stradbroke Cup--that it really eems the ideal thing for a Gujde company. Old cha irs can be repaired I1nd painted, dressing tables and wardrobes can be made from packing cases, rugs made from woollen rags, curtains and cushions from h essian or unbleached calico, either dyed or decorated with lino-or potato-cuts. Quilts can be knitted from scraps, or made from pieces of patchwork. No outside visitor will either wani. 01' expect the Guide House to look like a modern "home furn ishing' catalogue!" I think it wou ld probably be most disappointing to them i.f it did. But we do want to show the outside public that present day Guides can be just as inventiv e and capable as their pre-war sisters-.the type who had to skin and cook a rabbit and make a Un ion Jack before they passed their second-class. The Guide House is OUl' opportunity-are we going to take it? We seem to be getting lots of opportunities to carry out our Guide Law in connection with our new property. '.rhe third and ninth particularly, and now we have made the whole property a sanctuary for all native life-birds, anjmals and plants. So we know that on our land at least we live at peace with ALL our neighbourslittle furry cl'eatures included, ---:0:---
GUIDE HOUSE FUNDS. The Brownie Guiders are holding an evening at Girl Guide Headquarters on Friday, 23rd September (this is the night before the Guiders' Conference), so do try and come along as you are promised an enjoyable evening, the arrangements will be of interest to all Guiders so do not miss it as you will be s orry afterwards. The admission is 1/- including supper. For further details watch the daily press Or ring the secretary, Betty Caspel', Windsol' 1716. Brownie Guiders! \Vhat about your £1 for' the Brownie Guiders effort for Camp House. , We would very much like to raise non before the Conference, so do help us by letting us have your donations as soon as possible. -B.C.
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MA T ILDA
September, 1938.
All donations to be sent to the trea ' urel', Mjss '1'. Mullin, Allison Avenue, Glen I !'is, S.E.6. The Malvel"ll Local Association hal> alTang'ed a Travel Talk and Moving' Pictures e ntitled "Cinema sees in Natural Colours" by Mr. E.
Brown on Tuesday, 20th eptembe l', at No. 2 Hall, Malvern Town Hall, at 8 p.m. Admission 1/ -, the proceeds for G uide House Funds. -M I's. FLJRLONGER, Hon. Sec., 70 Elizabeth Street. Malvern. LT.75H.
Editor: M. BUTT.
soon learnt the magic sign fOI' that letter, and when we sent the letter, a ll of that letter ranlike "Stew." Then we realised it wali an a lph a路 bet so we learnt our names, we learnt "Good bye," "Pow-wow," "Rullo," "Fairieli," "Elves: etc., in fact we h ad an orgy of sending and read, ing, w e never said Good-bye again, "'e signaJlec it. \Ve frequently made our l<~airy Ring by sig. naIling- up six after six, and a Pow-wow or Fair) Ring is much more exciting wh e n Hignalled. ]0 this way half to three-quarters of the a lphabet was soon learnt and we soon filled in the rest. \Ve always took it in turn to send and read s<' as to be able to practise both. I frequently made up a game like "Steps." 'vVe decided before that "R" would be run, "e" crawl, etc .. until we had four or five commands. These were signaJl ed and each Brownie moved two or three steps that way. Anyone who made a mis路 take had to go back to the beginning, and the first up signalled. In this way the worst readers had the most practice. It is advisable to limit the number of steps that can be taken. Another good way is to s ign:LI a letter. Each child has to touch something starting with that letter. All who are right are allowed to take one step forward (if liked the first cOITect may take two steps forward). This is best played outsido where the Brownie can mal'k her place each time
"Let us have a simple test and a high standard of accomplishment, and let u::; remember all the time that "Brownies" is a game; that we can be as happy while we are busy on tests as we are while we are "working'" at OUI' games!" -V. HHYS DAVIDS.
Making Everyday Things Exciting. There are times when a Brown Owl becomes tired and I'ather stale and finds it difficult to think of new ways of making test work interesting and imaginative. \V e do not encoUl'avc Brownies to pass tests with the idea of winning a Badge-rather we want them to learn things so that they may become Brownies-the little people who are able to and want to help othe,路s. For the next few months some hints on th e different parts of the Recruit Golden Bar and Hand Tests. will be published in Matilda, with the idea of keeping life in the Pack a game. If there is any especiaI item B. Owls require. write to 1\1atilda, or if any B. Owl has a spec ially bright idea, would she send it in to share with other Packs. ---:0:---
SEMAPHORE. One year I had a Pack in an Orphanage, and they seemed a very dull collection of ch ildren, the Matron explained that they were particularly uninterested in learning work. I felt that it would be Impossible to tackle semaphore-but we did and it was easy. We started by playing games, I signalled "ROO and we ran, I sent "C" and we crawled, "H" and we hopped, "S" and we sat, "T" and we touched something. I started with t hree things and when we were good at three I added a fourth and then a fifth, and then they made up things for them 路 selves. We called it "Magic signs" and were thrilled about them. Then we had relay race:: using these signs, then we had other races, each one bad a name "A," "P," "G," etc., and they
-L.T. ---:0:---
THE UNION JACK. There were three pieces of cardboard iJ1 the Pixies "home," two white and one blue. each about five inches long and half as wide, with faint pencil lines half an inch apart going up and across one white piece, and frolT' cor ner to corner of the others. When Brown Owl looked for a nice tidy Brownie she gave each "perfect" one a piecE' 01 red paper about an inch long, and the~
September, 1938.
MATILDA
stuck these carefully. between the lines. "It'f going to be St. George's Cross," said the Sixer. "Let's all be perfect next week and race the others. Don't bite your nails, will you Mavis." Next meeting they finished St. George and got thl'ee white pieces on St. Andrew's, and in a few weeks they'd completed that, and St Patrick's too. Then Brown Owl told them how the King of Scotland had become England's King too, and how the two flags had been joined toge¡ ther; so they made another St. Andrew's Cross and then put St. George's red stripes with white edges up and across it, to form the first Union Jack. Next they heard how, when Ireland be¡ came part of Great Britain, St. Andrew's and St. Patrick's Crosses were cut in half and fitted together. This time the piece of blue cardboard had only one line fl'om corner to corner, and above it on the side nearest the flagpole they stuck the quarter inch wide white strip which was half St. Andrew'S, and under it t~le red of St. Patrick, with its tiny white border. On the other side St. Patrick went on top ("just to make it fair," said Annie) and then they added St. George'~ Cross. If you were to visit the Pixies "home" you'd find those flags stuck on a piece of paper with their names and the names of the countries to which they belong, and roses thistles and shamrocks round about; and the Golden Bar chart shows that all the Pixies know how the Union Jack was made up, and the right way to fly it. - H.G.
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BREVITIES. \Vhat happens to yoU!' Brownies' uniforms when they leave the Pack? Poorer Packs are glad of them, so send them to H.Q. Do you realise that the cost of having "Matilda" posted to you every month, costs only ld. a week? Do the members of yOUI" L.A. know this? Tell them at the next meeting. -P.N. --~,:O:----
Brownie Guiders must choose their I"epresentative for the Guiders' Committee and elect her at the State Confel"ence. Nominations (with consent of pel"son concerned) should reach the Commissioner for Brownies a week before the Conference. The Guider should be warranted a yeal" and be willing to attend the monthly Committee meetings. -V. A. TATE, Commissioner for BI"ownies.
Editor: JOAN ALSTON.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS WANTED. Do B. Owls ever tell their Packs of Brownies overseas? Do they think or corresponding with other Packs? It is recognised th:1t Scouting and Guiding are two of the best means of promoting friei1Ch,hip between nations. For the February number of Matilda, which i:; to be a Special "Thinking Day Number," we hope to print news of various Packs and Companies overseas. Will Packs help us by starting a correspondence at once through the Post Box and sending in any interesting news they receive in answer to their letters? A way for a Pack to rai:;e funds for Camp HOWie. You've heard of hospitals being built by people "donating bl'icks." Build a model house with match boxes for bricks, each costing 2d. or ld. The idea may be elaborated by donating a window 2d., etc. Brownies may get their parents and friends interested. -P.N.
Have you heard about the drunken man who was walking up Collins Stl"eet with one foot in the gutter and one 011 the pavement? A policeman came up to him and said: "Look hel"e, you're drunk." '''l'hank goodness," replied the "drunk," I was beginning to think I was lame!" This story reminded me of the "Thank You" Fund-have you forgotten it? Pel'haps you haven't, but others have. In case you are one of the "others," this is what the "Thank You" Fund is: \VHEN: On yOUl" Pack or Company birthday. \VHAT: Your Pack or Company send 2/6. WHICH: Will help to pay for the materia ls used in the Post Brownie and Post Guide ompany letters. \VHERE: To "Thank You" Fund, c/o Mrs. Lambe. 27 Tintern Avenue, Toorak, S.E.2. WHY: As a "thank you" for your health and ability to enjoy the fun of active Guiding. -J.A.
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MAT I L D A
September, 1938.
CAMPING and TRAINING " Delight and Liberty, the simple creed Of Childhood, whether busy or at rest." -Wordsworth.
Sydney Visit, 1939. If you have not heard about the proposed visit to Sydney in 1939, please read it up in the August "Matilda." A small party of Guides and Rangers between the ages of 13 and 18 years on 1st July, 1938, will visit Sydney for the Boy Scout Jamboree, the party which will be in the charge of Miss S. H. I rving will leave Melbourne on 3rd January, 1939, and arrive back in Melbourne on 11th January. The fee, inclusive of everything, will be £5/ 15/ - for those under sixteen years and £7/10/ - for those of sixteen years and, over at the time of the trip. Applicants must be nominated by their Captains and Commissioners on special application forms, which , with full details, may be obtained at the Guide Office. The. party will take part in Girl Guide Day at the Jamboree on 7th January, and will be accommodated at St. Margaret's Church of England Students' Hostel, 90 Cambridge Street, Stanmore, N.S.W. Applications, accompanied by deposit of £2, should reach the Camping Secretary at the Guide Office by 15th Octo~, the balance of the fel! will be payable on 15th December. Guiders are reminded that members of the Movement in Victoria wishing to wear uniform in another State must receive permission from their own Commissioners and from State Headquarters. Full details of uniform to be worn by Victorians in N.KW. next summer will be published in "Matilda" next month For preliminary notices about this see AugUST "Matilda."
January, 1939. Six Guides may apply from one company (this may include one Guider) The Fee will be not more than 22/ 6. A Ranger Camp will be held under canvas at the Guide House from 26th December, 1938 to 3rd January, 1939. Rangers will be tested for Campcraft Badge and Pioneer Badge. Fee not more than 22/ 6_ Guiders' Cam pcraft Week will be held undel canvas at the Guide House from 26th Decem ber, 1938, to 3rd January, 1939. Guiders nom· inatE:d by their commissioners will be tested for the Campers Licence and the Campcraft Badge. Fee determined by the number of ap· plications will be between 22/6 and 30/ Applica t ions for all these camps are no~ open and close on 1st November. Applicatiom for Guides should come through Guiders. Those for Rangers must be counter-signed b~ their captains. All applications must be accompanied by deposit of 5/- for each person The deposit will not be r eturned if applicant ~ vlithdraw within a fortnight of the beginning of the camp. Address applications to the Camping Secretary, The Guide Office, 6(1 Market Street, C_1, and endorse the envelope " Guide Camp," "Ranger Camp," or "Camp craft," as the case may be.
Brownie Training Class. The next course of Brownie Training classe: wiII commenca at the Guide Office on Tuesday 20th September, from 8 to 9.30 p.m., and continue weekly for a total of six classes The Guider-in-charge wiII be Miss B. Lardner Sandshoes. or slippers are essential.
Guide T raining Class.
It is proposed to hold a camp for Guiders holding the Campers Licence from Saturday, October 29th, to Tuesday, November 2nd, at the Guide House. Guiders who would like to attend are asked to communicate with Mis> Har ri ~ at the Guide Office before 1st Octo· ber_ Full particulars will then be sent. Please give your suggestions for activities and pro· gramme.
The last course for t he year of genera) training for Guiders will commence on Mon· day, 12th September, at 8 p.m. The course will consist of two outdoor days on Saturday. 17th September,. and Saturday, 15th October, arrangements for which will be made at the fi r st class, and five or six weekly classes Guiders who have not previously attended Training Classes should bring a nomination form signed by their Commissioner. Thl> Guider-in-charge will be Miss E . E. Moran. Sanclshoes or slippers are essential.
Summer Camps.
Summer Training Week.
Two Camps for Guides will be held under canvas at the Guide House from 5th to 13tb
Guiders and Commissioners are asked tC' note the date of the 1st Training Week to be
Camp For Guiders Holding Campers' Licence.
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September, 1938.
MATILDA
held in our own Guide House, 26th DecembeJ to 3rd Janu8TY. Applications should be in b~ 1st November, accompanied by a deposit of 5/-. Sometimes arrangements have had to be cancelled because of a lack of applications, and then later the secretary has heard of several who had intended to apply. It is a tremendous help if applications for Training Weeks and Camps are made by the given date. The fee will be from 30/- to 35/-, depending on the number of guiders applying. General Guide and Brownie Training will be given. Write the date down in your diary now! Final details will be given in "Matilda" next month.
Guiders' Week-end Camps. Applications have been coming in well for the Week-end Camps to be held at "Gipton," Frankston. The week-end in October has had to be cancelled and Guiders who applied for it have been transferred to one of the other week-ends-17th-18th September, and 19th20th November, are the dates. The fee is 9/-, including fares. There are a few vacancies. 2/6 deposit should be sent with application to the Camping Secretary, at the Guide Office.
Indoor Camp Test and Pack Holiday Permit. Guiders are notified that the date for this course has been altered to Wednesday, 21st September, at 8 p.m. Guiders taking the test must be nominated by the Commissioner and should have attended an approved camp or training week, or Pack Holiday. Forms are obtainable at Headquarters. Guider-in-charge, Miss C. Broadhurst. -Elaine E. Moran.
STRADBROKE CUP COMPETITION. Extension of Date. Entries for the Stradbroke CuP Competition will be received up to the 30th September. -B. POTTER, Chairman, Guider:;' Committee. STRADBROKE CUP. Correction To Brownie Relief Modelling. Use half as much salt as flour, mix to modelling consistency with water. Bake in a cool oven, paint with water colours, varnish with white spirit.
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS. 20th July.-Present: Lady Chauvel, Mrs. Faulkner, Mrs. Ebeling, Mrs. Edmondson, Mrs. Littlejohn, Misses Broadhurst, Moran, Ritchie, Swinburne and the Secretary. Agreed: That the following be accepted as
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Trustees for the Northcote Guide Hall, Mrs. Brownell. Mr. McAdam, Mr. Thomson. Reported: That the Guiders' Committee had chosen the following to represent branches on the Guide House Committee:-Brownies, Miss T. Mullen; Guides, Miss R. Denny; Rangers, Miss F. Bartus; Lones, Miss M. Fowler; ExtenSions. Miss S. Foott. That Camberwell Rangers Mothers and Rangers had donated £177 for altering the dining-room at the Guide House and proposed forming themselves into an auxiliary for the room's upkeep. That a letter had been received from the Chairman or the Railway Commissioners intimating that Guides over 16 and Guiders travelling to Wesburn from any part of the State will be charged return fare at the rate of single rare subject to a minimum number of six comprising the party. That Mrs. Gordon Johnstone is co-convenor with Mrs. C. O. Fairbairn or the Commissioners' Conference Committee. Routine and financial business was discussed. 4th August, 1938.-Present: Lady Chauvel. Mrs. Ebeling, Mrs. Edmondson, Mrs. Littlejohn, Misses Cameron, Lascelles, Moran, Purnell, Ritchie, Swinburne and the Secretary. Agreed: That a meeting of Local Association members should be held at the Guide Office on 27th September. That the narrow Guide belt be stocked and sold as an alternative to the present belt. Reported: That Mrs. C. O. Fairbairn had agreed to be a member of the Guide House Committee. That a caretaker had been engaged for the Guide House. That Miss Grace Wilson would be Victoria's second delegate at the meeting of the Federal Council. That approximate expenses for the party travelling to N.S."\V. would be: 16 and over, £8; under 16, £6/5/-. That uuring Miss Jolly's absence abro3.d Miss Harper had agreed to act as the Association's representative on the Council of the League of Youth. 17th August.-Present: Lady Chauvel, Mrs. Faulkner, Mrs. Edmondson, Mrs. Littlejohn, Mrs. Tate, Misses Broadhurst, Cameron, Moran, Purnell, Ritchie, and the Secretary. Agreed: That a temporary typiste be engaged and the position advertised in the September Matilda. That the £5 donation received from Lady Somers for the Guide House be used for some speci:ll, suitable need. That the annual meeting of the Association be held at the Guide Office on Friday, 18th November, and that Mrs. T. O. Guthrie be asked to
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September, 1938.
MATILDA
speak on the 10th "Vorld Conference and Miss Broadhurst to show the "Chalet" film. That the invitation received from the Rangers of N .S.\V. to a Ranger Moot in Janu:try, 1939, should be referred to the Ranger branch. Reported: That Miss Elizabeth Alfred had agreed to convene the Publicity sub-Committee for the Guide House. That the proceeds from the picture night were £176/11/-. That the Commissioners' Conference would be held at the Chalet, \Varhllrton, from 15th-20th September. That Miss Britten had been appointed to represent the Mothers' Fnion on the State Council of the Girl Guides' Association. Routine and financial business was discussed. -So H. IRVING, Secretary. ---:0:---
THE GUIDE SHOP. Woollen Ties. For some time the Guide Shop has been asked to stock woollen ties for Commissioners and Guiders. There has been some difficulty about this, but we are now able to stock woollen pale blue and brown ties. The price of these will bp 3/- plus postage. All those who have worn wool· len ties will know that they give continuou s weal and are more economical than other ties in that one of these lasts a life time.
its value has no ~ been appreciated. It is remarkably good valne and includes the following dances:Galopede. Speed the Plough. The Long Eight. Morpeth Rant. Norfolk Long Dance. Circassian Circle. WHAT TO EXPECT IN CAMP.-The thought, of all Guides and Guiders should now be turned toward camp and this small book is a good in· troduction and should be in every Company', Library. It tells the Guides what to expect in regard to orderly work and what should be their attitude towards it. In fact it tells everything about camp life. The price is 10d. and 2d. post· age.
Hats. Some slight alteration has been made in regard to Guide hats and in future the colour will be a lighter blue to tone in with the new shade of the Guide overalls, will have a lower crown and will be slightly softer. -CLARA BROADHURST, Commissioner for Equipment. ---:0:---
Brownie Sixers and Seconds Stripes. Samples of these have been received from 1m· perial Headquarters and the Brownie Branch have now asked the shop to stock these stripes. They will now be sold inste~ld of the brown arIl' bands and will be much more noticeable and at. tractive. The price will be for Sixer Stripes 3d and seconds 2d. plus postage.
THE MUTUAL STORE features Keen Values from the Special
New Books in the Shop. KENT COUNTY HYMN BOOKS.-All Guiders will know the value of the Kent County son g book and now there is the same success in the collection of Hymns in this new publication. They are suitable for Guides and are of great valu£ tor Guides' owns. FIVE POPULAR COUNTRY DANCES.-Musio and notations, price 2/6 plus 2d. postage. Thi~ book includes the following dances:Durham Reel. Haste to the Wedding. The Twin Sisters. Irish Trot, or Thady, you Gander. Circassian Circle. CORONA.TION COUNTRY DANCE BOOKS.Music and notations, price 2/6 plus 2d. postage Tllis book has been in stock for some time, but
COLLEGE WEAR DEPT.
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Girls' Doctor Flannel SCHOOL BLAZERS The ideal Blazer for School or College wear. Super quality Doctor Flannel in Navy. Finished with Silk Ribbon Binding. Specially Priced
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Tailored Fuji Silk SKIRT BLOUSES. 20in. to 27in., 7/11; 301n. to 33in., 8/6; 36in. to 3l1in., 8/11; 421n. to 45in., 9/11.
THE MUTUALM",I STORE b o u rne
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