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June, 1940.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
W ARRANTS AND REGISTRATIONS.
Minutes of meetings of the Executive Committee of the Girl Guides Association, Victoria, held at the Guide Office on 17th April and 1st May. 17th April: Present-Mrs. Faulkner, Mrs. Blackwood, Mrs. Edmondson, Mrs. Littlejohn, Mrs. Orr, Misses Lascelles, Moran, Russell, Cameron and the Secretary. Agreed: That th~ Minutes of the Meeting of Equipment Secretaries be accepted. That Guides be encouraged to work their own emblems. That designs for an Australian Christmas card be asked for. That Guides in uniform may not sell buttons in the streets, though they may help on stalls, under supervision. That a letter of appreciation be sent to Miss A. McA. Campbell for making the Carleen Campbell Camp sitE' at the Gtude Huuse so delightful. Reported: That 146 districts were workingfor the Guide War Appeal, 13,399 children's garments and 169 seam ens garments have been packed , tot a I contributions amount to ÂŁ2,443. 19/-. That Mrs. Colin Macdonald has agreed to act as Commissioner for Guiding in Schools and Colleges during- Mrs. Bakewell's absence on leave.
District Commissioner: Fitzroy and Collingwood-Miss Black, 1 St. Leonards Court, South Yarra, S E.!. Brown Owl: 2nd Aberfeldie-Miss E. McDougall; 3rd St. Kilda-Miss L. M. Johnson. Tawny Owl: 3rd Northcote-Mis J. D. Cox. Captain: 1st Burwood-Miss J. Nelson; 3rd East Malvern-Miss J. Thomas; 1st Glenmore-Miss G. Bickersteth; 1st Murrumbeena, Northcote School Farm-Miss F. Piesse; 1st Skipton-Miss J. Chirnside; 1st Ultima-Miss E. Whyte. Lieutenant: 10th Ballarat-Miss M. M. Dixon; 1st Skipton-Miss K. Anderson. Ranger Captain: 1st Hamilton-Miss S. M. Morris; 8th Lone Rangers-Miss M. Fowler. Ranger Lieut.: Brighton District - Miss D. Nichols. Pack,;: 1st Gardenvale; 1st Nagambie. Company: 3rd Footscray; 1st Gardenvale. R:mg~r Company: Yarraville District. Change of Guider: 2nd Surrey Hills-Capt. is now Miss Gretna Parkin, 42 Windsor Crescent, Surrey Hills, E.10.
1st 'lay: Present-Lady Chauvel, Mrs. Faulkner, Mr. Blackwood, Mrs. Littlejohn, Mrs. Tate, Misses Cameron, Harrison, Lascelles, Purnell, Ritchie, Russell and the Secretary. Agreed: That information about War Savings Groups should be submitted to the next meeting of Division Commissioners. Reported: That for the Guide War Work approximately ÂŁ300 was the balance in hand; that 15,122 children's garments and 290 seamen's had been packed. A letter of appreciation from Her Excellency, the Lady Gowrie, was received by Mrs. Littlejohn. Routine and financial business was discussed. S. H. IRVING, State Secretary.
The Carlton District Jumble Sale will be held in St. Jude's Hall, Lygon Street, Carlton, on Saturday, June tho Ticket holders will be admitted at 2.30 p.m., others at 3 p.m. Tickets will be available at (ld. each from the District Guides and Bro'>mies. "Jumble" will be gratefully received by Joan Alston, 5 Struan Street, S.E 2, or may be left at Headqual-ters.
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JUMBLE SALE The Jumble Sale organised by the Brownie Guiders' Committee will be held on Friday, June 14th, at the Prahran Congregational School Hall. Goods for the Jumble Sale should be left at Guide Headquarters before June 13th or parcels can be called for if you phone Miss J. Robertson, Windsor 265. ---:0:---
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Printed by the Hilton Press Ltd., 223-25 Morny Street, South Melbourne. S.C.5.
"Matilda" An Official Treasure Bag of Guiders' In formation for Guiders of Victoria, Australia. Price: 3/- Per Year; 4/- Posted. Single Copie., 6d. each. Editor: E . H. PURNELL, 10 Hermitage Road, Geelong. Contributions should reach the Editor not later than the 18th of each month.
VOL. XVI.
NO. 11.
JUNE, 1940.
GUI DE WEEK, 1940 Air Ambulance A ppeal Congratulations Victoria, and particularly 1st Glenmore. You raised £520 during Guide Week and there is more to come so that our total should be very nearly £600. I especially want to thank every Guider who helped to work up interest in the Air Ambulance Appeal, 'a lso those who gave to the Appeal having seen about it in the papers. Lady Gowrie's broadcast brought in over £30 from people not connected in any way with Guiding and many members of the Central Association who are not yet enrolled, gave most generously. -P.M.R.
Guide Week this year was celebrated in districts with all Companies and Packs contributing their share to the general activities. The highlight of the Week was presenting the Air Ambulance money on Saturday, an account of which appears elsewhere. Guides all over Victoria must have had a thrilling time during Guide Week, collecting and earning this perfectly marvellous amount of money and we congratulate everyone on the effort. We are glad also to have quite a large amount of silver paper to hand over to the Free Kindergarten Union, and we hope everyone will continue collecting and bringing' this in throughout the year; this is a form of service that we can keep on doing. District celebrations were many and varied. There were two window displays, one at Walkers' Stores, Glenierrie, arranged by Hawthorn district, which showed in a most entertaining way every form of Guide work and was really most fascinating - every Company had arranged a section and we saw a camping scene complete with trees and birds and models of two Air Ambulances and a Lifeboat with the first contribution towards them; Brownies
were shown round a toadstool and various badges, such as Child Nurse, and Cook, were illustrated. Everyone who saw the window will have a very good knowledge of what Guides can do. The other window in Newspaper House, Collins Street, illustrated Guide war work and service. A Ranger, with a stretcher made from patrol poles, rope, a walking stick and golf clubs, symbolising our aim of service, while a sailor and two small children dressed in woollen clothes made by Guides showed just how nice these garments look. We wanted to show to the public some of the 16,000 garments which we have sent overseas. There was also a model aeroplane to illustrate our drive for the Air Ambulance, our other form of service during Guide Week. We would like to thank the "Herald" and Messrs. Walkers for so kindly giving us the use of their windows and their help in arranging the displays. Fitzroy and St. Kilda Districts had reunions; Hawihorn a Picture Night of Guide films; Richmond and East Melbourne a concert 'a nd parents night; Yarraville a Picture Night; Preston a parents night and entertainment. Country districts which have sent reports include Bendigo, a combined hike and campfir e to their Guide Hut; Minyip a parents' evening and a sports day after a week of activity ; Carisbrook a gift afternoon towards their Air Ambu lance collection; Murtoa a week of exciting doings including a tree-planting and a combined campfire; Kerang and Cohuna a delightful picnic as well as a parents' night and an international meeting; Warrnambool gathered together to hear the broadcast by the Governor-General and Lady Gowrie. We hope that everyone heard the broadcast as it was an inspiration to us all as a beginning to Guide and Scout Week. -D. A. COLES. ---:0:---
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COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES AT ESSENDON Over 300 Guides and Brownies represented their Companies and Packs at Essendon on the last afternoon of Guide Week. Six buses left Market Street more Or less on time and the girls arrived just in time to see the Pengana take off. Then they assembled in No.3 Hangar which was so kindly lent by Australian N ationa~ Airways and in a few moments Lady Chauvel and Mrs. Faulkner arrived with Air Marshal Sir Charles Burnett. The official party climbed half way up the stairs at the back of the hangar and Lady Chauvel introduced Sir Charles, who explained how valuable air ambulances would be when used to cross the Channel between France and En~land with seriously wounded men. At the end of his short address, Sir Charles came to earth again and Pack representatives filed up to him in pairs with their contributions. Then followed Company representatives and in a surprisingly short space of time there was Victoria's total of £490 bulging out of mailbags and ready to be banked. When the total wah announced Sir Charles congratulated the Guides and Brownies and after three very hearty cheers for him we sang the National Anthem. Don't think this is all I have to say about what we did at Essendon that Saturday - I hope to get a little space in Matilda next month and I have several complaints. In fact, you nearly wrecked the whole show-twice. -P.M.R. ---:0::---
GUIDE WAR WORK After the meeting held in the Assembly Hall on March 13th, at which it was decided that we should work for the sailors in the minesweepers and" trawlers, Miss Russell made an appeal for funds to carryon this work. £:310/13/ 1 was received in a few weeks. Miss Parker, after having spent many hours with a ship's chandler, finding out the correct type of garment required by these sailors, commenced cutting out flannel undershirts. Navy blue wool was purchased for knitting into pullovers, spiral stockings, socks, balaclavas, waistcoat mufflers and scarves. Very simple knitting pattenrs were worked out.
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15,517 garments have been shipped to England to May 18th. Of these 395 are for the sailors. 12,000 yards of flannel have been cut out and over one ton of wool has been distributed. An average of 100 garments per day is received at Headquarters ; 146 Local Associations are working for the Appeal and the standard of the work is excellent. £2,531/ 9/ 1 has been received f or the War Appeal. At present there is a balance of £502/ 6/ 8. This means it will have taken nearly £2,500 to buy sufficient material for our workers for 12 months, so we will need very steady financial help for the next 12 months. Our overhead expenses are very small-mainly stationery and stamps; our cases are given to use and are packed and taken to the wharf free of charge; there is no freight charged for shipping these cases to England. Miss Andrews came to our rescue when we first started making sailors shirts. F :annel was almost unprocurable, when she very generously gave us four rolls of naturel flannel and has helped us ever since in procuring this excellent quality material at a most reasonable price. Soon after our Appeal was started a Central Association was formed at Headquarters. There, Mrs. Knox, with the aid of more than 100 helpers, assembles, tacks and makes up clothing. This Association has given invaluable help in many ways. Miss Gertrude Gordon, one of the members, has supplied us with nearly all our elastic-a wonderful. donation. Also these members knit for us and are most generous with financial help. Last week Her Excelency, Lady Gowrie paid a visit to the rooms. We are most grateful to Lady Gowrie for showing her interest in the work and for the delightful letter of praise which we received from her. It has been exceedingly gratifying to receive numerous letters of appreciation from the heads of the various organisations that have received and distributed our work in England and it has been especially pleasing to hear from many of the children who have had the clothing. These letters are at headquarters and may be seen by any Guides who desire to read them as they are actually addressed to the Guides. -M.L. ---:0:---
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STREET APPEALS For Red Cross and Comforts Funds Questions have been asked whether Guides or Commissioners in uniform may 'a ssist with these appeais. If not in unif orm, if they may help as a member of the Girl Guides Association, or if they may continue the pre-war custom of helping individually if they wish, but nott as a member of the Association. The Federal Council f eels that buttons or flags, etc., should not be sold by members in uniform as this means individual selling. Members may help individually on Flag Days if they wish but not as from the Association. Stalls could be run by members in uniform, and money raised by other ways and means, provided three or more memebrs could work together, so that funds are raised as a group and not .an indvidual effort. 1. M. FAIRBAIRN, Hon. Federal Secretary. ---:0:---
GUIDE OFFICE
GUIDERS' COMMITTEE Met at Headquarters on 3rd May, 1940. Present: Mrs. Knight, Mrs. Dempster, Misses Nicquet, Lucas, Weickhardt, Oxley, Young, Wills, Martin, Harrison and Watson. Correspondence: Re Conference representatives-received from Mrs. Guthrie (Donald), Miss Morris (Hamilton and Coleraine), Miss Hoffmeyer ( Northern). From Miss Moran, reporting that at the recent Federal Conference of Equipment Secretaries a recommendation was made that Guides should be encouraged to make their own Patrol Emblems-reasons given being that it is good training, and encourages them to have more interest in the emblem. Some Guides and Guiders will probably be asked to try the idea. Representatives were asked to take the subject back to their Divisions for discussion. The Committee congratulated Miss Meryl Wills on her recent engagement. Guide House Committee: Reported that Miss Ruth Denny had resigned. Miss W. Lucas to be asked to act in her place. Next Meeting: 7th June, 7.45 p.m.
Wanted-Typiste, Stenographer Guiders, do you know of a Guide or Ranger who is a good rst or' second year Typiste, Stenographer, Pitman trained? The Guide Office needs someone who is a member of the Movement, is accurate in her work, who would be able to help in the Equipment Depot, and manage the telephone switchboard, a simple affair. Applications will be received up till 8th June. S. ~. IRVING, State Secretary.
INA WATSON, Hon. Sec.
Guiders' Dinner: The Committee 'r egrets that there was some confusion and delay at the dinner. The proprietor with whom all arrangements were originally made was forced to leave through illness, and the business changed hands just prior to the 8th of May. ---:0:---
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REGISTRATIONS Do all Companies and Packs possess a "little book" of registration forms and is a form filled in for every recruit, Brownie, Guide and Ranger, before she is enrolled? We at the Guide Office suspect that this may not be so because our cash sales book tells us that there is a marked difference between the number of Tenderfoot badges being sold and the number of 6d. registration fees being paid. The "little books" are issued free of charge, would any Company or Pack not owning one just ask for one to be sent? Thank you so much. S. H. IRVING.
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GUIDE CHOIR A meeting was held on Tuesday, May 21, to further discuss plans for the formation of a choir. Valuable help and advice were given by Mr. Witts. We hope to obtain a room in the city if we can fix a night! Would thos& people interested get in touch with Miss M. Young, 'phone J.1931, or write 3' Burnley Street, Richmond, and let her know which nights would suit? We need to know definite numbers and possible nights before finalising arrangements. ---:0:---
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A BLUEBIRD MAKES OTHERS HAPPY By D. HAYMAN (Australian Diploma'd Guider) (Continued from April issue.) How funnily the Miss Sahib spoke. It was like Miss Richardson when she talked Hindustani. "Chiriya," said the Miss Sahib again. Why, that was a bird. And Nila was blue. Blue for S'hanti's lovely best hair ribbon that the sister;:; gave her, and that felt so slippery. Blue was the name of the Jacaranda flowers ioo. A bluebird! What Shanti had in her hand was a bluebird; hers to keep, and here was the Miss Sahib putting fairy dust on her shoulders that she could have wings like a bird and fly. Shanti screamed with joy. She put out hel' little fat arms and flew twittering like the birds she heard singing in the big pipal tree in the compound. She was being asked to run, to make a noise, to be happy. She forgot where she was, she ran and ran flapping her arms and singing. The strange Miss Sahib's arm went round her suddenly and swung her off her feet. "Here, steady," she said. "I won't be so popular if you kill yourself the first day. Come and put your bluebird on the tree." All the other children had threaded their bluebirds on a string. Shanti's undeveloped hands fumbled but she wanted no help; she put the string through the bird's eye and led it to the tree. Now they could all touch the tree. They pressed round feeling the birds flying on the rough bark. Shanti wanted to fly again, but the Miss Sahib took her hand and said "Circle." That was easy, Shanti groped for another hand, and then all at once they were all holding hands just like the circle on the card. This was fun, but it was more fun looking for sticks and grass to make a nest for the birds to live in. There were eggs too, Shanti's egg was the biggest, it was nearly too big for the nest. More fun too when they sang a song, and played games with guessing each other's names without touching. Shanti had never played any games before, she was wild with excitement, but in the very back of her mind was one thought that stayed with her all the time. Her bluebird. That one that the Miss Sahib had said was Shanti's own to keep. Shanti had never possessed anything that she could keep for herself before, and she did not have it with her now; it was in the tree. Supposing
June, 1940. somebody took it when they were all making such a noise that you could not hear; supposing it got lost, and Shanti could never have it to feel again. The games were over, the children sat quietly on the grass while the Miss Sahibs talked. It was dull sitting still and Shanti began to edge softly away. One never knew with the Miss Sahibs. Sometimes they did not seem to hear at all well, yet even when you were too far away from them to feel you they knew what you were doing. Nearer and nearer to the bluebird tree slipped Shanti. Nobody said anything, she cautiously fingered the tree trunk. The bluebirds were much higher than she remembered, doubtless they were climbing the tree like Shanti did the Kachnar the time she got stuck and had to be lifted down. She had to stand on tiptoe to reach, but this was her bluebird, she pulled it down and slipped it in her frock. It was time to go back to the school. Shanti led the Miss Sahib bac~ surrour:ded by a noisy chattering mob. "They will never settle down to lessons," said Miss Richardson. "You have thrilled them, I have never seen them so animated before." Tara was sitting on the verandah. She had been too afraid to join in the fun. The grownups did not know why she was afraid, but Shanti knew. She knew that though Tara was big she had only been in school for a little time, and that she was afraid that somebody would let go of her hand when she went out, then she would be lost. Shanti hed never been afraid of anything, not even in that dreadful time when the world was full of pain and cold wind. Well, perhaps she was a little bit then, but now she was brave, and she was going to be a bluebird, and be kind to people who were smaller than herself like the Miss Sahib had said. There was nobody smaller than Shanti in the school; but Tara was new and afraid, she would be kind and like a bluebird to her. Shanti groped her way to Tara's side. The cardboard bird had slipped through her frock and was pricking her plump legs, She fumbled with the knicker elastic and drew it out. "Nila Chiriya," she said as she pressed it into Tara's hands and ran as hard as she could to the haven of the Jacaranda tree. The mid-day sun shone fiercely down on the little pink frock 'a nd brown fat legs of the child asleep on the carpet of lavender blossoms. "Why, there's the little lively one," said the Guider as they walked down the path to the
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car. "How can she stand all that hot sun? But didn't she just love it, she was first for everything, and now, poor little thing, she is tired out." Miss Richardson stopped and pulled the sleeping figure into the shade; the pink frock never stirred. "I am afraid she is under the age limit," said Miss Richardson regretfully. "I could not turn her away when she came in through that door so eagerly, I could not bear to leave her out when all the others had such fun." "It doesn't matter," said the Guider. "She understood what it was all about as well as any of them. Look how she gave that bluebird she took off the tree when she thought nobody was looking to the little frightened
You know that a Captain may not pass her own Guides in First-Class. This applies also to Brownies and R a n gers. T ests may b e arranged through the Commissioner and Local Association or in conjunction with the Commissioner for Tests a nd Badges. It is an excellent opportunity to make the m embers of the L.A. feel that they really can help-it is quite probable that some of th em can train and others test fOl' Needlewoman's and Cook's Badge; perhaps a member has b een a nurse and ca n train them for the First Aid part. While a Captain could do this, there is no need to when she can get help. Perhaps someone not connected with the Guides at a ll may be willing-and thus may their interest be aroused.
one."
In the beginning of things, Scouting for Boys, published in weekly editions, gave the ground work of OUI' Movement, and so anyone who wishes to know about the early days must needs know this volume-and read it again and again, o you Guiders who need fresh inspiration. Thel'e you' ll find all the activities connected with tents a nd what-not. D id you know that Guides really came into existen ce because of the sisters admiration for the brothers and envy of their wonderful doings? A numbel' of them turned up at t h e Scout Rally at the Crystal Palace in 1909, in a curious assortm ent of costum es, very thrilled, but rather unwanted! However, Miss Baden-Powell got to work a nd by degrees there emerged an organisat ion modelled on the lines of the Scouts, but adapted to gi rls. You may read all about this in "The Story of the Girl Guides." Something of the geneml organisation should be und erstood, a lso the functions of the branches of the Movement-and any G uide worth her salt will want to know the significance of the bits and pieces on h er own and other people's uniforms. All of this may be found in our dear friend P. O. & R .! Does each of your l'atrols possess one-¡ bought from Patrol funcls? My First-ClasR peopl e, having been given them to find out abou t uniforms , etc., wanted to know why they couldn't have one in their Patr'ol-and as I didn't know why not, they now have them!
"And after all," said the Guider, "you don't know how old she is, she might be quite seven for all you know." "So she might," said Miss Richardson. :0:----
A REFRESHER COURSE. 1st Class. As I have already s uggested, li'irst-Class work :,;hould be regarded as one of the normal activities of the Compan y, recruits taking part as natLII'ally as the Second-ClaRs Guides. However, to take part in the work does not automatically mean that you will be a First-Class Guide. Notice lhe very first paragraph about it in P .O. & R.:~ Be a Second-Class Gu ide, and have a good influence in her Company. Be a Second-Class ~uide; that does not only mean to hold the Second-Clas>; Badge-it m eans that a G4ide "eally can do those tests that she passed in hel' fil'St enthusiasm, and is doing her very best to live up to those Ten Laws and that difficult, idealistic P rom iRe. Then, the second part of the paragraph; when w e have reached the thrilling stage-because it is rather thrilling-of having Guides who want to go on with First- lass Tests, then we shou ld have a special Powwow with them, pointing out the significance of t h e first paragraph. Tell them, also, how so much depends on themselve:;-you can help th m in what to do and how to do it, but you can do no moreil is up to them to go out and pI'actice and show the stuff they are made of. It is quite useless to ' coddle aUll co-erce your First-Class Candi dates-you'll simply find they'll never get there and all YO UI' work has gone for nothing. The First-Class Test is, above a ll things, a character test.
Origin and Development.
Games. You can have lovely games with First-Class work-dressing up as the Comm ispio n er or a First Class Brownie, playing a Kim's game with all sorts of ins ig nia, h av ing g'u essing games about pictures of places a nd people, relay races to make lhe \Vorld Flag, question games a nd acting about events and so on. The recruits have been join-
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Ing in these, too, and so it is not all strange matter when they really come to do it seriously. As hard and solid work , give YOUI' candidates a list of questions one day, with the necessary books, a n d let them, either together 01' individually, find out the answel's-they will remember it much better than if you just tell them. The type of question I suggest, Le.:-What do you know about our Chalet? Where Is Imperial H.Q.? How would you know the Chief Guide if you saw her in uniform? What has the Browllsea Island Camp to do with Guides? How would you explain about the Extension Branch of the Guide Movement?
Training A Recruit. The very best way to learn anything is to have to teach it, and when a Guide comes to train her recruits she will iliscover the holes in her own knowledge. An occasional brushing up of Tenderfoot work, in the shape of a Tenderfoot Company meeting is a good idea, and make sure, too, that your P.L.'s are sound in the work. Let them run games on the work-and the method of teaching the recruit should be considered-e.g., the work could be learnt parrotwise from paper, but I would not pass the young trainel' if this wel'e so. A Captain should test the recruit before seniling her to her examiner and if there are weaknes es in hel' work, talk to het¡ trainer about it and let her correct it. When you al'e satisfied, then hand her over-in this way you are preventing the distress of failure and the wasting of the tester 's time. This should apply to all FirstClass tests-in so far as you can, make sure the Guide will pass before ever you send her for her test-make your test of her even stiffer than you expect the l'eal one will be, and all will be well. -M.H. ----:0::---
HINTS FOR HANDCRAFT Painting and Lacquering Tins In order to be successful in lacquering, one of the most essential points is to use a good lacquer. It is handy too, to obtain a tin of Thinner , of the same brand, which can be used to clean the brushes after use and to thin down the lacquer if it has gone thick as it sometimes does through 'a ge. The same applies to using enamel-a good brand should be used, or it will be hard to a pply. When applying enamel Or lacquer-it is best to only brush one way-preferably down the tin. Brush as little as possible as lacquer especially dries quickly and will leave the brush
June, 1940.
marks if touched while drying. Any type of tins can be used. These must first have all paper removed and be thoroughly washed and dried, before applying paint. Treacle and Golden Syrup tins, make good canisters for sago, rice, etc., and small cocoa tins can be used for spices, etc. Tins can always be obtained from grocers or confectioners for a small amount. These can be lacquered with the lids a different colour and they look most attractive. Always apply paint fairly thickly on tins.
Treatment o f Brushes Clean after use by rinsing them in hot (not boiling) soapy water. If the brush has dried leave it in soapy water for a day-remove and work it-and put in soapy water 'a gain leaving for a while. If paint still remains clean wit h turpentine. When cleaned' press roots together, so that bristles lie in shape and hang brush up bristles down. They can be left like this for a considerable time. -ALISORIN W. BOWMAN. ----,.--:0 : : - - -
EYES THAT SEE. Last summer I was asked to visit a young blind girl, whom I shall call Margaret, at Camp Andree and to make some suggestions in regard to the arts and crafts which she might undertake. When I arrived at camp the girls were all in the troop house working on various crafts. 1 sat down and took out a quilt which I was piecing, a' brown and tan "Hunter's Star," and looked over the merry group as I sewed. So well adjusted to camp life and so well assimilated into the group was Margaret, the girl whom I had come to see, that it was some time before I located her. Happy, laughing, showing no timidity, I could hardly believe that she possessed the physical handicap of blindness. Through this and subsequent visits, I learned many things-the most important of which was that, lef~ to myself to choose crafts for a handicapped child, I should invariably underestimate her ability. It is difficult to persuade normal girls with good eyesigh~ to do creative designs, yet Margaret unhesitatingly worked out an interesting design for a bead belt. With a clover le'a f as a motif she worked out her own color scheme -u light green conventionalised clover against dark green background with a yellow spot, "to lighten up the design."
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Margaret was interested in the quilt I was making-she wanted to "see" it so we spread it upside down on the table and she ran her fingers over the seams, asking about the color of each block. She soon "saw" the complete star and background and wanted to know about other patterns. "I can do that," she said, "I think it will be great fun," and I knew she could. Never again do I want to list crafts for the handicapped children. As with other children , I like to put before them all of the interesting things that can be done and give them the opportunity of choice. They will go much farther than we can anticipate. Sometimes, If the actual creative activity is impossible, the appreciation of the work of others 'a nd an interest in the history and origin of a craft is of great satisfaction. -(From The Girl Scout Leader). - - - '0 > - - -
GUIDE SHOP Guide Uniform Material which we have had previously in the blue repp is now unobtainable because of the fact that it would be much too expensive for Guides to buy, so we have been forced to adopt the quality of the second g rade material which has previously been stocked at Headquarters. We have been able to obtain a large supply of this which will last us for some months and the colour is as near as possible to the blue repp material. Because of the difficulties of obtaining this material the price will be 2/ 6, There is much difficulty in obtaining material of any sort at present so Guiders and Guides are asked to realise that we are doing the best we can under the present circumstances. Guide Hats from the 1st of June will be 6/3. Pullovers and Cardigans.-The new lot of pullovers and cardigans are priced 12/11 and 14/ 11 respectively. The colour is slightly different in this new lot. The old colour and old stock will remain the same price of 12/6 and 13/11 respectively. Guide Kni ves will now be 2/9. Flag Carriers--3/ 6. Guide Haversacks--3/ 9.
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Stony Point, Wannon. When the Horsham Training 'Neek-end lap.¡ed, some of our Rangers were :;0 disapPOinted that we thought quickly and arranged a camp at
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Stony Point, a delightful spot on the Grange Creek. Everything was as dryas tinder, and we were worried about the fires, but one of our fathers made us a fire holder out of an oil drum, and we sat it on stones in the centre of tl10 creek. The kitchen floor was slightly uneven, out very cooling for ti red feet. On Thursday evening as soon as we could get away from work we hurried out to the CommissiOller's, she was to be our Commandant, and loaded the kit on to her truck. Th e sun had just set when we drove through the ownel"s back yard and down on to our campsite. A big willow provided an excellent garage and dining rOom. We pitched a tent before dark, then h ad tea and retired early for we had told the Rangers that they cou ld come as early as they were able on the Friday, and we did not intend to be caught in bed. \Vhen we woke there was a thick grey mist filling the valley, but the sun soon chased it away. We were in the midst of a demonstration as to how the last of the fried tomatoes might be removed from the pan when there was a great whistling on the hill top. The Company came down like wolves on the fold. Everyone seemed to approve of the site, and after changing set to work with a will and soon had four tents pitched on the raised flat between the willow and the c I'eelc Then, after a cooler, we cut piles of sandwiche' and hiked down the creek with the junclion as O UI' goal ; but on the way we found a delightfu l spot where the water cascaded over a log, so that was where we held our Court of Honour, our dinner' party, and OUI' sing song. But before our rest hour was complete some thirsty souls demanded our return to camp. The creek water was decidedly mineral and hard. Aftel' tea "Cap." skipped washing up, dug deeply into her car, and after some moments produced a tin of worms marked "Walnut Marzipan," and fishing tackle. Her effo rts were rewarded with five tiny blackfish. Having cleaned them, our ang'ler put a ll that remained onto a plate, and placed the lot on the cabin roof of Commandant's ca l' for safety, and forgot to tell hel'. This being Good Friday, an appropriate Camp Fire programme was arranged. On Saturday morning we were up betimes to catch the bus at the cross-road, for one of the g irls had to work that morning; and Horrors! '1'he fish went too, and we didn't know w h ere they a lighted. We cut our lunch again, but it was much too hot to hike, so we retired to the creek . No sooner had we got nicely into bathers and chosen a log or rock from which we might dabble oUI' toes in tbe water, for it was too cold
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MATILDA
June, 1940.
to get more of us into it, than there was a shout You should have seen Commandant (who is District Commissioner) and Cap. slide nto their uniforms. But the visitors were very welcome ones, and besides, they brought us our Sister.
vegetables and a very stale loaf of bread while we had a much n eeded scrub in the creek. So ended a v e ry pleasant Easter. You should have seen that car and truck! -1st Hamilton Rangers. - - --:0:---
That night we celebrated our Company's birthday. For some reason no one wanted to go to bed, and t here were pranks innumerable.
FraIn the DelJa1·trnellt of Infonnation-
of "visitors."
On Sunday some restless, kindly souls arose with the no, not lark, harmonious thrush, and provided us with a "cuppa." The store tent hardly knew itself, it was so resplendent with gadgets and fittings. After a lovely peaceful morning we had our "Rangers' Own" on the rocks around the stove. It was a lovely service in God's own cathedral. After rest hou r we beseig-ed Sister and asked h!'lr all the things we had wanted to know for a long time; then the camp set off on a mapping . hike while the staff entertained still more v isitors, and proudly showed off our camp. That night at Camp Fire the camp listened to that sad Httle tale of Dr. John Brown's "Rab and His . Friends." On Monday we were caug-ht at bl'eakfast by the Divisional Commissioner, who had arisen at Some very, very early hour, and baked us carrant scones before coming across to see us. By the time she came over the hill top, the World F lag looked beau tiful as it floated out from our very "ub"tandal flag pole. After camp inspection we went off to the 'Vannon for the day. We played deck quoits with a ground sheet filled with sand and tied with a red gym. girdle. After din. ner, and a sleepy rest hour as a l'esult, we played sevel'al strenuous games, and discovel'ed a wee heliotrope rock flower, a relation of Monkey Musk , Monkey Mimulus. 'Ve arrived home to find that the tenls had been inspected by two small boys, who pronounced them good. We couldu't induce Sister and the Divisional Commissioner to stay for tea. Even the promise of pu ftaloons failed to keep them. Tuesday morning, and the truck absolutely refUl;ed to start. The Vauxhall was very indifferent, too, but finally realised hel' responsibilities and got going. The bus refused to have anything to do with us, so there followed a wild scurry to Hamilton in deshabillee, and a quick return to breakfast. After striking camp we felt that our efforts deserved some reward, so we invited t h ree wee S'irls to morning tea, and used th e pineapp le our visitors had left us. Our guests l;tayed to 'watch t he last of the packing, and we gave them - dinner, then we sent them off with some good
WOMEN AND WAR FINANCE. Opportunity For Saving. \Vomell have a particular interest in the \Val' Savings Certificate plan introduced by the Commonwealth Government. The aim, of course, \s to attract to the Treasury for war purposes small amounts which ordinarily it would not receive. Apart, however, from the direct and personal interest in the successful conduct of the war that the certificates provide, they give an opportunity too for saving in small sums for particular purposes in the future. Thi::; may be done by the formation of groups in churches and clubs and othel' organisations . Under the Certificate pbn the value of the investment at any time during its currency of seven years is known. Thus any woman can plan ahead for education for her children, improvements to her home, travel, or any other of her desires. Sold at 16/ -, £4 and £8 at banks and post offices the certificates at rnaturily will be valued at £1, £5 and £10. They may be cashed at any time during the seven yeal'" should the money be required urgently and after the fil'st compl ete year, their value will increase by definite amounts each year. For example after four years the 16/ - certificate will be worth. 18 / -, and the othel's will increase in propol' tion. Our Navy. our Army and our Air Force and those of Bl'itain and France are the women's gual'antee of the security of theil' homes and theil' children and of continuing employment for thei I' men. The fighting services can be maintained only I y u s ing the full re>,our'cel; of the Commonwealth to support them. All the money that can be spared will be n eeded before the menace to th e world's peace can be removed. 'Vomen can have an important share in this mobilisation of OUI' money through the ,Val' Savings Certificate Hystem. A State \Var Sa vings Committee is being formed in each ('apital city. TTnder its supel'yisioll it is hoped to enr01 a very STeat membership in groups. -:0:--
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J une, 1940. LONES
I t hink I shou ld head this article "Are the Lones to stand alone?" Frankly it is to be propaganda, for Lones not to them. I think I should have put a "Stop, Look, Listen" sign also, in case you pass it by. Consider me a traffic "Cop", who has arrested your attention for a moment! And so read on. In our various jobs in Guiding are we not apt to become very insular and self-contained, and disinterested in any other branch but our own? How many of us read Matilda from end to end ? Or having read dismiss half of it with a relieved comment "That's nothing to do with me?" This is the moment I think to quote our immorta l Rudyard Kip ling. "What should they know of England who only England know?" How can we get a proper perspective of Guiding if we look at it only from one angle? We know t he good each department does. We hear with great pride and pleasure for instance of the wonderful way the Extension Branch has developed under the capable leadership of Miss Campbell, but we are content o leave it all to her. We read of the wider activities of the Rangers, but that seems to us entirely their own affair, and we don't think any more about it. The Posts are a closed book-or letter, should it be ?-to us. We are content with our little line of thought and feel we a re fu lfi lling our job by sticking to it. Isn't this what Rudyard Kipling meant .when he wrote his "The English Flag?" England doesn't only mean its little lanes, its thatched cottages, its inclusl-rial towns, its St. Pau l's or its Tower of London. It doesn't only mean its homeland, its Commonwealths or its Colonies, the spirit or the wealth of its people. It means everything combined. Now how can we in Guiding combine? By learning to know the special problems and needs of our various other branches, by lending a sympathetic ear and a helping hand, by trying' t~ work in with each other. Someone-outside the Movement certainlyonce thought the Lone Branch was the departme nt that lent money to the others! She naturally spelt it LOAN, and thought we must be very affluent to be able to LEND money. A pity it isn't that way. It would have been fun to have put up a sign of t hree balls on my front door as an insigna of my office! Or the Lone badge could have been three balls instead of the three leaves of a trefoil!
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Now I am sure that people in the Movement a re not as ignorant as that. You do know that Lones are girls who, living in the country or places where there are no active companies, can still become Guides or Rangers and do all t heir work by correspondence with their Patr ol Leaders and Captains. But do you know how much that entails on the part of the Capt ains and Lieutenants? The monthly Budgets are stencilled and a copy sent to each Patrol Leader, giving in detail work to be done and returned before the next Budget is due. The companies have to pay for the stencils which are 9d. each now, and probably three or four are required for each Budget. Some Guiders type their entire Budge's, and some even write them by hand, if a typewriter is not available. These Budgets must be made interesting, and shou ld have illustrations or drawings to explain the point they want. As you can imagine t hey take a long time to compile. Then there is the postage to and fro. This is a continual drain on company funds. How do you think the Lone Branch is financed? Up till now by loans-no misprint this time !-from Headquarters. "Grants" they very generously term it, which as each one is used up, are replenished . . But can we in all conscience go on being a drain on the already overburdened purse of central funds? Certainly not! We must learn to stand on our own feet. It is for this end that I am trying to form a Lones Local Association, to be our financial and spiritual support. On October last I wrote to every Commissioner in Victoria, asking for at least one member. Although I have had several answers and am very grateful for them and the support they offer, yet there are so many who apparently forgot in the press of other things, or just filed the circular that I am making another appeal. All I ask is one member with a subscription of 2/ 6 a year from each L.A. town or countl-y. The country ones are asked to look after the interests of the Lones in her district, and collect the names of girls likely to become Lones. The town ones might help to form the executive which will operate in exactly the same way as other L.A.'s. Lones concerns each one of you, because the t ree must keep on expanding in every branch to be a credit to its growers. -M. R. FAIRBAIRN. ---:0:---
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June, 1940.
(Editor: Margaret Haseltine.) Wha will not sing, "God save the King!" Shall hang as high's the steeple; But while we sing, "God save the King!" We'll ne'er forget the People. -Burns.
KING'S BIRTHDAY PROGRAMME The birthday of H.M. the King is on 14th December, but in Victoria, the public holiday is being held in June, and so this is a special Birthday programme. We have introduced as many countries of the Empire as possible, so that they could take their part in wishing Him a "Very Happy Birthday." 4.30-0pening : From the four corners of the earth come all the countries in turn saying their name as they come, and join hands in a circle. (Divide Brownies up so that they know which country they represent) then say"We have made this magic ring, To let you see us dance and sing, And let us wish You, if we may, A very happy birthday." Salute. 4.35-Inspection: SOUTH AFRICA. Brownies all wish very hard with eyes shut, and find themselves in South Africa. Each six stands by its own Kraal (native house) and these and the warriors are inspected by the White Chief, who collects a present from each warrior to take to London for H.M. the King. The warriors watch the White Chiefs as they sail away in a boat. 4.45-HANDICRAFTS, INOlA: Wish as bebefore and find selves in India. Each six makes a brown paper crown with jewels of coloured paper, the best of these is taken to London. 4.55-1\1ES AGE GAME, AUSTRALIA: Wish as before. Brownies are divided into two tribes. One lot have been separated and are trying
to get help from their homes. A river has to be crossed on stepping stones chalked on floor (a wide river) the enemy tribe are in canoes waiting to catch them if they fall into the river. If the river is safely crossed without going over the chalk marks that native delivers her message, this is repeated. Two natives crossing the river at the one time. Then change sides and see which tribe receives most messages correctly, and which had the most natives uncaptured. 5.10-BALL .GAME, NEW ZEALAND: In New Zealand the Maoris play with little balls called Pois; these they use for their dances, and so any ball game could be played here. 520-BANANAS, FIJI: Here we have a rest and look at pictures and have a banana or some such fruit. Pretend that the coral reef and all the natives and their huts are to be seen. 5.30-SNOW MEN, CANADA: Here the Brownies aTe Red Indian children and can have a feather fo r their heads. They are in tribes and each builds a snow man. Draw on brown paper with white chalk. 5 40-ENGLAND: The presents are put beside the toadstool. The Brownies are outside Buckingham Palace, and have Fairy Ring. They then give the Grand Howl, and end bÂĽ singing GOD SAVE THE KING. 5.50-Wish hard and find yourselves ready to go home. While wishing T.O. collects pre ents. Between each country make up your own way of travelling, and add any ideas which might fit in to make this programme more typical of the various countries and yet as a whole a birthday meeting where all the countries are wishing H.M. the King a happy birthday.
June, 1940.
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MATI~DA
while they count ten . Count how many times the King's people manage to break down the castle's defences . -1st Richmond Pack. - - - -:0:-- - -
This meeting could be planned the week before and the Brownies could make properties for themselves for each country when visited. Grass skirts, feather headdresses, etc. Pictures could be brought to decorate the rooms, etc. This is onlY' a suggestion, and we do hope you will work your own programme out from this, perhaps using and altering it where you think fit. -R.L.S. ---:0:---
Dear Madam,The following is one of my Brownie's version, as given by her to her mother of the elect ing of a President and Secretary for her Six in readiness for a little effort they held last week (which I am thrilled to say realised ÂŁ2/8/ 4). 'We accused (discussed) everything, and elected our Pessimist (President) and Seceerary (Secretary); and I'm not anything, I'm just going to be a lady like you are on the big Committee Mummie." Tawny and I t hought it may fill a little corner in Matilda. With Guide Greetings, Yours sincerely, DOROTHY PURTON, Brown Owl, 1st Swan Hill Pack. Editor's Note: Will any other Brown Owls who have experiences similar to the above please send them in. - --:0:---
PACK'S FAVOURITE GAME Our favourite game is King of t he Barbaree. We start with Inspection when each Brownie gets a slip of paper with King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Soldier, Defender, Cook, Kitchenmaid, gardener or bootboy according to how clean and tidy she is. Then the King and Queen sit on their thrones with all their court grouped round them and the two defenders join hands a short distance away. "Will you surrender? Will you surrender To the King of the Barbaree? asks a soldier marching round their stronghold and they answer: "We won't surrender! We won't surrender! The King of the Barbaree. Soldier: "I'll tell the King, I'll t ell the King. The King of the Barbaree." Defender: "You can tell the King, you can tell the King. The King of the Barbaree." So the soldier returns to the King and saluting, says: , Good morning 0 King, Good morning 0 King I have complaint to make." What's that growls His Majesty. Soldier: "They won't sunender, they won't surrender The King of the Barbaree. "Take this soldier" says the King; and off they go to repeaf:i the whole performance. This goes on till all the court have been sent one by one, and are all saluting, touching their caps or cu rtsying, as the character sugge ts in front of the thrones. "You go my dear" says the King to his Queen, but even that has n o effect: so next time he says "I come myself." The defenders on being told "The King is here" merely reply : "The King can be here." He says "We'll have a war" and each member of his court in turn rushes at the castle and lies across the clasped hands of the defenders,
WAGTAIL AND BABY. A Baby watched a ford, whereto A Wagtail came for drinking; A blaring bull went wading through, The Wag tail showed no shrinking. Next saw the Baby round the spot A mongrel slowly slinking; The Wagtail gazed, but faltered not In dip and sip and prinking. A perfect gentleman then neared; The Wagtail, in a winking, With terror rose and disappeared; The Baby fell a-thinking. -Thomas Hardy.
- - -: 0 : - - New occasions teach new duties; Time makes ancient good uncouth; They must upward still and onward Who would keep abreast of truth. -J. Russell Lowell.
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MA TILDA
THE SIGN POST J::di/or: Elizabeth AI/red.
THE FIRST CLASS TEST Training a Recruit If you look up P.O. and R., Rule 36, Section 4, you will find a candidate for the First Class Test is required to "Train a recruit to pass her Tenderfoot Tes'." If one wishes to teach in Victorian schools one must undergo a course in training; if one wishes to be a Guider it is usual to undergo a course in training; it seems, therefore, that if one aspires to the first class badge that one should undergo a course in training for that. It seems unfair to groan at Mary Jones who took her recruit, made her write her law and promise and all that on a p;ece of grubby paper and then made her learn it off by heart-and did no more, when really it was our fault that Mary had not realised that morel was expected of her. The first thing would be to have a shOTt training c'ass, and at the first one to discuss just what we should do for this, what we should tackle first and why. All the Guides who are hoping to attain First Class should be encouraged to attend this training class, and such a clas could be held periodically, so that new aspirants could receive training. The standard of the test should be stressed-let the Guides realise that when they present a recruit for testing, the Guider is testing both the recruit and the Guide, and so a high standard must be maintained. Then, impress on the Guide that the Tenderfoot work must be made interesting, or she will not be able to pass on to 1he recruit the fun that is in Guiding. Here is a suggestion-each patrol could prepare a "Recruit Book," an attractive book which sets forth just what one has to do to become a Guide. Each aspirant for the First Class test could prepare a similar book for a recruit, in which the flags would be outlined, the salute drawn faintly, the law could be printed faintly, and then the recruit could, with coloured pencils and pasted pictures, make her
own book. The training is to be by games and stories. I have known youthful Guides make up stories for the kno~s; I know one who has a "tracking game"; this packs flat, but in patrol time it is set up, a Guide Hall is erected, trees, bushes, bridges are set up and the Guides set the trail with pebbles and twigs. Genel"ally speaking, it is the handicraft parts of the test that are done best. Most recruits do know their knots and their tracking signs. Knotting instruction should be as practical as possible, and several lengths of rope are far better than chewed pieces of string. Tracking signs should be practised with real sticks and stones, and not drawn on paper. The meetings alone would be sufficient for them to find out the signals. I find that haziness occurs over the meaning of law and promise, and occasionally over the flags. TI:ey know the crosses on bits of paper, but on the Union Jack, no. A recruit is thrilled if she can touch a real bunting fla6", and follow the crosses with her finger. Coloured maps are a great help too, both for the Union Jack and the Australian Flag. It will be f ound that a child of eleven has a very hazy knowledge of the capitals of the Australian States, frequently confusing cities with States. Then let us look ahead to the enrolment. The Captain says to the recruit: "I trust you on your honour-to try to do at least one good turn every day." The recruit will want to know something about these good turns, and here the First Class candidate can help her, while training her for her Tenderfoot. The ~ood deed suggested are frequently so impracticable. I often wonder whether we do not often lose the thrill of the good deed. Perhaps a discussion might work out all we wish for, but if we are to have a discussion, we will do more if we prepare for it. Let us have a pow wow just before the end of the meeting, let it be brief, and then suggest that we each arrive with an idea next time we meet. A
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MATILDA
June, 1940.
discussion seldom works if we open it with a bald statement such as "Let us discuss the good turn part of the promise"; but we should open it with an arguable statement such as "Mary Smith is a Guide and her sister Phyllis is a Brownie. Phyllis is only eight so Mary dresses her, makes her bed, cleans her shoes, takes her to school, takes her home, sets the table, dries up, puts Phyllis to bed, in short, she always sees that Phyllis has nothing to do but play. The Guide's motto is "Be Prepared," the Brownie's motto is "Lend a Hand"; do you think Mary is doing very good deeds?" -or "Mrs. Smith has asked Mary to hurry home from school as sh~ particularly wants her to be early. Mary can just get home by the time her mother wants her, when a stranger stops her and says "I see you are a Guide, would you run a message for me?" What should Mary do? " In our young days we used to tie knots in string and untie them when our deed was clone, and it was great fun. It is rather fun to take one law for a while and each night look over the day and see if we can give ourselves a plus or a minus mark for the way we have kept it; not much fun about the minuses, but after three or four days of minuses, it is such a thrill to get a plus. I remember some advice given me on trying to acquire virtues rather than merely conquering f aults-looking onward rather than back"Do not try to do too much at once, regard the day as three jewels to be offered to our Lord, and if failure comes in the morning, d o not be discouraged, there are still two jewels left to offer; and if at the end of the day not one jewel remains, remember that the three for the next day are still unspoiled." Neither aspirant for First Class nor Recruit will be any happier for a low standard, but to get the best out of both, we should present training and learning as a challenge. -L.T. ----:0:----
GAMES Patrol Orders The patrols stand in file, facing the Guider, who gives her orders in a low but distinct voice. No one may move until the word "Go!" and the patrol which is first in the fOl¡mation ordered, gets a shell to score by. Here are
some suggest'ed orders: "Sitting in a circle with your feet inwards and your hands on the shoulders of the people next you, Go!" or-¡'Standing in file, the leaders' hands touching the wall, your hands on the shoulders of the person in front of you and your backs to me, Go!" Be sure that your orders do not handicap one patrol, as for instance the middle one would be if there were three patrols and you ga ve a command to' tOUC,1 the side walls. You will find that the habit of listening carefully to a complicated order and carrying it out promptly is good for the Company's discipline. But be sure that you know exactly what formation you want before you begin to give the order.
Circle Tig This is a letting-off steam game, quickly organised, of which one tan hardly have too many. The Company join hands 'a nd skip round briskly in a ring, keeping an eye on the Guider, who is outside the ring. As they pass her she touches one of the Guides, who is immediately "He," and begins to tig the others as quickly as she can. In the meantime the Guider counts, "one thollsand, two thousand, three thousand" in measured tones until she has reached twenty. This is roughly twenty seconds. Then she blows her whistle and everyone who is tigged, holds up her hands. The people who are tigged play in the next round, the point being to see which "He" tigs the most people.
F ox and Geese m Patrols This is a letting-off-steam game again. You ordinary fox and geese, where the fox has to catch the end gosling, who are all hanging on in a tail behind Mother Goose, who can only stop the fox by extending her wings and dodging, because she has no hands to catch him with ? This is just the same, exceptl that it is played in patrols, the fox of course being sent from one patrol to catch the geese of another. The first fox to catch a gosling scores one for her patrol and all the foxes go back to their patrols to be geese, and a new one is sent out. The Patrol wins whose foxes have caught most goslings. ----:0:----
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June, 1940.
THE RANGE RS' PAGE Editor-E. FAULKNER. next month! No news from the country! Could we hear please what yon have all been doing this year. Half of oUr members live in the country and we do want to heal' more about your work and play.-E.F. Minutes of Ranger Committee meeting held at H.Q. on May 10th, 1940:P resent: Mrs. Faulkner and all members of the Committee. Mystery Hike: The Convenor reported that 18 Rangers attended this fixture. The Rangers hiked from Sandringham station to Beaumaris, cooked tea and had a camp-fire and then hiked back to Black Rock and caught the tram to Sandringham. June Week-end Conference : The Convenor reported that she had had inquiries from Guidons regarding the Conference, and it was decided to invite two representatives from the three financial Guidon Groups, Northcote, Preston and the "Twigs." It was suggested that the question of whether Guidons should attend Ranger function s should be discussed at the Conference. Choir : Win Cozens reported that a further meeting of those interested is to be held at t he Congregational Church, Richmond, on the 21st May. There will be a subscription of 2/ 6 per person, and a small chal'ge per night. The next meeting will be held a t Headquarters on June 7th, at 6.45 p.m. -BETTY HORSLEY, Hon. Sec. ----:0:----
. LOOK WIDE London Sea. Rangers' Re-union. In" spite of all the familiar war-time difficulties, the London Sea Rangers held their annual dinner on January 20th, and well over two hundred were present, some having travelled frorrt Bognor, Leigh-on-Sea and Reading in order to attend. Among the fami liar blue jerseys there was a sprinkling of khaki, Air Force blue and tne smart glitter of brass buttons-for the London Mrs. Laughton Matthews went on , to say that out of the thousands of applicants who applied, the qualifications given by Sea Ranger training-reliability, discipline, sense of humourhad carried real weight and would prove of
Sea Ranger Crews have contributed many capable members to the A.T.S., the W.A.A.F.S., and of course, the W.R.N.S. The present head of the W.R.N.S., Mrs. Laughton Matthews, is Sea Ranger County Coxswain for London. Miss Hopkin , the Sea Ranger Pilot, is a member of the W.A.A.F.S. Both received an enthusiastic welcome when they arrived. The dinner itself was a delightful informal and chatty affair. Everywhere, one could tell, the Rangers, gathered in groups at the small tables, were swapping yarns of their experiences since they had last met-many of them at "Implacable" Training, or at camp, last year, in a world that had not foreshadowed to them their adventurous journey of that night, through a snow-covered, moonlit London under war conditions. After dinner Miss Hobkinson, the acting Sea Ranger County Coxswain for London (to whose efforts, assisted by Miss Denis and other 'a ble helpers, the party owed its organisation), spoke of the work of the London crews and the happenings of the year. She praised the work of the Skippers who had trained people willing and able to take up war service in many capacities and referred particularly to the work of the River Emergency Service. She stressed the importance of sound Sea Ranger training continuing in all cases where crews could carryon, and urged them not to allow such wartime activities as knitting (however useful and even essential) to encroach too much time which should, strictly speaking, be given to Sea Rangel' activities. Mrs. Laughton Matthews made a most amusing and inspiring speech, and recounted some of her experiences in her new capacity. Much laughter was provoked by her quotation from the qualifications put forward by applicants for enrolment in the W.R.N.S.:" I have crossed the Channel six times and never been sea-sick." "I have a gl'owing knowledge (!) of the Morse code." "I have always had a longing to go overseas and see the world." Th e optimistic certainty that to become a W.R N. promoted one immediately to life on the ocean wave was, of course, eroneous, but No suggestions in yet for a heading for our Pag'e; do send in a drawin2' or an idea before
J une, 1940.
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lasting value. She ended with "God bless you a ll- I shan't forget you." The Pilot, speaking a little later in the evening, struck a serious note half-way through a most amusing speech by asking the Sea Ranger Branch as a whole to consider whither t hey were steering. She reminded them that, though we must all dreaJll of the reconstruction to be undertaken when the war is over, we must first win the war-and that only complete one-pointed effort from every single individual could ensure winning it. She suggestEd t hat many of the older Sea Rangers might feel that their work was rather to help and train new and younger 'Seas" in their crews, t han tq enjoy themselves Sea Rangering. "The important thing, wherever we are, in whatever service we have enrolled, is to live out what we feel inside. Whatever we may be doing we are and shall always be Sea Rangers," she said in closing, and turning back the lapel of her service coat, showed the blue Trefoil beneath it. A cheer went up ' from the Seas when Mrs. Laughton Matthews at once showed that she also wore her badge in the same position. The evening closed with a grand sing-song. ---:0:---
WORDS, MERE WORDS Unsolved Mysteries of Philology: Does "Butter" Come From the Greek? At first sight there would appear to be little connection between a leper and a library, or a poodle and a puddle. The unfortunate leper is covered with scales, and lepis is the Gr eek word for scale . From the same root is derived libel', the inner scaly bark of a tree, for merly used to write upon. Libel', as everybody knows, is the Latin for book. The bark of t he beech was most frequently used, and the words "book" and "beech" have the same origin. Thus "leper" and " library" are definitely associated. "Poodle" comes from the German for "waddle," or "splash," and "puddle" has t he same origin. Those familiar beverages tea and coffee are derived respec'ively from Chinese and Abyssinian words. Cocoa, which is a misspelling of "cacao," is 2~ Mexican word, and so also is "chocolate." "Cocoa" is often confused with "coco," the correct spelling in "coco-nut," a very different thing. The Greeks called the latter Theobroma, food of the gods, and bot-
17
anists have borrowed this for the generic name of the coco-nut tree.
Loaf -giver "Bread" is good old English, and so is "loaf." The lord of the manor gets his name from the Anglo-Saxon hlaford, loaf-giver. The origin of "butter" has long been disputed. One obvious derivation is from two Greek words meaning ox-cheese. But it is more probably derived f rom the Scythian (South Russian) word for butter. The most obvious derivation, by the way, is usually the least likely. Classic examples of such are "breeches," from " bearriches," and "ostler," from "oat-stealer." 'Bosh!" the reader may exclaim. This is the Turkish word for vain, empty. And if we t)at "humble-pie," this is made from the umbles, the entrails of the deer, which used to fall to the share of the meanest servants. The patient ass ge~s his name of donkey from the colour "dun." It is a diminutive. This useful beast has, quite unjustly, come to be the emblem of stupidity, like an idiot. In ancient Greece the latter meant a private individual, one who took no part in public affairs, and so presumably one incapable of doing so. A peculiar man. "Peculiar" originally meant independent, from the Latin pecus, a herd of cattle, recalling times when all wealth took that form.
Juno's Surname Nowadays we have money, fro m Moneta, the Warner, one of the many surnames of Juno, in whose temple in Rome money was "minted." Our Mint is a similar institution. The same root is to be observed in "admorush." We "calculate" our wealth, but not in the old way of counting with calculi, Latin for pebbles, as do many savages at the present day with cowrie-shells. 'fhe derivation of many quite common words is not known with certainty. Here are a few examples: "Key," "kipper," "pig," "toy," "row," meaning a din, "match," to strike for a light. The true source of the name of our metropolis, London, is not known. "Canada" is another mysterious word. These words have puzzled generations of scholars of Oxford and Cambridge. The latter, by the way, does not owe its name to the obvious fact that it has, a bridge over the Cam. The town was called Cambridge long before the Granta came to be known as the Cam. The name is a contraction of Grantabrigge. -H. F. WERNHAM.
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June, 1940.
CAMPING and TRAINING Fioneer Badge Ca mp How about those gadgets? Square lashing is part of knotting for 2nd Class, but you may not know diagonal lashing. Find someone who can teach you, and who will show you how it is used to make things. A mid-winter day is glorious for a hike, but a bit cold to sit still and make gadgets, so why not use your next hike for gathering sticks that will later be used at Company meeting for concocting gadgets? Notice that one of the "Gadgets" may be a ruc-sac-have you considered making your own? It will be splendid when you go to camp. There is one pattern in "Hiking and Light-weight Camping," but any keen camper will tell you that her own pack is the best design, and she will probably lend it to you to copy, and give you tips about how to make it. The Pioneer Badge Camp will be held at the Guide House during the Easter holidays, 1941. It will be a real Pioneer Camp for Guides. Th:s means that they can prepare for it all through this year and be quite ready to do the test at the Camp. Each month on this page will be found hints on the Test. P lease be sure and pass them on to your Patrol Leaders and Guides. Districts or Companies who have no one to help them with the various sections are invited to write to Miss Harrison, and arrangements will be made for a Guider to help them.
Guiders' W oodcraft Week If there are sufficient applications to make it possible, a Guiders' Woodcraft Week will be held under canvas at the Guide House from Saturday, 31st August, to Saturday, 7th September, inclusive. The fee will be not more than 30/ -. Fare: Rail, 5/ 9; bus, 1/3. Applications, accompanied by a deposit of 5/ -, should reach Miss B. Macartney at the Guide Office by 1st August. Deposits will not be r efunded if withdrawal is made later than 15th August.
Challenge To Guiders! Guiders will have read in the Training section of the March "Guider" of a "Challenge to Guiders," which is being held in England. The Victorian Training Committee is arranging a similar Challenge for "Matilda." Watch next month for details.
T r aining at Mildura A week-end training for Guiders will be held under canvas at Mildura from 14th to 17th June, inclusive. Guiders are invited to write
to Miss A. Hooper, 24 Argyle Street, Mildura, for particulars.
Commissioners Commissioners are invited to write to the Commissioner for Training if they have any suggestions for Trainings they would like ar ranged, either at Headquarters or in their Divisions and Districts.
Trainings Ref resher Classes for Owls-Guider-incharge, Miss E. Lardner, Eagle Owl Diploma, 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th June at the Guide Office, 8 p.m. At the final class Miss Lardner will talk on her experiences with Guiding abroad and all Guiders will be welcome. First ClaBs Ses~ions-The two final classes cf the short course of First Class work will be held at the Guide Office on 4th and 11th June. at 8 p.m. TRAINING CLASSES are open to all GUIDERS who have been nominated in writing by their District Commissioners. Uniform is worn at all training sessions. Guiders ar~ asked to be punctual. Notebook and pencil and sandshoes should be brought. A fee of 3c1. is charged for each class.
O pen W eek-ends at Guide House 22nd June, apply by 8th June; 5th July, apply by 21st June; 19th July, apply by 5th July; 2nd August, apply by 19th July; 16th August, apply by 2nd August. There will bp. only one open week-end in September owing to the school holidays, this will be 20th September.
New Campers! Do not forget the special Guiders' week-end camps at "Gipton," Frankston, 28th September and 26th October.
Camp Application F orms Campers will be relieved to hear that speciaJ application forms are being produced for both canvas and indoor camps at the Guide House: When asking for a form, mention that it i::; for the Guide House. -ELAINE MORAN. - - - : 0 ::- - -
The Commissioner for Training, Miss E. Moran, accompanied by Misses D. Coles and C. Rogers, visited the Mallee for the first week-end of Guide Week, where they tested and enrolled two Guiders and twelve Guides at Hopetoun, three Guides from Lascelles, and
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June, 1940. twelve Hopetoun Brownies.
Friday evening was spent with the Guiders at Hopetoun, when the Lieutenant was enrolled, and Saturday morning was a busy time for everyone, with 15 Guides and 12 Brownies to be tested, but as all the recruits were so well prepared, it was all finished by lunch time. The enrolment, which was Hopetoun's first, took place in the afternoon, on the land on which a Scout and Guide Hall is shortly to be erected, and the Guides from Lascelles and Woomelang came to join in the ceremony. After a very nice Brownie ceremony, 12 very excited new Brownies watched while Tawny and the Guides, including three from Lascelles, were enrolled, and then everyone shared in the wonderful afternoo~ tea provided by the Local Association and mothers of the Guides and Brownies. On Sunday morning, the ne\\' Guides and Brownies joined with the Scouts and Cubs in beginning Guide Week by going to Church in uniform, and in the afternoon Scouts and Guides held a combined service on their own block of land. As the visiting Guiders were due in Lascelles on Monday, they were unable to stay for the Scout and Guide Campfire to be held later in the week. On Monday they visited the Guide Company at Lascelles, where they spent a very happy time, taking the Guides through several sections of the Second Class test. -E.E.M. ---:0:---
RALLY On Saturday, May 4th, a Rally was held in the Hamilton Gardens. Guides, Brownies, and Rangers from Hamilton and Western District were invited, and Coleraine, Digby, Monivae, and Hamilton were represented. Apologies were received from Casterton and Portland <;:;ompanies. The rally opened officially with a march past in formation, the salute being taken by the Commissioner for the Western Division, Mrs. Corney. Also in the Official party were Mrs. K. Davidson, Divisional Commissioner, and Miss M. H. Morris, District Commissioner. In the Guide section the first event was a Tenderfoot relay, run by the 1st Monivae Captain, Miss V. Brewis, and won by 2nd Hamilton. This was followed by a ball game demanding much concentration and not a little skilled judgment. (Miss N. Pedrina, 2nd Hamilton Captain, was in charge of this
game.) Perhaps the most exciting of all was the treasure hunt which Monivae Rangers managed so efficiently. The clues took the small hunters to almost every part of the Gardens, and the treasure was finally found near the John Thomson Memorial Fountain. Hamilton Rangers gave a demonstration of tent pitching under the big oaks near the bird cages. The final event was a game based on the development of good carriage, organised by Miss K. M. Morris, Captain of 1st Hamiiton Company. 1st Hamilton were the winners. During the afternoon the Brownies had their competitions; tie-tying, plaiting, skipping, and a ball game. Under the capable management of Miss S. M. Morris, 1st Hamilton Ranger Captain, afternoon tea was served under the trees on the hill, and when this was over, Mrs. Corney presented the prizes to the winning teams; 2nd Hamilton Brownies received the Brownie Cup, and 2nd Hamilton Guides, a book. A flying-up ceremony brought this very happy afternoon to a close. ----:0:----
SPORTS GYMKHANA Outer Eastern Division May 11th dawned bright and clear much to the relief of the Committee responsible for organising the sports and to the satisfaction of the Guides of ten Companies who had been practising for weeks for the various events. Before 2 o'clock the Guides began to arrive at "Ormiston," Mont Albert, the grounds of which were kindly loaned by the Principals Misses Russell and Small. Punctually at 2.30 the Guides began to assemble for the flag race, this was followed by a slow bicycle race, the winner being the Guide who managed to stay on longer than the other competitors, and then ride to the tape. Both the regular and international methods were used for the signalling race, next came tent pegging relay, and on the whole the standard promises well for future tenting squads. Although there were nineteen entries for Life Line Thro'.ying only one Guide threw within 2ft. of the "drowning; man" so much more practise will be needed before 1st Class standard is reached. A message re!ay came next, followed by a Flower Pot Race, and last of all Flag Pole Erection in which seven teams competed. The winning teams erected their poles in less than five minutes and the judges had a busy time testing
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guy ropes, pegs and lashings. All these events were limited to entries from Guide Companies, points were awarded for places, the winning Companies being first, 1st Balwyn, and equal second, 1st Box Hill and 2nd Surrey Hills. There were other events for those who were not Guides. Mrs. Edmondson, our neighbouring Divisional Commissioner, was present, also Mrs. Euan Lit'lejohn, who came to tell us something about the Guide War Work and to pre!:'ent the prizes, a Gilwell Cooker to the winning Company and a Groundsheet each to the runners-up. Members of the four local associations were responsible for afternoon tea and the cake stall, and Guide Companies for sweets and drinks. The sum of £15 was realised, two-thirds of which is to go to The Guide War Appeal and the remainder towards a new fence at the Canterbury Guide Hall. -D.H. ---:0:---
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WATCH FOR THE JULY ISSUE -
Courage is not the absence of fear but th.:! control of it.
Are You Doing Anything About It? MOST girls dream about 'money,' and of how useful it would be, if they had a larger shal'e of it, but not everyone takes steps to make her dream a reality. The most practical thing to do is to start saving. For the one who saves, far and away the best help is a passbook issued byTHE
State Savings Bank I OF
· Victoria J. Thornton Jones, General _~[allage1·. II ead 0 [fice: Elizabeth St., jIelbourne.
June, 1940.
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I. Eva~,,~vans I, ,
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680-8 EUZABETH ST., )lliLB., C.l.
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Official Can va s C oods House to the Gi 1'1 Guides' Association . , Special Ooncessions ofT lAst P11ccs To all Girl Guid(' Organisation s ,= Write for Particulars to Your Head= quarte rs, or Direct to Us. TENTS and FLYS, GROUNDSHEETS, , CAMPING GOODS, I·'LAGS, TRAVEL e RUGS , CAMP BEDS, WATERPROOFS, SLEEPING BAGS, MATTRESSES.
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