Matilda 1938 vol 15 no 05 nov

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MATILDA

November, 1938

Warrants, Registrations .' .

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Dis/Ticl COlllllli.'siolleJ":

Bendigo: l\1iss D. Ryett, /lEginaJd Street, Bendig·o.

St. Kilda: Miss Margaret Patience, 16 Mason Avenue, Elwood, S.3.

Brown Owl:

1st Blackbum: Miss O. M. Smith.

1st Clunes: Miss Amy H. Dunn.

1st Deniliquin: 1\liss R. Keays.

3t'd ('..eelonS": Miss J. nankin.

8th Geelong: ]\IUss M. Mel'l'yJees.

2nd Hamilton: MI·s. Oldham.

9th Hawthorn: Miss D. Withington.

1st Kyneton St. Pauls: Miss W. Tretbewy.

1st Lang Lang' : Miss E. Samuel. l"t Minyip: Miss M. F. L. Olney.

1st Hoebestet': Miss M. \Vaters.

1st 'l'oor:.l.k: Mis:-; J. Robeltson . 'i'aWHY Owl:

1st Editlwale: !\Iiss D. Ziegler.

5th M:.I.Jvem: Miss 1\1. Dow.

1st Numurkub: Miss N. A. Levings.

2nd Toorak: Miss J. Harper.

Lieu.tenant:

4th 4th 1st 1st

Camberwell: Camberwell: Nauru: Mrs. Shepparton:

Miss M. Wills.

Miss G. Hugg·ins.

Hoyle.

Miss G. Booth.

R4ngm' Captain:

1st Ballarat: Miss E. Sydes.

Local il."sociCttioll:

Pearcedale.

Pac1.·s: 1st Tong9.1a.

COlnP4l1ies:

1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd

Currajong.

Mil·boo.

Tongala.

Upwey.

Yallourn.

CaptaiJl :

1st Bentleigil: 1\[i"s B. E. Costain.

Hh Brighton: Miss S. Medcalf.

1st Brig'hton Beach: Miss A. Sides.

6th CambenvelJ: Miss 1'. Knig·hl..

1:<t Canterbury: Miss H. Carnegie.

2nd Cheltenham: Miss L. Cornell.

1st Collin/!,wood: Miss A. Sutton.

10th Geelong: Miss N. Joyne;:.

1.st Hampton: Miss I. Gunn.

1st Lang Lang: Mrs. Glasg·ow. ·7th Malvern: Miss M. Hulme.

1st Minyip: Miss D. v.,ryII ie.

1st Nhill: Miss 1\1. B. Facey.

1st Monivae: Miss V. Brewis.

I, ,.,

Old G-uides:

Lone Circle.

Northcote Distr·ict.

Ranger Co.:

1st Tongala.

Resignation:

District Commissioner.

Kerang: Mrs. C. Rundll;'.

St. KiJda: Mis:s S. MacLeod.

Captain: 12th Geelong: Miss J. Roberts.

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Printed by the Hilton Press (1929) Pty. Ltd., 223-25 Moray Street, South Melbourne, S.C.5.

"Matilda"

An Official Treasure Bag of Guiders' Inf ormation for Guiders of Victoria, Australia.

Price: 3/- Per Yenr; 4/- Posted.

Single Copies, 6d. each.

Editor: MARGOT ANDERSON, Guide Headquarters, 60 Market Street, C.1.

VOL. XV.

NOVEMBER, 1938.

EDITOR'S NOTES. <; UIDERS, would you mind sending your subscriptions for "Matilda" to Miss Betty Potter, Guide Headquarters, as she is the financial secretary.

Personally, I like to receive them, but it means extra expense forwarding them and we must keep expenses down.

Have you noticed the long list of subscriptions due in December and January? Is your name among them?

We would like to end the year with a record number of subscriptions, so would you send you rs in before the end of December and ask your guiding friend to do the same?

WHAT WE ARE DOING? This month we have all lived through a very great deal, we have all experienced feelings of fear, doubt, despair, hope, relief and thankfulness, according to our different personalities.

Through the whole gamut of our feelings, fearing, hoping, praying, thanking, I do believe that above all we have been thinking.

We have lived through a terrific experience which surely must have made everyone stop and think, and we have been fortunate and blessed enough that it has passed without a world disruption, and has given us time to pull ourselves together and think, and to realise and acknowledge also that a price has had to be paid for this respite, that we have another chance, and what are we going to do about it?

And what are we going to do about it? Can we do anything about it? Well, we ought to be able to; we, an international sisterhood embracing all colours and creeds with love ami understanding as our foundation s ; we must surely share in the troubles as well as the joys of the world family of whom we are a member.

What exactly can we do? When reading lately of the many ideas of thinking men and women in the world and listening to many speakers of different nations I think we must realise how fortunate we are to be living in a

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free country, enjoying the benefits of free speech and action, where the rights of the individual are respected . And we must also realise that every individual must share in the responsibility of enjoying that freedom and liberty and happiness.

A great many speakers lately have stressed the necessity of education in its broadest sense of course-as a necessary adjunct to shouldering their share of that responsibility, and I have been very interested in a series of articles that have been written by outstanding English men and women on, "What is an educated Man?" One quotes Aristotle, and says, "Education is the training of reason, another says, "the knowledge of the history of man," another "the realisation of truth and beauty," but I like the idea of Lady Bonham-Carter, who says, "Plato was right: It is balance that counts."

If that were true in Plato's day, how much more it is in this day of high tension living, where scientific knowledge has unfortunately long out-stripped the knowledge of mankind, where humanity is fighting a losing battle against machines.

Sanity, balance, tolerance, are all vitally necessary to-day, and we in Australia have a great change to develop these attributes, to reach the goal of a sound mind in a sound body. Every visitor, every returning friend remarks on the lack of strain in our country, on our healthy climate and on good living conditions, and we who are in touch with young people in this free and healthy country have a wonderful chance to encourage and develop that character, education, foundation, vision, or whatever you may like to call it, and help to produce that sanity and ba'ance that is increasingly necessary in the individuals as well as the leaders of our country to-day.

Yes! I think our task at present is to go on in the renewed recognition of the value of Guiding', with its balanced activities, its stress on self-reliance, sense of responsibility and comradeship, with perhaps an added effort towards health and happiness.

All children should be happy and active, it is their right , and I think we must watch that we keep them so, the tension and stl'ain of

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the grown-up world easily spreads even into the Kindergarten and Brownie Pack, with newspapers and wireless young people are beginning to live at a pitch that is disastrous to their healthy development.

Let our work be more purposeful if we wish; but let it be happy. Happiness brings the sense of security that is necessary for sane and balanced development of young people.

Let us keep in the foref ront of our minds the importance and the seriousness of the development of the balanced individual, but never let that training happen in any way that is not happy.

ENID FAULKNER.

GUIDERS' COMMITTEE. The fi nal m eeting of the 1938 Guiders' Com mittee was held in October .

P resent : Mrs. Ebeli ng (E xecu iive), Miss Wat son (Eastern), Miss Ceru t t y (North - E astern), Miss N innis (Outer E ast ern) , Miss Lu cas (South e rn) , Miss Newe ll (Sou th-' ''estern) , Miss Davies a n d Miss Potte r.

It was agreed t h a t a n exhib ition of Stradb roke Cup entri es be h e ld a t t h e Gui de office f rom N ovembe r 11th t o 17th fro m 2 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. each day. Admission : Gui des and B rowni es, in uni form, 1d., a ll oth er s . s il ve r coin. P r oceeds for H eadqu a rters F und.

Reported eig ht P ack s, 22 Gu ide a nd six Ranger Companies enter ed for the com petiii on. Standard was very g ood, the judges fi nding t he elimina tion p rocess ver y difficult.

N ext m eeting, F r iday, November 4th, w h en a ll n ew r epresen tatives a re ask ed to be p r esent.

B. CE RU TTY, Secret a ry .

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SCOUT JAMBOREE, NEW SOUTH WALES, 1938.

November, 1938 HORSHAM DISTRICT NEWS.

The various branches of Guiding in Horsham District had a busy and exciting time during the year.

In May Miss Hoffmeyer held a training week. end at Dimboola which was attended by Guiders from here who benefited immensely by it.

The Local Association held efforts to help the Guides with their building fund for the Camp Hut, which Mr. Carter generously allowed them to erect on their camping site at '" Rosebrook," War took. This hut was built by voluntary labor, and is picturesquely situated by the McKenzie Creek with the beautiful Grampians surrounding it, and is large enough to serve as a meal shelter in bad weather as well as a storehouse for camp equipment. The ",:ild flowers and bird life are so very interesting in this locality that the Guides have great opportunity for studying nature under ideal conditions.

This year's camp was held during the September holidays and 31 Guides spent the week under canvas. The party was in charge of the District Captain, Miss Ling, and included Guides f rom Dimboola and NhiII, as well as the two Horsham Companies. During the week the newly erected Camp Hut was officially opened by the CommiSSioner, Mrs. Butcher, in the presence of a large number of visitOl¡S. The progress of the Brownie Pack has been very successful, seven Brownies obtaining the Golden Bar and six the Golden Hand.

In June, of 1937, two Brownies flew to the Guides and in July of this year two more Brownies flew up, This time an exciting ceremony was held, the magic pool playing a big part in it. Both Tawny Owl and Pack Leader celebrated their 21st birthdays and natul'aliy that meant palties and general excitement, especially when the Birthday Fairy appeared, On September 12th eleven Brownies were enrolled. This was a red letter day for the Pack, Don't you think it is interesting that 15 Brownies have become Guides?

A lthough th e Ch ief Scout is ve ry much bette r h e is n ot allowed to underta k e a n y extra exertion so h is visi t to t h e J amboree h as been can cell ed and he and the Chief Gui de h ave a lready left E n g la n d for thll h ome they have buil t in K en ya, th e l'e th ey m ean to stay indefinitely, Perhaps this is one of the reasons there has Lord H amp ton , Chi ef Commissione r for the Boy been a marked improvement in the enthusiasm Scouts Association, Great Bri tain , is coming to shown in the two Guide companies recently.

Aus tra lia instead of th e Chi ef Scout, h e arrives At the beginning of the year the 1st and 2nd at th e end of t h e year a nd r eturns to Eng la nd combined, as there had been a considerable in F eb ru a r y; h e h as agr eed to open the Vict orian falling off in numbers, owing no doubt to the Gu ide House w hile h e is in this Sta t e, the da t e paralysis epidemic, but a very large enrolment w ill p robably b e th e 18th F ebrua r y. was held in August and next year probably the

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MATILDA

November, 1938.

companies will separate. The Guides are now working very hard for different badges.

Both Guides and Brownies were very thrilled 011 the 6th October, when they formed a guard of honor at the civic reception given to Lord and Lady Huntingfield on the occasion of their visit to Horsham. Lady Huntingfield kindly expressed her satisfaction with their appearance, and thought they were very "brown" and healthy as well.

Now they are looking forward to a District field day to be held at Nhill on October 29th.

-L.B.

EASTERN SUBURBS DIVISION PICNIC. On Saturday, October 22nd, over 100 Guides and Brownies of the Eastern Suburbs Division were present at their annual picnic, held at Wattle Park. They were divided into groups, which competed in team games during the morning. The World Flag was hoisted before lunch, and this symbol of world friendship flew all day to remind the Guides of their sisters overseas. Mter lunch, which was eaten in groups, canteen was opened, then there was rest hour, and the afternoon was s:(:ent in an enthralling treasure hunt for jewels, arranged by Miss Barfus. The lowering of the Colours took place after tea, when the Guides and Brownies were in horseshoe formation, and then there was camp fire, conducted by Miss M. Young, Captain of 1st East Melbourne Rangers. Mrs. Edmondson, the Division Commissioner, gave the Guides a short talk on their motto, "Be Prepared."

The outing was arranged by Miss 1. Watson, and Miss D. Coles, District Commissioner of Richmond and East Melbourne, acted as hostess for the day.

PACK'S VISIT TO THE ZOO. With names and addresses and the time the train left for home buttoned firmly into pock ets, 70 Brownies from Glen Iris and Malvern districts, with the help of the Glen Iris Guides invaded the Zoo on SaLurday, October 22nd. "Ooh! Brown Owl, what's that animal?" "That's called a canteloupe," intelTupted the smallest member. Queenie had a busy half houl' until the merry-go-round and donkey cart claimed attention. Then it was time for the penquins and platypus to be fed, not forgetting the lions and tigers. Slides and swings then became popular until Brown Owl discovered that her watch had

stopped and we all ran for the train amid many s ig hs that it was all over and hop es for another outing "very soon."

-B.P. ----:0:----

SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE. S1Lbs. clue in D eccntber . -MI's. Anson, Daylesford, 1st Koroit Company; Mrs. Dempster, CanLerbury; Miss Fergusson, Kew; Miss Harper, Toorak; Miss Morris, Hamilton; Mrs. Roberts, Kew; 1st Rosedale Company; Miss Smith, Hawthorn; Mrs. Willis, Alberton; Miss Hedley, Cheltenham, England.

There are 41 s ubs. due in October a nd Novembel' which have not been paid. These include: Box Hill, Hampton, WalTacknabeal (2), Keran~' (2), Port Fairy, Geelong, Brighton, Rainbow, Stawell . Birchip, Swan Hill (2). Blac](burn, Warrnamboo l (4), Hastings, Kew, Hamilton.

Subs. due il1 Jalluary.-Mrs . Ackroyd, Terang; Mi"s M. Allan, CamberweU ; Miss Appleby, Up \\'ey ; Miss Barnes, Eaglemont; Miss Bowen, Coburg; Miss Boyd, Burwood; Miss Bush, Bendi go; Miss Butt, HawthoJ'l1; Miss Cameron, Yannathan; Miss Cannobio, Alphington; Miss Car:per, St. Kilda; Miss Cumbrae Stewa rt, Elsternwick; Miss Clessold, Lorne; Miss Cla.yton, Kew; Miss Coles, Kew; Miss Daws, Cockatoo; Miss Demaine, Cantcrbury; MI's. Dockel', Wangaraita; Miss Drury, Kallista; Miss Duff, Kew; Mrs. Gavan Duffy, Mt. Eliza; Mrs. Ebeling, Yarraville; 1st Essendon Company; Miss F acey, Nhill; Mrs. Faulkner, South Yarra; Miss Fawcett, FootEcray; Miss Ferguson, MOl'dialloc: Miss Ford, Foxhon; Miss Freedman, Armadale; MI'8. Green, BUI'wood; Miss G I'OSS, Armadale; Miss Hayman, EngJand; Miss Heffernan, Heidelberg; Miss HenderEon, Brighton; Miss Hoffeneyer, Bendigo; Miss Jolly, MelbouJ'l1e; Miss Ken, Armadale; Miss King, Ballarat; Mrs. Lansell, Moulamein, N.S:W.; Miss Martin, Mornington; Mi Es Miller, Ouyen; 1st MurLoa Company; Miss Meens, Yallourn; Miss Me J'J'ett, Malvern; Miss Mills, Killara, N.S.W.; 1st Moe Company; Miss Moore, Canterbury; Miss Morey, St. KiJda; Miss Mort.on, Toorak; 1st Morwell Pack; lI1iss Moyle, Danderrong; Miss Murdoch, Auburn; Mrs. Macdonald, Malvern; Miss McLean, \Val'rnambool; Miss McKinnon, Fitzroy; Mis5 Naismith, Brighton; Miss Onians, Malvern; Miss Pond, \Vangaratta; Miss Purnell, Geelong; Miss Robinson, Malvern; Miss Richens, East Malvern; Miss Rose, Sandringham; 1st Sandringham Company; Miss San gel', EUI'oa; Miss Searle, Sandl'ingham; Miss Sedgfield, Ivanhoe; Miss Smith. \Vangaratta; Miss ' Stamp, Brighton Beach; Mii'R Stewart, Melbourne; Miss Ta lbot,

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MATILDA

Ballarat; Miss Thewlis, Armadale; Mrs. Troup, Tourello; Miss Tulloh, Essendon; Miss Weickardt, Malvern; 1st Werribee Pack; Miss Williamson, Port Fairy; Miss Wood, Malvern; Miss Wyllie, Minyip; Yallourn Local Association.

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THE GU.IDE HOUSE.

November, 1938.

been advanced by the Camping Department.

Further pipes must be laid on to the house to ensure a continuous water supply for the use of Training Weeks, Indoor Camps, and in the garden. This will entail an expenditure of at least £50. Is there any Division or District which would like to guarantee the water supply?

Official Opening.

Bathing Regulations.

Lord Hampton, who is to be the Chief Scout's representative at the N.S.W. Jamboree at the end of the year, will be visiting Melbourne in February next, and has agreed to perform the opening ceremony of the Guide House. The proposed date of the opening is Saturday, February 18th. Lady Chauvel hopes that as many Guides and Brownies as possible will be present at the opening of their House.

It is proposed to draw up a set of rules for bathing at the Guide House, to suit the conditions there. Details will be published at a later date.

Improvements and Repairs.

It is hoped to have the necessary improvements and repair~ advanced as far as possible for the opening by Lord Hampton. The large sitting room, which is being provided by the Camberwell North Rangers Auxiliary, will be ready, and plans are being made for the painting of the outside of the house. The proposed colour scheme is a gery roof, white house, with a delightful shade of blue for verandah railings, windows and doors. The beds, which will be on the verandahs, will also be painted blue to match the windows, etc.

Two sleepouts are to be erected at the Brownie Cottage, each to accommodate six people. The Hawthorn Brownie Guiders have offered to be responsible for the improvement and upkeep of the bathroom in the cottage, and it is hoped that further offers will be forthcoming from Brownies for the furnishing of the other rooms. There are three bedrooms,' a playroom and a kitchen, and it is felt that country districts as well as those in the metropolitan area would like to have a share in the furnishing of the cottage.

The East Malvern and Glen Iris District has offered to be responsible for the care and upkeep of the swimming pool. Arrangements are being made for the cleaning of the pool, probably during the week-end of November 12 and 13, and plans are being considered for making one end shallow for non-swimmers and beginners.

New water pipes have been laid on to the camp sites at a cost of over £40. As the result of a Bridge Party held last month, £20 of this amount was raised, and the balance has

Endowment Fund.

The Endowment Fund is not yet fully subscribed, and there are many Companies and Packs which have not yet reserved a special day as their very own. In many Districts, individual Companies and Packs have endowed days, but not the District as a whole. Districts might like the thought of endowing a certain day, and then endeavour to hold an annual rally as near that date as possible, at the Guide House.

It is our job, as owners of this property, to see that it is fully endowed. The following dates are a\"ailable for November:-

3rd 6th 8th 10th

12th 13th 15th 16th

21st 22nd 24th 26th 29th It is not necessary to wait until you have the £5 before you can reserve your daywrite to Headquarters now, saying which date you want reserved, and then send in the £5 as you raise it.

AN APPEAL. From the Guide House Furnishing Committee.

The task of evolving a Guide House worthy of our Movement would be made much easier if Companies and friends would give money instead of a miscellaneous collection of furniture which would be harder to ,fit into the hc-use than the solving of a jig saw puzzle!

There is at present quite a ' collection of furniture which has been donated during our time of waiting for our Guide House-as well as that which was in the house at Warburton.

Our urgent needs are Beds, Mattresses and

November, 1938

MATILDA

Blankets, which it is desirable to obtain before 26th December, when the First Training Week will be held. We shall have enough bedsteads for the bedrooms, but will need stretchers for the verandahs-approximate cost of each being 25/ -. We need 24.

The cost of each Mattress is 27/6.

Grey Blankets are desirable and will cost 10/ - each. We need at least 50.

You will realise that by buying in quantitie!' we obtain substantial reductions in price.

We make this appeal in the hope that it will meet the same quick and generous response as did the Gardening Committee's appeal for trees and shrubs!

To help this furnishing fund, the Brighton Local Association has arranged a dramatic performance of "Mr. Pym Passes by" on November 9th at the Brighton Town Hall. Admission 2/ 2, which includes booking fee. Children half price.

Donations sent to Miss L. Andrews, Girl Guide Office, 60 Market Street, will be gratefu lly received and acknowledged.

At a later date we shall probably need help in making bedspreads-then will be your chance to show your handcraft abilities.

Child..en's Party.

On Saturday, October 22nd, Brownie Guiders of the Brighton District held a children's party at Firbank, by courtesy of Miss Cameron, in aid of the Guide House. There were nearly 100 children there, and they spent a happy afternoon with games, races, and exciting pea nut hunts, together with dips, ice cream and afternoon tea. The sum of £2/10/was raised as a result of the afternoon's effort.

BROWNIE GUIDERS' EFFORT FOR GUIDE HOUSE FUND. Th e Brownie Guiders are holding a jumble sale at the Prahran Town Hall on Friday, 18th Nove m b ~ I ·.

Would any person who hg,s anything suitab le for a jumble sale please get in touch with the secretary, Miss B. Casper, Windsor 1716 so that the goods may be called fOI·. The following Packs have a lready sent donations to the fund. Has yours?:-lrt East Malvern, 2nd East Mg,lvern, 1st Glen Iris, 7th M.alvern. 1st Richmond. 11th Malvern. 1st Brighton, 5th Kew, 3rd Co lac, 1st West Melbourne, 1st Sunshine, 1st Moonee Ponds, 2nd Brighton, 1st Sandringham, 1st Tatura, 1st Port Melbourne, 1st Port Fairy, 3rd Prahran, 1st Carlton, 1st Minyip, 2nd Hawthorn. 4th St. Kild g" 1st Canterbury, 5th Malvern, 1st Lang Lang, 9th Hawthorn, 3rd Williamstown, 4th Malvern, 1st Burwood.

-B.C.

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Editor: Joan Alston.

EXTENSION GUIDERS' CONFERENCE. Between 20 and 25 Extension Guiders were present at their Conference on October 8th, when many matters of interest were discussed .

Miss Campbell (Commissioner for Extensions) was in the chair. Speaking of the number of children convalescing from infantile paralysis, who are now able to go in their prams to Company meetings, Miss Campbell warned Captains to see that the heads of their prams were propped up so that they would not have to raise their heads to see what was taking place, as this is very bad for those in splints.

During the afternoon, Miss Dorothy Moore, Cubmistress of the Post Cubs, visited the Conference and told of the progress of Cubbing and Scouting among the handicapped boys.

After tea, Miss Mary Lambe, who has just returned from abroad, gave a talk on Extension Guiding she had seen in France and elsewhere.

Following t hat Miss Foott gave some very helpful ideas on the composition and decoration of Post Company letters and the Conference then closed with the singing of Taps.

-J.A.

A REQUEST TO ALL CAPTAINS. Many infantile paralysis patients are now able to go to active Company meetings. Will all Captains who have such children in their Companies, please let Miss Campbell, 41 Spring Street, C.l., have their names, addresses, and particulars of their disabilities (if any).

Miss Campbell does not wish to have them in Post Companies if they are able to go to active meetings, but she would like their names for reference for the medical authorities, and

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also fro Extension Camps. For some time these children will not be able to go to ordinary Guide camps but will be quite able to join an Extension one.

-J.A.

November, 1938

the object in putting it in our page is to show you that your Guides and you yourself needn't go very far afield to get a varied and interesting assortment of observations.

And these simple observations will open up no end of discussions, and so on, these leading to further observations and discoveriesthat's the exciting part-you never stop discovering things.

Discovering-That's the Next Step.

E dit m' : ELS IE SYDES.

An Explanation.

If you look at last month's "Matilda" (October), you will find that "Bush Lore" starts with three short bits under the headings"Now Black Eggs," "The Proboscis," "Final Stage." I know it is a lot to ask busy people to go further back, to the September "Ma¡¡ tilda" this time, but if you want to complete the story entitled, Birth of a Pupa, you'll have to re-read it and then tack on the two bits from October. The Proboscis, and Final Stage on.

Such a pity that so interesting a story got a bit muddled-we apologise, both to the readers and the writer.

What A Guide Can Find in the Backyard.

The following notes were made between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., in and around an ordinary back yard and garden.

Spider-silk strands shining in the sunsilvereyes in hedge-dove on fence preening and sunning itself-linnets singing and also seen-blackbirds busy-spinebill heard frequently but not seen-cuckoo singing in the dlstance-cypress hedge has growth on it like match-heads and when touched a cloud of pollen flies out-pet magpie caught a "woolly bear" and watched his method of preparing it for eating-he rubbed it and rubbed it on the hard ground until the poor thing hadn't a hair left on its body, then he swallowed it whole. Watched bees at work on poppies amI on grape hyacinths-saw the yellow lump on his leg-three kinds of butterflie!j in gardencnper white, imperial white or was it the wood white? (the book has got me dithered now) and a pretty brown one-common brown I should think-butterf lies just won't sit still to order-dragonfly-starling on newly watered lawn, digging and poking about-pulled out a white grub and flew off with it-hover f1iesshepherd's purse with seeds on.

And Now, The Next Step.

The foregoing list is rather long and perhaps you won't have time to read through it, but

Take the above notes:l.-Do the Guides know why the air is filled \,/it h long spider-silk strands? Have they seen these?

2.-What were the silvereyes after in the hedge? Why are they a very useful bh'd in the orchard or garden? Do they know this pretty little fellow?

3.-Can they identify birds by their songs -a most f ascinating game. Once you get into the way of it you unconsciously hear every note, and say there's a so-and-so and pick out a new tune or note. Then, too, this leads to stalking, because if you hear a song you don't know, it becomes imperative that you track the owner down-sometimes it is an old friend and you discover he has more than one song.

4.-Investigate the pollen knobs on cypress.

This opens up a wide field-pollination by bees and by artificial means. You could bring flowers to the Company Meeting and do this with a brush.

5.-From this you can get on to color and smell of flowers-why do they have lovely perfume and color-I bet the Guides think its for our pleasure.

6.-Do they watch the bees at work? Do they know what that yellow lump is? Have they seen it? Get them to watch them on different flowers-you can suggest these. Iceland poppies first-these will lead on to stamens, etc, then grape hyacinths-using scent to attract while the poppy uses color.

7.-What part does the nectar play in all this?

S.-What does the butterfly go after the flowers for? What is the long "nose" he has, and what for?

9.-Why do birds fly off with grubs, etc., in their beaks? Stick to it, because Nature is a natural thing to the child.

What the Child Saw, I saw this day sweet flowers grow thickBut not one like the child did pick.

I heard the pack hounds in green parkBut no dog like the child heard bark.

November, 1938.

MATILDA

I heard this day bird after birdBut not one like the child has heard.

A hundred butterflies saw I But not one like the child saw fly.

I saw the horses roll in grassBut no horse like the child saw pass.

My world this day has lovely beenBut not like what the child has seen.

-W. H. DAVIES.

Catkins and Seeds.

If a person sees two trees growing side by side, one covered with red things and one covered with green things, do they know that tr.ey can both be elms? The other day, when the trees were all very busy putting on their "robes of green" and doing other exciting things, a pair of us were admiring trees, when we saw the two trees mentioned. I dubbed them both elms, but my companion would have none of it, simply because one looked green and one red.

Flowers and Hops.

And why? The reddish one was still covered with tiny flowel's, the green one had leaves?, no, it had what we call h ops on it.

These hops are the seeds, and have you ever stopped to think that the elm gets busy and };as its seeds before it gets its leaves, while the oaks, chestnuts, and hazels grow leaves, and the fruit or seeds go on growing all through the summer, until they finally ripen and drop in the autumn.

THANK YOU. The Guiders of the Ca rlton District would like to say "Thank You" to a ll those who helped with their jumble sale either by helping to stock the stalls or acting as saleswomen, The nett proceeds amounted to ÂŁ6 / 0/ 9, -ENA ALLEN.

CORRESPONDENCE. E ssendon, 22nd October.

Dear Madam,Would it be possible that at the next Conference we mi g ht be able to confer? We are getting rather Fascist in some ways, and I think a more democratic spirit would be a good thing. I was reading in an American Girl Scout magazine that the ' design for their uniform had met with unanim'ous approval. I was not surprised to h ear that, as I have seen their uniform. Now, could you honestly say that ours had met with approval?

Jt might be satisfactory in England where the

9

average school girl is not nearly so smartly dressed as the average Australian school girl, but the criticism of many parents, friends of the movement, as well as Guiders can hal'dly be regard ed as enthusiastic approval. I feel we have no right to feel that becaul"e a thing is uniform that it does not matter how unbecoming it is. A bright colour may be satisfactory in a country where sunli ght is a rarity, but it is not suitable for our countJ¡y. It is a delightful colour on those who are blessed with good complexions, but on people like myself it is pathetic-or trag'ic, certainly deplorable. \Ve made a move toward the bette l' when we left off wearing black stOCkings, but for some ten years I pleaded that we might keep up with the times and have more attractive foot wear. Do we have to wait another ten years before we have a uniform, which even if not becoming, is at least not r epellent? The cool g reen of America, the biscuit of Rhodesia, the charming coffee colour of the Belgians, the grey of Poland and the blue-grey of the 'W orld Bureau are a ll attractive-probably they are so attractive, as they are retiring colours, and can therefore be worn by all colourings. A decisive colour like our own royal blue decided who can, and alas, who cannot wear it. I do think we should realise that no part of our country is as cool or as dull as the mildest part of England, and that therefore what is suitable there is not necessarily suitable here. Remember, too, that in many domestic colleges there, Australians have found that the pastel shades as worn here do not go well with the grey skies, but deep blues and violets have seemed quite as right there as wrong h ere.

Lastly could I make a plea fol' more hygienic badges. An English Guider was moaning that uniforms are not washed sufficiently often. It is no wonder with all the gadgets we have.

In Scandinavia they have silver or gold bars to denote the po session of four proficiency badges.

These are worn, in one coun try on the shoulder tab I think, but they could be easily made in pin form. The present service stars are most sensible, just the one. A pin could be used for first and second class a lso, the ordinary tenderfoot with a plain ring round it for second class, and the same with mauve or red ring round it for first-class-the tiny tenderfoot to be worn out of uniform. With pinable things our uniform would be much more sensible-and could be kept cleaner. And if eyelets are worked for the pins there would be no fraying-the working of the eyelets could be part of the second-class.-Yours, etc.

LEILA TULLOR.

10

MATILDA

JOklt Editors: M. Heseltine; M. Butt.

"Make it a rule . . . never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say, "1 have made a human being happier."

-Kingsley.

Christmas P resents.

Now is the time to start the Pack on indivich.:al handicrafts for presents for mothers and fathers at Christmas.

Anything we make must be simple, attractive and useful. We shall find joy in the making) and giving of a gift and we hope to pass on the joy to the recipient by giving her something that she can use.

Many attractive things can be made from hessian. Old sugar bags (well washed and ironed) can be cut up and made into kettleholders, oven cloths and even cushions for the verandah. Decol'ate them with colored wool or cottons. Do not use wool for oven cloths.

Kitchen calendars are useful and can be w ade attractive by using the prettiest pictures from last year's Christmas cards. Father may like a spec'.acle wiper or pen wiper. Start early, because you do not want to be spending your last meetings on handicrafts only, or perl-aps Brown Owl will find herself "finishin g off" for some of the slow ones. Most Brownies iike tJ say, "1 made this all by myself."

A

Chris~mas

Handicraft,

Materials:-llb. mot h balls, ~ yd. Tricolent! (gold), ~ yd. ditto, silver, a number of 3-inch squares of thin silk in pretty colours;some coloured ribbon about ~ inch wide; and a reel of thread.

Method.-Cut the Tricolene into 3-inch rquares, you will get 72 from a yard. Place a mothball in a square of silk, bring the silk tig htly round the ball, bunch the ends together, and wind thread round, fastening with a stitch, cut the ends of silk off as short as possible. . Put the silk-covered ball in a square of Trico_ lene; this will stretch one way but not the other, bring . the non-stretchy sides togteher

November, 1938.

over the ball, then pull out the stretchy one as long as you can and twist together to form a stalk about 3 inches long; when you have made five, tie the stalks together with a neat bow of ribbon; these are very pretty if made all the same colour, and tied with a matching ribbon. The cost of making these is very small; Tricolene costs 1/ 3 per yd. at Foy's, ribbon ~d . per yd. at Woolworth's, moth balls are 7~d. per lb., and the silk scraps cost nothing.

-P.M.N.

Novel Pincushion Made from Gum-Nuts.

Many useful articles may be made from gum-nuts which can be found on trees at this time of the year.

Choose fairly old gum-nuts or ones which have dried well, and gild them. Cut a 4in. diameter circle of lavender shaded velvet or stiff silk and run a drawn thread through the edge. Then draw up slightly. Take sufficient cotton-wool or soft stuffing and pack tightly into the circle. Draw up the edge of the circle. Then spread glue on the inside of the gum-nuts. Push the pincushion into the nut firmly.

Stick pins into the pin-cushion and it will look like a thistle. If you wish, add a bow of tartan ribbon.

-M.E.H.

Serviette Rings.

Use any plain material which is firm enough for Brownies to handle easily. Cut into strips about ten inches by four and cut one end to a point. Let the Brownies turn down a hem cf about half an inch, and tack it with coloured cotton, first the sides, then the square end, and then t !1e pointed end. Then two more rows of tacking right round, using different colors and, or different sized stitches.

Sew a press stud, so that the point overJaps square end by about an inch and a half (be sure Brownies realise that the hem is on the right side) and finish by working a spray of flowers, six emblem or initials.

-H.G.

November, 1938

MATILDA

Wash1ing Up the Tea Things.

Washing up is an important part of the Recruit Test, but one which is apt to be neglected as all children are quite sure they know all about it. To be he:pful they should be quick and really efficient. Some Recruit;:; I have tested have been very slow and you can understand a mother preferring to do it herself, rather than have a child dawdling in the kitchen.

Brown Owls should make their recl'llits practise a number of times before allowing them to go for the test. For practice only one cup, saucer, plate, etc., is needed, but for the actual test have more. Be sure to have dish cloth, tea towel and a hand towel and real soap. To make it more interesting, time each child and take points off for mistakes, and see who has the least mistakes and does it in the shortes<.; time. Keep records and the child will b~ really keen to improve.

11

in our ties and shoe-laces; and we have a toy dog whose sole occupation is to sit near the fence or a chair, while his lead is made fast with a round turn and two half-hitches; then there is the clothes line, which somehow seems always to be in two pieces, at least, the main bit of it is all right, but if it was a few feet longer, we could use all the good bit for the clothes, so we join on a thinner piece of cord, really thinner, so that it needs l\ sheet-bend to make it hold; the thin piece is tied to the fence with a round turn, an 1 the other end to a loop of rope which can be left hanging from the post and makes putting up the clothes line quite quick and simple.

Be sure that dishes are packed before starting, things washed in right order, silver to be dried straight away and dry hands on hand towel before picking up tea towel (this is nearly always omitted, probably because the child has had someone to dry up for her).

Bench must be wiped, cloth rinsed and hung up and everything put away tidily.

A good Six game can be played by telling a story which entails mention of a large number of knots, but not naming the knots required, e.g., "She jumped off her pony, and tied the halter rope to the' fence; then she noticed that her shoe-lace was untied, etc." The Brownies run up in turn one from each Six, as the knots ' are required, and tie them, as realistically as possible, each Brownie can earn one bean, or peanut (a very popular idea) for knowing which knot is required, and other for being able to tie it; count up and seat peanuts at the end.

P.M.N.

Washing Up.

Brownie Song.

How about having a special session with your recruits, prospective Golden Bars and Golden Hands. The Golden Bars lay the table, Golden Hands cook milk pudding and stewed fruit and make the tea. Brown Owl could provide some "animal" biscuits to take the place of meat and then all can take part in the meal. At the finish the recruits can wash up, but you will probably find that everybody wants to take part and if you insist on the recruits, they will feel most important.

Also we have been given a very attractive tea-set from the Guide Company. What could be more fascinating than to be allowed to wa~h up their very own things.

-M.E.H.

In my experience, the only part of the Brownie Song which is readily understood by most children is the phrase, "We're the Brown¡¡ ies"! The part which is hardest to make clear seems to be, "Here's our Aim." Finding it quite impossible to disabuse the pack's mind of the fact that it had something to do with throwing things, I once made a target with a lovely golden centre on which was written, "Lend a Hand, Play the Game," and a white circle round it with "I help sometimes" and "I'm not very mean," and then a black circle with "I never think about anybody exceptJ myself." This worked pretty well -it showed that what we are "aiming at" is the best we can do.

Knots.

Both the phrases "Lend a hand" and "Play the Game" will be more thoroughly understood if Brown Owl and Tawny can remember to use them at Pack Meetings; there are so many opportunities if you will school yourself to come out with "Lend So-and-So a Hand with this" or "Who will Lend me a Hand."

This does help to fix the meaning, and who

I decided long ago, when 1 first had to de with Brownies that the way to teach knots i.'l not to take pieces of string and say, "this i~ the way to tie a reef, or a sheet-bend, etc."but always to tie the kpJt by using it in it';~ proper place. In our Pack, we tie reef knots

12

MATILDA

doesn't need "Play the Game" a dozen times every afternoon when over-keen competitors wriggle over the line?

-P.M.N.

. . . . . TO DO MY DUTY TO GOD, AND THE KING. Religions suffers to-day, not so much from people thinking individually as from their not thinking at all. None of us can get round thp. fact that a promise of duty to God implies some sort of religion, not necessarily adherence to a particular denomination or creed, but it does imply knowledge of what is meant by "God" and our relationship to that God. Most of us, if cornered, would find it difficult to give an adequate explanation of what we mean by. the word "God," let alone what we conceive is our duty to "God." We should not dream of trying to teach a Brownie a reef knot unless we had a clear idea of what that knot was, yet somehow God seems less important. You might argue that it is not the job of the Guider to teach religion, no, it's not, but it cannot be ignored that the first promise to be made by the Brownie and the first one made by the Guider, concerns duty to God. Ideally we should first remove the beams from our own eyes before we set about removing the motes from theirs. And the beams, even among those of us who flatter ourselves on our intelligence, are many. Childish ideas still persist, though perhaps disguised in our own thinking, now, that is if we do think about God, not just make buzzes in our brains about the subject. I think if many of us studied carefully our own conceptions about God we would cough hastily and change the subject. Might I suggest some "Beams."

To many of us God is a larger person than ourselves-perhaps an enlargement of our parents or of someone who stood in authority over us, but someone larger and with do smaller mind. We discredit him with motives which we would think unworthy of ourselves.

Some particularly unpleasant happening is described as a "judgment." A child is run over by a careless motorist and dies in fearful agony and someone says, "It is the will of God." Our own will could not be so horrible, yet we call God All-Good, All-Merciful and do not intend to be ironical. We look complacently around us at the suffering world, and as it's so much easier to shift the responsibilities to God, we murmur about the Will of God and

November, 1938

-do nothing.

To many, God is a capricious tyrant, dealing out favours one day, and blows the next. He is a Being that must be placated. He has a searchlight eye which he uses to spy on us and catch us out. He is rather petty and revengeful ,much more so than we are, we call himGod the All-Loving.

Then of course to many he is a dear old Gentleman with a long white robe and long white beard, a glorified Father Christmas and Public Benefit Society. He must be a bit deaf, I think, for he sometimes does not hear our requests, still one can be hopeful, for after all it might be a hearing day. Yes, a benevolent being, mild and harmless, and hardly as intelligent as we are.

These pictures may seem silly, but they are only slight exaggerations of the silliness of ideas as evidenced by many of our prayers.

And if we let these ideas persist, how can we help our Brownies? If we have not a clear idea of God, how can we get a clear idea of duty I think that many of us hopefully teach the Brownie her duty to her neighbour and rather hope that it will do. This of course, is putting second things first, or simply ignoring first things. We would do far better to give the Brownie an uplifting picture of God. We can do this through stories, and through Nature. So many of us take nature for granted. and most of us could afford at times "to stop and stare." If we believe in God as revealed through Jesus Christ we can learn to accept cheerfully those things which are dull, disagreeable and distasteful by following his example. If we agree with Paul that our "bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit then there are vast aspects of duty unfolding, keeping fit is not just a good idea, but a duty; so too is cleanliness, temperance, and I think, tidiness.

If we feel prayer is a duty, then we must stress that prayers are prayed and not just said. If we feel that our duty is to serve God, we realise that the best service comes from love, and that we cannot love God unless we know him.

This is an endless subject, but there are limits to patience and space!

The second promise calls for practical things, not just vague generalities. We can urge that we keep our King's laws, e.g., crossing road~ at the right times, etc., respecting other people's property, rather than not killing people, or taking an interest in Parliament. It might be pointed out that laws are made for (Concluded on Page 19)

Ncvember, 1938.

13

MATILDA

THE SIGN POST Editor: Ruth Denny,

THE ABORIGINAL BADGE. (Concluded. ) rong tribe lived (according to Howitt) was bounded by the coast of Port Phillip, Hobsons Bay east from the mouth of the Werribee River -included the w/"H)le of the Mornington Peninsula and then via Westernport to Anderson's Inlet. Then a line ran north to the Baw Baw Moun1nins and followed the Yarra-Yarra River fl'om there back to the starting point. In this area of about 3,000,000 acres lived about a thousand aborigines. This number was dl'aStically reduced to less than half by a fierce war with the Gippsland and am eo blacks in 1834-and what now remains of the tribe is housed at the reserve at Lake Tyers in Gippsl!lIld. Most Boonerongs had the septum of their nose pierced by a double-pointed bone- and this is the type depicted in the museum.

Skin rugs-usually of possum-were used.

There are still quantities of possums on the peninsula-their quaint nests being quite common in the l"crub. These nests are usually built of twigs and small living tree branches closely interwoven and bound together sometimes with clematis, making them almost unnoticeable. The nest is about eighteen inches high by about twelve wide, the side entrance revealing a cosy closely-lined interior. Never will I forget the day I climbed a tree to investigate the contents of a possum's nest-I nearly fell off the tree with shock when a silver possum, jumped out with a baby tightly clinging to its mother's back!

Boonerong ceremonies were less elaborate than those Df the Northern and Centl-al aborigines, and their indivicluality was more developed. Their tendency was towards the "family" rather than to the tribe as a unit. This area was more sparsely populated than others because this is one of the far corners of Australia, the line of immigration from a central body of aborigines, being from the North-West of Australia, .and before the advent of whites, there was not sufficient time lor the aborigines to Increase naturally.

Another llItction that is of great interest arid not includen in "Blackfellows of Australia," concerns sign l.a.nguage. Sign language . w ith the aboriginals, was perfect. Of 400 tl'ibes !lnce in Aust"ralia. all spoke a 'different language--so it would have been impossibTe' to have been it great linguist-therefore a hand-sign language ¡was made up, This was almost universally known, and there was a sign for everything. It was developed and well-practised because most tribes had periods of "no talking" or silence. The

medicine-men: men that were dying: women that were not allowed to speak for at least two years aftel' their husband's deaths, u sed it too.

The signs were the same all over the continent, and a visiting native who knew nothing said in Lhe language of his hosts, was thus enabled to carryon quite a conversation with them in the sign language, Prof. Baldwin Spencer in his "vVanderings in Wild Australia" (at the Public Library) gives illustrations of many different hand-signs and other general information on this subject.

Who will say that the Australian aborigin e is not intelligent!

As an illustrat.ion of this articl e I have left my "black exercise" at headquarters for one month, where it can be examin ed by any who wish. This book illustrates both the Guide and Ranger Badges.

- G.O. ---:0:----

WIDE GAMES FROM THE WOODCRAFT WEEK. Stalking the Wounded Kangaroo.

Choose three players as wounded kang"al'oos. they hide in three different directions, the same distance from home. A whistle is the signal for the hunters to start tracking their qual'J'y. When one hunter :;ees another, the one seen is a dead man. Each hunter has three lives. A whistle is blown at frequent intervals at the home base and kangaroos must <;lnswer by blowing theirs.

These are the "gToans" of the wounded animals, and assist the hunters in stalking them. Each kangaroo has a slip of pape!' on which the successful hunter writes her name. The game is won by the hunter or tribe with the most scalps, according to the numbel's playing.

Flag Raiding.

Appoin t. two captains who pick sides. Give ta e.acb. team three flags and numbers . for their hats. (diffel'en.t colo).lred paper for each s i.dfl.l. The two 9:~t{lins . then lead off their team; - in rlifferent directions fol' five minutes. They then choose th,eh'. headquarters and plant the flags, two P!tlces apart in a triangle. Half the side is posted ten paces away to guard the flags, leaving the remainder free to stalk those of the enemy. An

14

MA TILDA

enemy is "killed" when her number is read correc:tly. The number must not be concealed by the hand, but the head may be held up or placed against a fence or on the ground. At the end of a certain time, the side with most flags is the winner. Tilts - game calls for strategy, skill and imagination and can be easily adapted for a town meeting if there is a park or garden available.

Despatch Bearing.

Choose three good stalkers and give to one the note to be brought in to headquarters. It may be concealed anywhere on th e person, the middle pleat of the pocket being a good spot. Send the three bearers to a certain point, from where they will have to reach headqu arters without being caught. Post a line of scouts to prevent the despatch bearers getting to their destination. If a bearer is caught, she may be searched about her uniform, but no undressing should be allowed as it makes the game too long. After a certain time a whistle should be blown, when all players r eturn to headquarters a t once.

Some of the chief points in these games are: Definite training in stalking, patience, independence of spirit, self control, imagination, ~trategy, judgment of time, courage, taking risks, team work, poise and concentration.

-J.H. ----:0:---

ST . ANDREW, NOVEMBER 30th.

If there be any truth in the statement made by the late Lord Rosebery in which h e ~aid that Foreign Missionaries are among the best ambassadors that the Empire has, then Scotland may be justly proud, if only from a national point of view, of hel' patron saint; for we read that after the Ascension of our LOI'd, Andrew was the first of the apostles to carry the gospel into foreign lands and s o was the pioneer of an illustrious line.

He travelled in Scythia and Russia as the first missionary to the Muscavites, and later, after his return to Jerusalem set out on a spcond mission, this time to Greece. He was the means of converting the wife of the Roman Governor at Patroe and for this he paid the price of martyrdom, for the husband was so angry at his wife embracing the Christian faith that he condemned to death, the aposlle, by c rucifixion. Legend has it that Andrew asked that a diagonal cross should be used, deeming himself unworthy to die after the same manner as his Master. This was done, and f O have the diagonal St. Andrew's Cross.

A reminder of the quiet unassuming man noted for his loyalty and for great cheerfulness under persecution.

The Governor's wife who was the unwilling

November, 1938

cause of his death showed her sorrow and her regard for Andrew by caring for his body after the event, he was buried, but the bones were late r taken up and removed to Constantinople, where they were placed in the "Church of the Apostles" alongside those of St. Luke, but they were not to rest there, for in the year 1208 a cerlain Cardinal, a native of Amalfi, that lovely spot in the South of Italy, wishing to make a gift to his native town, secured the relics and to-day they lie in a gold coffin in a dim c rypt surrounded by a forest of tapers in the Cathedral of Amalfi.

All this sounds foreign to Scotland's patron saint, but Andrew's connection with that country came later when Bishop Acca, according to tradition after the visitation of an angel to a monl{ in Italy with the order to go forth and found a city in honour of the saint in the far western world, brought some of the relics to the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland and placed them in a church there, the city which subsequently grew up receiving the name, St. Andrews, this took place about the eighth century.

The shrine at St. Andrews evidently became rapidly a popular place of pilgrimage if we al'e to believe the evidence of an old votive tablet which is supposed to have hung in a chapel in the town, giving a date as far back as the Norman Conquesl, it says: "The loquacious Frenchman , the warlike Roman, the Flemish weaner, the uncivilised German, the Englishman, the Saxon, the Hollander, the naked Pict, and strangel's from the Rhone and the Tiber came to seek the prayers of Sl. Andrew."

To-day St. Andrew's is still the goal of travellers fl'om all parts of the world, the ancient city is now thronged by pilgrims differing greatly in outward appearance and inner motive from those of eal'ly days, nevertheless. the modern pluR fours , tweed coated devotees are none the less earnest in their quest than were those who prostraterl lhemselves at the shrine of the gentle saint so long ago!

There is yet anothel' leg'end which tells of the appearance of the diagonal white Cross to the Kings of the Scots, Acharin and Angusan, the eve of the battle between them and Athelstone of Eng land aftel' the battle which was a fierce one and gave the victory to the former, the Kings of the victorious forces adopted St. Andrew as the Patron Saint of Scotland in gratitude for help afforded in the fight.1 How much truth lies in this stQry we know not, but the white diagonal cross indicative of purity of purpose on the dark blue field standing perhaps for steadfastness has long been adopted as the national flag of Scot-

(Continued on Page 19)

15

MATILDA

November, 1938.

THE RANGERS' PAGE -------:0:----- Editor: Elsie Coutts.

"If there is anything in the world a person should fight for, it is the freedom to pursue his ideal, because in that is his great opportunity for self-expression, for the unfoldment of the greatest thing possible to him."

-Orison Sweet Marden.

COOK'S BADGE (Senior).

I.-Show knowledge of washing up utensils, boa'r ds, etc., used in the test. .

I All utensils used for milk, egg, paste, etc., should be soaked well in cold water before being washed in hot.

Wooden Articles" such as paste-board, spoon, rolling-pin, should be scrubbed in cold water with sand-soap. Rub soap on the article, not on the brush, and scrub the way of the grain. Rinse well, stand by to dry, but do not expose to heat. To keep woodware white, do not use hot water, nor soap that contains an excess of soda.

Tinware is washed in hot soapy water, and dried well by standing at the side of the stove.

Order of Washing Dishes-Glassware, silver and cutlery, china, enamelware, and tins, saucepans, dish or sink.

2.-Be able to make tea, coffee and cocoa, and understand the use of the hay-box.

Tea.-Boil fresh water. Heat tea-pot. Allow one level teaspoon for each person and one for pot (up to 5 persons). The moment the water comes to the boil, pour it on tea. Let tea brew for five minutes before using.

OOffee.-Allow one level dessertspoonful coffee for each person, a pinch of salt and a pinch of mustard. Add ~-cup water for each person. Bring to boil in saucepan or percolator and simmer half to one hour. For cafe au lait (white coffee) use ~ cup coffee and fill with cream or warmed milk. For cafe noir (black coffee) serve in coffee cup with sliced lemon.

Cocoa.-One or two teaspoonfuls cocoa to one cup milk or milk and water, one teaspoon sugar and pinch of salt. Blend cocoa with a little of the milk or water. Heat remainder

and stir in blended cocoa. Stir till boiling, and boil two or three minutes.

HAY BOX. Adva,n tages of Hay-Box Cookery.-It is an ideal method for foods that require long, gentle, even cooking. There, is no likelihood of foods being burned. The busy housekeeper may leave her dinner to cook without attention whilst she goes about her work.

To M.ake a Hay Box.-Any good strong box may be used , so long as it is about eight inches larger than the can to be used.

Line the box, including the lid, with newspaper, and tack over it a layer of floor felt or flannel. Inside this, pack tightly fine hay to a depth of about 4 inches. Now pack in the cans to be used, keeping them about 4 inches apart, and pack hay firmly around and between each.

A cushion is made of flannel or felt and stuffed with hay to place above the cans. The lid of the box should be hinged and fitted with a clasp or fastener.

Rul~

for Hay-Bbx Cookery.

l.-All foods must be at boiling point and in heated utensils when placed in box.

2.-Utensils used must have tightly fitting lids.

3.-Do not uncover foods until ready to remove from box.

4.-Foods take about four times the usual length of time to cook in a hay box.

The principle upon which the hay-box works is that newspaper felt and hay are all bad conductors cf heat---that is, heat will not pass through them easily a s it will through, say, an iron-bar. Therefore, if the food is put in when at boiling point it will be kept at a high temperature for a long time.

(Seetion III. to appear " next issue.)

-E.R.C.

SOME THOUGHTS ON THE HIGHWAY CODE. How to Walk and Drive Safely.

What do you think about when driving a car, or crossing a street? In 320 B.C. Aris-

16

MATILDA

totle solved the traffic problem of 1938, when he observed the effect of thoughts on mankind. That great philosopher noted that young men look upward; their thoughts are in the future. Middle-aged men look straight ahead, their thoughts are in the present. Old men look downward, their thoughts are in the past.

If a man's gaze is upward, said Aristotle, he thinks of the future . If straight ahead, he thinks of the present. If his gaze restn on the ground he thinks of the past.

A great many traffic accidents involve the very young and the old-those who look up or down. When driving or walking in traffic, thmk only of the immediate present.

Anima~ on the Road.-In country districts you may not have to bother about side streets, but you need to anticipate animals on the road just around the corners or slow-moving horse vehicles with bad lights or no lights at all.

And if you pass animals at the side of the road, don't go fast, for you never can tell when a horse, cow, sheep, pig or fowl may decide to cross your path Or may be frightened into doing so. Sounding your horn will not help in this situation. From that you can anticipate confusion. Just slow down and go quietly past.

November, 1938

Five Shillings). Any Rangers visiting Sydney and unable to attend for full moot can have particulars on application.

Transport will be by train and the party will travel together. Second-class return fare, ÂŁ3/ 10/ 8. Rangers attending moot for part time only must arrange their own transport.

Kit List will be forwarded to applicants later.

Uniform will be worn at all times during the moot and for travelling. For the uniform to be worn by all Victorians, see October's "Matilda."

Medical Certificates.-Each applicant must present a medical certificate signed by a doctor, as well as the regular Headquarters Health Form.

DEBBIE BRADSHAW, Secretary.

(Continued from P age 17.) will represent all Divisions in the Western District of Victoria. The organiser of the camp is Miss M. Morris, District Commissioner of Hamilton, and the Guider-in-charge will be Miss C. Broadhurst, of Melbourne.

Ocean Grove.

RANGER MOOT NEW SQUTH WALES. 29th December, 1938--9th January, 1939.

RANGERS & RANGER GUIDERS-do you have your holidays at the end of the year'?

If so, why not visit Sydney and attend the Ranger Moot to be held between Thursday, December 29th, and Monday, January 9th?

During the moot trips will Qe arranged, and these will include a trip to the Hawkesbury and Parramatta, down the South Coast, Tooronga Park Zoo, and other beauty spots.

Place.-The Moot will be an oindoor camp to be held at various schools.

Application must be made on forms obtainable from the Ranger Secretary, Or the Guide office. These must be returned to her c/ o Girl Guide Office, as soon as possible. A deposit of ten shillings must accompany each application.

Fee.-For the period of the Moot, which is twelve days, the camp fee for Victorian Rangers and Ranger Guiders is ÂŁ2/5/ (Two Pounds

Guiders will remember that a Camping Coul"se was held at "Bungarra" camp, Oc('an Grove, in May and June of this yeal". As a result three Guiders have passed the required tests for the Camper's Licence for this ~ ite. They are Miss Mollie Connan, 1st Pascoe Vale; Miss Allison Moffat, 3rd Geelong', and Miss Elizabeth Alfred, 2nd East Malvern.

Guide House Holiday.

It was agreed at the Guiders' Conference that it would be a good plan to have a Guide Holiday for Guides in the Guide Honse during the May holidays next year. The details of this will be announced later.

Camp craft Badge.

The following Guiders and Rangers have passed the required tests for the Campcraft Badge, this year: M. Connan. Capt. 1st Pascoe Vale ; D. Bradshaw, Ranger, S.R.S. Invi[lcible; M. Glasgow, Capt. 1st Lang Lang;- L. ' !lan"is, Capt. 1st Dandenong; M. Brumley, Li eu'f. , 1st Dandenong.

-ELAINE E. MORAN.

!November, 1938.

M AT I L D A

17

CAMPING and TRAINING "Look at the t"isi'llg S1In: the"e God does live And gives His light, a11d gives His heat wway, And fiolcers and trees and beasts and men receive Comfort in morning, joy in the noonday."

-Wm. Blake.

Sydney Visit, 1939.

Applications to join the party of Guides going to Sydney in January closed on 15th October.

At th is date t here were still one or two vacancies, and if anyone has left it rather late to apply there is just a possibility that there will be room for her if she writes to _the Campjng Secretary at the Gu ide Office at once.

The/'e is a slight alteration to. the details of uniform g'iven in "Matilda" last month.- The correction is-Tie should be own Company Colour, width 3 ins,-instead of 2~ ins.

Any Guide, Ranger or Guider who is visiting Sydney during the Jamboree is invited to attend the Guide Day at the Jamboree with the Victorian Group, Permission to wear ' uniform musi first be obtained from District Commis~­ sioners and Victorian Headquarters. Uniform to be worn must be according to details ' given here . last month ,

Training Week in N.S.W. Miss Manning, the Commissioner for Training in N.S.W " has kindly invited any Victorian Guiders who are able to remain in N.S.W. after the Jamboree, to attend a Training ~Teek, undel' canvas, which will be held a little way out of Sydney, Details of fees and application, etc" are obtainable from the '1'raining Secretary at the Guide Office, 60 Market Street, M,elbourne,

First Training Week in the Guide House.

Applications have been coming in briskly for the first Guiders' '1'raining Week to be held in the Guide House. Guiders are to be accommodated in the hou se and in the cottage; there is accommodation for thirty as things are now, but if the Brownie Guiders are able to erect one of the s leep-outs that they are keen to add to the Cottage, there will be room for six more!

If more appl y than there are beds one or two tents wi ll probably be called into use.

Them is an altemtion in the date: The Training Week will begin on t h e 21tlLDece?nber and end on the 4th January instead of taking p lace from 26th December to 3rd January as previou sly announced. Miss Mollie Hoffmeyer, blue cord d iploma'd G ui der will be in charge. T h e fee

. prob::tbJy will be 30 / -.

At t h is Tra ining \;Veek . Guiders wi ll receive training.Jn Company and Pack management, h iking. outdoor games and activities, and test work. A ll new Guiders (especially those in the country doing a Correspondence Cou rse) should attend for experience. and other Guiders should attend for refreshment.

Applications should have been sent in by 1st November, but late appli cation s , accompanied by a deposit of 5/ - will be considered if they are sent in at once.

Th is should not be confused with the

ÂŁuiders'. Campcraft Week.

This will be held in the grounds of the Gu ide House f"om 26th Decembt'r to 3rd January.

Guiders will live in tents, camping out of doors.

'1'he pu r pose of this camp is to g ive any Guiders who w ish it, training in campcraft-particularly fo r the Campcraft Badge, Camper's Licence ann Quartermaster Certificate. The Guider-in-charge w ill be Miss E. E. Moran. The fee will depen d on the number attending and will be between 22/6 and 30 / -. Guiders who have been previously -'1mrunated by their District Commissioners will be tested for the Campcraft Badge or the Camper's L icence or the Quartermaster Certificate.

Nominations should be sent in as soon as poss ible, forms are obtainable from the Camping Secretary, Applications for this camp a lso, were du e on 1st November. Late applications will be considered if they are sent in at once to the Camping Secretary at the Guide Office accompanied by deposit of 5/-.

Guide and Ranger Camps.

Appli cations for these camps closed on 1st November. A t the time of w r iting (21st October) about 120 applications had been received from Guides.

Although this is more than can be accommodated in two camps, arrangements will be made to hold other camps so that no Guides need be disappointed.

Owing to the Ranger Moot in N.S.W, and the resultant small number of appli cations for o u r own camp, it may be adv isab le to postpone the proposed Ranger camp u ntil Easter, 1939. Appli cants will be notified of any alterations in the arrangements after tht' closing date.

Warrnambool.

T hrou gh the courtesy of the Showgrou nds Committee of Warrnambool, a large Guide Camp will be held there in January. Guides p l'esent (Con tin u ed on

Pa~e

16,)

~_18_-_____________________M__A_T__I_L_D__A______________ Nov_e_m_b_e_r._l_9~3_8__ .

PATROL LEADERS. This article is partly an account of a s mall conference at a training week I attended in England. As I learnt the answers to some questions othel' Guiders had asked me, I thought that thi s mig'ht be of interest. Incidentally, at the school in which I teac h, gl'eat use is m a de of the patrol system, and we find the best leaders are under fifte en years of age. 'l'hirteen and fourteen seem the ideal ages for unselfconscious leade rs hip, and s ome twelve year olds seem to show this ability, but from the age of fifteen or so, the girl is a pt to puL self before service.

The firs t question we discussed was the choice of the leader-who should choose hel', and what should be her qualifications, The re were two schools of thou ght, one was th a t th e Guides s hould choose their own leaders, and that this choice mig ht b e permanent, or that there s hould be a re-election each year. It was felt by mos t of the Guiders that it is good for the Guides to choose even if their choice is not the Guiders' choice, after all the leader b as more to do with the Guides. If thi s way is thought to be good, it is as w ell to h a ve a "Leaders' T est" set by the Court of Honour, and any Guide capable of passing that test if' then enabled to sta nd for election. The wisdom of yearly e lections can be seen by this. It would be a ,,-pl end id spur to h ave in the company, and would be good for leaders as w ell as non-leaders.

If the Guiders are to pick the leaders-with or without the aid of the Court of Honour, the plan of n e w leaders each year could still be adopted.

What are the points to look for in leade rs?

First, loya lty and trustiworthiness and equal with tha t th e abil ity to lead and the ability to efface herse lf.

Secondly, she must be able to co-operate with both Guide and Guider as she is to provide th e link between them.

She n eed not necessarily be brilliant, but she must be able to make all h e r patrol, dull and shining, feel at home. She should be one who will see something of h er patrol .other than at the meeting. She should not be "bossy," but s h e should fe el in some measure that the success of the company does depend on her. She should be able to train a t enderfoot.

In whatever way th e leader is chosen, once she is chosen the Guider shou ld give h er extra time.

After all a t eacher in a school is train ed to teach, so we should give our leaders some training there.

The Guider n eeds to know her leaders, and the leaders should be able to feel that their Guider does know them and is inte rested in them . The

leaders should have extra time with the Guidereven if it m eans that part of the compa ny meeting h as to be sacrificed for th is. If there is only one time a week for m eeti ngs a nd that is the only time that the leaders can m eet the Guider, then once a fortnight or a month, th e Guides s hould leave early to let th e leade rs a nd Guiders m eet. Or it may be better to have leaders meeting first an d then th e company meeting after tha t .

The leaders must be give n responsibility. They mus t tak e their s h are in the running of the meeting even if they do this badly. It is as we ll io let the leaders run the meeting occasionally. There is a say ing that if you wa nt a thin g done well, yo u must do it youl'se lf- this was m ade by on e of th e laziesi people t h at ever was, and still is th e refuge of the lazy. It is true, but it is a dan ¡ gerou s truth for it is so cru el. If you w a nt a ch ild to grow up hel pless and lacking in self-confidence then do eve rythin g for her, and do not let h e r do anyth ing herself. Remember also that m any of u s take refuge in this say ing for we do not want t o think that oihers can do things as well as we can, a nd we do not want others to r eal ise that often they can do things better than we ca.=::..

Court of Honour som etimes proves a knotty problem . Th ere are courts of Honour in which th e leade rs remain dumb, and the Guider is then tempted to say "What is the use of it, we can do better without it, so we won't h ave the leaders again." The best plan in such a case is to let th e Guides run the Court of Honour by themselves and make a n account of what they did.

A good way to start leaders is to make each leader find out what each m ember of h er pa trol is good at. If each leader is g iven s omething on wh ich she can report then there will be no fear that the Court of Honour will be a duet between Captain and Lieutenant with a subdued chorus of agreement prov ided by th e leaders.

It does seem to me l.hat if we are to keep our numbe rs we must make Guiding more attractive.

I a m frequ ently asked by people who are ready to do a ll they can fo r the youth of to-day "Don't you think Guiili ng asks ioo little of the modern gir l, and so can not hold h er interest ?"

I asked a friend, who was a Gu ider for many years in the coun try and who n ow is in a country town where a Guider is needed, why she would not look a fter t he company. She said tha t she could not find Gui ding sufficient to interest the country g irl- it has such an easy standard. The average country g irl had so littl e to work for--except in signalling, she found. She herself had been most unfortun ate in h er t raining having had a Guider

I

Novembel', 1933.

MATILDA

who spent hours in showing hel' unimportant things, She asked me, and I should like to a~k others, is fire lighting a thing worthy of inclusion in the ~econd-cla~s te~t? I was lighting fires in the bush at the age of ;;ix, I found no difficulty in this then, and I cannot think many other>! would be worried about this, Making a bed, The boarders at any boal'ding school I ,.,hould imagine make their beds correctly, Many boal'ders of six 01' seven could pass this test easily, I must say I should like to see this clause for school girls, "Must have made her hed at least six days out of seven for >!ix months," hut the present clause is too simple, These are the first two things that spI;ng to my mind, and I see no point in adding any more, but I do think we could cOI1::;ider the tests more than we do, Surely it if< the experience of most people that there is more value in something fOl' which we strive than in something which comes easily, Children do not appreciate a low standard, I should like to see some tests such as a Camper's Test which every Guide had to P!l.SS if she wanted to go to camp, The test would cover the necessary things for her to know to be a useful member of the camp, Le" cooking a meal out of door's, helping to put up a tent, ability to look after a tent-knowing what to do in the wet, etc" making- gadgets, etc, Then there could be some further tests Ils a second and first-cl:3.ss camper, In fact I think we could have fewer pl'Oficiency badges, and have them at second and first-claSH standards, It is significant that the ages for the Guide and Brownie have been lowered, I think we should be on Ollr guard lest they should need to be lowered again, In the schools there iH a grouping' of g'irls of about eleven to fourteen as the 'middle school' and these are the gir'ls from which we should draw our C'tuides and leadel'~, At fifteen 01' '30 they are contemplating examinations and with the pl'esent overcrowded time-table there can be little time for outside aetivities, It seems to me, then, tll.lt here we might well concentrate on the gIrls of ele\'en to fourteen ami make (;uiding Romething to cateh their inter'est, rathel' than something we think should interest them, -L,T,

(Continued from Page 12) the benefit of the greatest number of peopl~ and that it is impossible to avoid having some laws that are irksome. We would keep the laws if the King were to ask each one of us personally, but of course there are too many

19

people in the Empire for that, so he asks us through our leaders. Give the idea of the fl:'.mily in which all work together, and all are prepared to put up with discomfort for thz sake of the others.

For the Brownie who does pray, we could link up the two laws by suggesting that she should remember the king and her country in her prayers,

Tacking Stitch.

If anyone wants the notes and diagrams of the Tacking Stitch published in the 1937 October Guider, send a stamped addressed envelope and 6d. to Margaret Heseltine, 15 Alexandra Str eet, East St, Kilda, S ,2.

Proceeds for Camp House Fund.

BREVITIES. Look up your old progr'ummes-you'll find many good games that you have not played for ages, Do YOUI' Brownies prepare the hall for the meetings and open windows, etc" 01' do you do it yourself?

Are you saving- "jumble" for the sale on No\'ember 18th, It's a Bl'Ownie Guidel's' effort fOl' our Guide House,

(Continued from Page 14) lund and was as evel'y Guide kno\\'s jncol~po,,­

ated in the l'nion Jack, l.he national flag of Great Britain somewhere about 1708, November 30th is now known as St, Andrew's I)ay, and allover' the world Scottish people come 10gethel' to celebrate on that day, some in a con\'ivial manner centl'ed round a haggis which is home aloft to the accomp!l.niment of the skiri of the pipes, othel's at a religious service made impressive by the dignity and coloul'fulness ot Highlanders in full dress uniform, but in whichever way it is done the guiding moth'e is the same, that of doing honour to the saint of old time whose name is der'ived from a Greek work meaning "manly" and who proved his m!l.nliness by wi"hing to share the good he rE'ceived, at once, with others, and who all his life with quietness and cheel'fulness kept before him the vision which he first saw when mending his nets by the lakeside <lnd which when put into practice means selvice and Relf sacrifice without counting the COlSt.

-JEAK F, ANDERSON,

20

MA TIL DA GUID!:: SHOP.

November, 1938

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Th e thoug hts of Browni e", Guides, Rang-el's and Uuid ers should now be turning towards Chl'istmas and the shop has made preparations for this. The following items should be in stock quite s oon, and clients are a~ k e d to order early co lint they \\'ill not be di saJlPointed.

Christmas Cards.

A large range of Chdli tm a", cards will be in ctoc k early in November and Ramples will be on ~; how i 0 that c li e nts can m a k e th eil' choi ce. This ~'ea r w e have made special arrang'ements for an Aus tralian Christmas Card hoth for Bmwnies and Guides. They will be COloured, and the price ;,hculd b e either 3d. or 4d. plu s postage.

This will be \'ery useful for Rending' oyerseas as a purely Aus tralian Christmas card.

<.sJ.rl Guide Diary, 1939.

This Diary should be in th e shop early in No\rember. Thi s year it will contain special features which will be of decideu advantage to all.

There is a complete revision of Morse signalling which has been ag-reed upon at the last Federal Council held in A ugust this year. There is an attractive feature of the photos of our t\\'o PrinceSfes in Brownie and Guide uniform; special blocks showing different mo\' ements in stalking, movements for silent drill , a new lot of gadgets a.nd all up-to-date fact;; in Guiding. This little Diary makes a very nice and useful Christmas 1,,"eSent so order early and do not be dil'lappointed.

Calendars.

This year there is a very attractive calendar li'howing' in colour the two Princesses taking the salute at a Mal'ch Past at \Vindsor Castle in June, 1938. There is a limited number of these c~tlend:l.I'll so first come first s e n·ed.

The price will be 2/ -, plus postage.

Anoth e r calendar is a standing up variety of a Girl Guide waving her hat in the breeze. The price of this is 9d., plus postage, and there is only a limited number.

Bookn fo r Brownies, Guides and Rangers.

This year there is a completely new range of story books about Girl Guides and Brownies, the authOl'fl being Mrs. Osbol'l1e Hann, Katherine Christian and others as well a>' books of short ,·tories for Drownies and Guides. Tllis is an espec'ially attl'acth'e selection, the prices being from 3/ - to 3/ 6. These "'ill be in about the middle of No\'ember.

I Evan Evans I ,

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Speclal Ooncessions off List Prices To all Girl Guide Organisations ,= \Vrite for Particulars to Your Head= quarters, or Direct to Us. ,

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li'LYS, GROUNDSHEETS, , CAl\IPING GOODS, FLAGS, TRAVEL ReGS, CAMP BEDS, WATERPROOFS, SLEEPING BAGS, MATTHESSES. = -SPORTING GOODS W e ha\'e arrange d to allow Concessions , on all Sporting Goods. " ' rite to us for Our List, Prices and Particulars. , Tennis, Golf, C.1cket, l'\aseba ll, B as l.etban a n d I ndoor Ga m es. ,=

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