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An Official Treasure Bag of Guiders' Information for Guiders of "iet" ria , .'iutaralia.
Price, 3/ ¡ per year.
4/ 6 pORted.
Editor : Mrs. GUY BAKEWELL, 4 Stoke Ave., Kew, E.4. Co ntribution s shou ld reach the Editor not later than the 26th of each month.
VOL. XX.
OCTOBER 1943
EQUIPMENT Waterproof Rubber Sheeting, suitable for ground sheets, 36in. wide, good quality, 11/3 per yd.; Leather First Aid Kit for Belts, 7/ 6; First Aid Kit in Box, 3/6.
NEW BOOKS. Imperial Headquarters Annual Report, 1/ -; Scouting for Boys (Memorial E'dition) 6/6; Running a Troop, 8/6; Scout Games, 4/6; Scouting out of doors, 4/6; 7th Biennial Report, 3/6. Names of Guides or Brownies, and Companies or Packs, required for Hats and Material. Ties, L eO!lpon. C. Broadhurst, Commissioner for Equipment.
IMPORTANT. Names of Guides or Brownies, and Companies or Packs, required for Hats and Material. Ties, 1 Coupon. - G. Thurgood.
No.3.
later. - Mina A.;lamson, P /L., 1st Glenmore. The Guides of 1st Chilwell Coy. and of 1st Glenmore, Northcote Farm, had a happy camp at "Shoubra," Highton, from August 28th toSeptember 2nd. Th'e re were 23 Guides in ca!!lP, 7 of whom were from 1st Glenmore Coy. In spite of the weather, which sometimes was very wet or windy, w,e were able to have most of our meals outside, although sometimes we had to take shelter in a big shed which was situated at the back of the site. On Sunday, after "Colours," We had an enrolment ceremony, when some recruits from each company w~re enrolled. We had a regular programme throughout the five days. We were wakened at 7 a.m. and after prayers we had' breakfast, at 8. During the morning we did' our orderly jobs, and had Colours and Inspection and, of course, morning tea. After rest hour in the afternoon we played games or went for hikes. When it was fine we had a real camp fire at night, but if it rained we went into the shed to sing songs and have stories told to us. After supper and baths we were always ready for bed, and went straight to sleep after singing "Taps." - P /L. Pat Hugban, 1st Chilwell.
DISTRICT NEWS. The Glenmore' Gu'ides were invited to a camp 3 miles out of Geelong with the Chilwell Guides. We went in the farm bus, and it was a very wet day in August. Miss Leigh (Commandant of Camp) introd!lced us to the patrol leaders when we arrived late on the first afternoon. While we were in camp six girls were! enrolled. Two were Glenmore Guides and four Chilwell Guides. There were four patrols, and the Glenmore Guides were mixed up in the patrols. There were seven tents. Six tents had three girls in each, and one had four. We had a lovely time, and the ChilweU girls said that it was the best camp they had had. We are hoping to go for another camp
Training and Camping (Elaine Moran) Camping a,nd the First-Class Badge. Are you a keen camper, and if so, are you a First-Class Guide?' Many people think that you cannot be a first-class Guide unless you are a Camper, because camping is such an important part of Guiding that you are only half a Guide till you have camped. It is suggested that amongst the qualifications for the First Class Badge after the war there should be "Must have camped in a Guide
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Camp." wm you tell your Court of Honour :about this and get the Leaders to discuss it with their Patrols? Will you talk it over with o()ther Guiders? Then, will you write and get your Guides to write and say whether you think that this qualification should be amongst those for the First Class Badge? All you need do is to put "For" or "Against" on a postcard, say whether it is your own personal vote, or that of your Patrol or Company; sign it, stating rank (Le., Tenderfoot, Second Class Guide, First Class Guide, P.L., or Second, Captain, Lieutenant or Owl), and send it to the Commissioner for Camping, Miss E. Moran, 2 Wilks A venue, Malvern, S.E.4. Please write before the 1st December. Guiders Campcraft Training. Camper's 'Licence; Qoortermaster Certificate; Camp craft Badge; Pioneer Badge. Training will include these, so Guiders who want to widen their campcraft knowledge should come to this Camp at the Guide House. It has been found necessary to ar· .range this Camp a day earlier than previ()usly announced. The dates will be 30th December to 7th January inclusive. It is hoped this will not cause inconvenience to any Guider hoping to attend. Guiders who .have been nominated by their Commissioners will be tested in the above subjects. This .camp is specially for new Guiders or those who have not camped before. So no one need "think she must know a 'great deal before :she comes! As well as bushcraft, there will be swimming and Campfire singing. Open to all Guiders and Commissioners of 17 years of age and over. Guider-in-charge: Miss E. Moran. Fee, 30/-; return fare: rail 5/9, bus 2/. Applications, accompanied by a deposit of 5/-, and 5/9 for rail ticket, should reach Miss V. Harrison, Hon. Camping Sec., 126 High Street, Gl.en Iris, SE'6, not later than 8th November (earlier if possible). Nomination forms for Camper's Licence, etc., are obtainable from Miss Harrison. tGuidel's' Training Week at the Guide House. Have you been to the Guide House? Have you been to a Training Week recently? Can you wangle your holid~ys to fit in with the date of the summer Training Week? It has been found necessary to arrange this Week a day earlier than previously announced. The dates will be 30th December to 7th January, inclusive. It is hoped this will not cause inconvenience to any Guider hoping to attend. This training is open to ,all Commissionel's :and Guiders. The nrogramme will cover any subjects specially asked for which have any bearing on Guide or Brownie work as well as general training in Company and Pack management, and new ideas on test work. There will be swimming, Campfire singing, to say nothing of the good comradeship! Guider-in-charge: Miss M. Hoffmeyer. Fee 30/-' return fare, rail 5/9, bus 2/-. Application' forms are available from Miss Macartney at the Guide office, and should be returned
October, 1943.
not later than 8th November, accompanied by deposit of 5/-, and 5/9 for rail ticket. Deposits will not be returned if withdrawal is made later than 15th December. Land Work Camp. An apology must 4be made concerning a previous notice of this camp. It was asked that all applications should be on the same form and sent in by the Guider of the Company concerned. It is understood that some inconvenience has been caused over this, for which I am very sorry. The applications should be made on individual forms, signed by the parents of all those under 2,1 year;;, but it is asked that all the forms from one Company should be · sent in at one time by the Guider. This Camp is open to members of the Guide Movement of 15 years and over on 1st J.anuar y, 1943. Guides will attend in shift!'! of a week or fortnight. Guides will work 4 hOUI'S pel' day. The Camp will be under canvas, and ,c ampers will do the cooking and ordinary camp chores, in patrols. A staff of qualified Guiders will be in charge. Application forms are obtainable from the Guide Office or (by post) from Miss V. Harrison, 12.6 High Street, Glen Iris, S.E.6, on receipt of stamped addressed envelope. Applications should be returned not later than 8th November. Guiders! Several Guiders have answered the S.O.S. for heln in sta:ffin~ Guide Camps in the sum· mer, for which we are very grateful. And we can do with still more. Do you remember reading a notice in "Matilda" recently asking that Companies wanting help in having a Camp arranged should write in about it? Well, we had ideas of taking one Camp of 32 Guides, and had 'applications from 257! Weare still only able to arrange for the one Camp, but there is obviously a very ur~ent necessity for Guiders to become qualified to take their Guides camping. This is terribly difficult in war time for obvious reasons, but something will have to be done about it, and will be done, too! Watch "Matilda" for short week-end Camp craft training courses, and make every effort you possibly can to gain experience in ;a11 branches of camping. If you can attend a Camp this summer, and a few week-ends during the year, you may be able to do your Licence the following year. If you canno~ attend for a week, make the most of whatever opportunities occur for you. The noblest motive is the public good. Let us be as busy as English sparrows and as persistent as dandelions. To learn to suffer without rebellion and to live calmly and in harmony With one's own spirit is a high degree of attainment.
October, 1943.
MATILDA.
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helps a fellow Guide along the path-and you can be such a help! If you can occasionally write to the Captain or ring her up and tell her of tbe Guide's progress, she will be very grateful-it makes a difference to get first-hand information.
(Editor: Sydney Foott) On various occasions, when Guiders have been asked to visit a Post Guide or Post Brownie, they hlave plaintively said "But I don't know what I would do." It is for these and other Baioos that the following is written. If you are asked to visit a Guide or Brownie, try to send a postcard announcing your visit. poubtless th!! Guide will give you an eager welcome, but her mother will be far more pleased to see you if she has been given an opportunity of "being prepared" for YOUl· arrival. When you get there (and do try to wear uniform if. possible-anyway, be sure to wear your badge), the best starting point is the latest copy of the company meeting-or pack meeting. There are sure to be some part.s that the Post doesn't quite understand-it is hard to make everyth~ng intelligible by post -and you can explain these to her. DON'T do the competition for ber-this i~ misplaced kindness! But explain it to her if she doesn't understand it, and point out how her patrol will be helped if she sends in an answer. This is one of the ways in which she can gain an appreciation of the patrol system. If there are songs, and you are one of the lucky people who can sing, you and she and any of her small brothers and sisters can join in a sing-song. When you come to games, try to get her family to join in. E'{.!!n if she is an only child, her mother will problably be able to spend fiv e or ten minutes playing some observation ·game (such as "I spy with my litrtle eye something beginning with G")or she may be able to teach you some new game that you can use in your own company. Impress on the Post Guide or Post Brownie how much her letters mean to Captain or Brown Owl. Often a child does not write because ISh'C is shy - explain how Captain loves getting letters, and how depressing it is to send out letters every month and never to get an answer. The part of Guiding which CAN'T be don e by post is the practical part-the actual knots and bandages, the fun of making the track. the right to wear one's uniform, the brightly polished badge. It is for this that you are asked to be a llaloo-a friendly visitor who
Here are some DON'TS. DON'T stay too long and either make the child tired or disorganise the household. DON'T take a party of Guides or Brownies with you witbout first asking the mother's permission. Above an, DON'T ever say you will do something and just forget to carry it through. Disappointment means a lot to a child-and how much more so when one is leading a dull and restricted life with few outside interests. Put yourself in the child's place--think what you would like from a Guide visitor - and think what your own company or pack enjoys.
tONES Following on my article in last month's "Matilda" about songs for Lones, I am giving you the words of some of those I mentioned generally then. This is in answer to requests from several of my Guiders, who thought they might also be of interest to Extension and eveR to active Guiders. Here they are then.
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1. I WOULD BE TRUE. (To the tune of Londonderry Air, or Danny Boy) would be true, for there are those who trust me' would be true, for there are those who care: would be strong, for there is much to suffer; would be bl·ave, for there is much to dare; would be friend to all-the foe-the friendless; would be giving, and forget the gift; would be h.u mble, for I know my weakness; would look up-and laugh-and love-and lift.
2. I THINK TO-NIGHT OF E'V ERY GIRL. (Tune: Avalon). I think to-night of every girl On land and sea, The powers and gifts of every girl Where'er she be; I dream a dream for every Guide, A purpose true, A .ForId made new by every GuideThat's me and you. JUST A SONG AT TWILIGHT, (Tune: The same.) Just a song at twilight, As the sun sinks low; 3.
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MATILDA.
And the flickering embers Of our camp-fire glow; Happy hearts now praise Thee; In our memories long Will remain the hours Spent here in song With friends who sing camp songs. 4.
THE EMBERS OF CAMP-FIRE. (Tune: Bells of St. Mary's) The embers of camp-fire are now slowly dying, The birds and the wood folk have gone to their rest; The stars twinkling o'er us, their light shin¡¡ ing o'er us; Oh, G.Qd of Nature, grant to us a peaceful night. TWELVE GIRL GUIDES. (Tune: Three Blind Mice) Twelve Girl Guides, twelve Girl Guides, See how they drill, see how they drill; You never did see such a sight so sweet, They all fall over each other's feet, But what does it matter? They are so neat. These twelve Girl Guides. 6. OR Three Girl Guides, three Girl Guides, Went for a run, went for a run, In hats and dresses of navy blue, And ties of variegated hue, Doing good deeds for me and you- ' Three Girl Guides 5.
COME WHERE 'THE LAKE. (Tune: Poor Old Joe.) Come where the lake lies gleaming in the sun. Come where the days are full of work a nd fun, Come where the moon hangs out her eveninglamp, The Guides are trooping, trooping, trooping . back to camp. (Chorus) We're coming, we're coming, From the lake, the hills, the sea, Old Mother Nature calls her children, You and me. 7.
Come where we learn the wisdom of the wood, Come where we prove that simple thing;; are good, Come where we pledge allegiance to our land. Australia, you have called your daughters, here we stand. (Chorus) We'r e coming, we're coming, Till we spread from sea to sea, Our country wants us, needs us, calls us , You and me.
October, 1943.
We would in thought with Thee commune In love and joy and Y01Jth. The hills abouJld with our glad song, And echo back to Thee. Our thanks receive for work and health And love ,and loyalty. Now the bright flame hath us inspired In work and hope and joy; Our fellowship so deep hath been That nothing can alloy; So now to rel?t, to sle!U> and dream Of stronger lives to live; To sleep and dream, to rise again, And service strong to give. (OT) CAMP FIRE VESPER.. (To the same tune) The sun is sinking in the west, The evening shadows fall. Sweet slumber now of Thee we ask, Great God, defend us lall. From harm and danger keep us free, And guard us while we rest, That with the morn we may arise, And serve Thee with our best. The moon is shining on the tents, Down through the forest trees, Whilst Guides are sleeping peacefully, And softly stirs the breeze; And mopokes call, and curlews cry, With moonbeams flitting round, But we fear not, for God is nigh, His Presence will us surround. 9.
10.
THE LITTLE BROWN TENT. (Tune: The Little Brown Jug) A Guide and I live all alone In a little brown tent we call our own . She likes air and I like sun, And I ten you We have lots of fun. (Chorus) H a, Ha, Hal Hee, Hee, Heel Little brown tent, don't I love thee? We burn the rubbish and clean the plact', Living up to our Leader's taste, We polish shoes and roll up flaps , And so on till the call for Taps. If you like spiders and flies, a few
Mosq uitoes and daddy-longlegs, too, Jus t pack your bag, and have it sent Post haste after the little brown tent. M.R.F.
We should learn from the misfor tun es of other s t hat ther e is nothing sing ular in thos<' which befall ourselves.
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Pride helps us; and pride is not a bad thin g w hen it only urges us to hide our own hurtH, Dot to hurt others.
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In character, in manners, in style, in all t hings, the supr eme excellence is simplicity.
AS THE BRIGHT FLAMES. (Tune: Drink to me only.) As the bright flames ascend to heaven, God of love and truth,
October, 1943.
MATILDA. item on the programme is over K patrol is to be at the front door in single file." Mail.-Collect circulars, and add to thcm notices of meeting and an invitation. Have them delivered like the morning mail. Patrol Lo deal with them. Date of meeting to be entered in diary, invitation to be answered at once, 'circulars to be sorted, thoge .on which we intend to act and those on whIch we do not, etc. Object: Discrimination and prompt action from written words. Laws: Coutresy, friendship; probably others.
THE SIGN POST THE GUIDE LAW. 1.'0 BE CONTINUED. I.-The Guides and the Vice-Chancellor. Problem in the Press. Just before the September "Matilda" appeared the Vice-Chancellol' of the University discussed in the press his experience that words make little impression on people. Often, he said, one might as well not have spoken. He considers the cause to be habit of listening to a voice on the radio while one's mind is busy with personal affairs, and asks that there should be certain periods each day when "The Air" is silent. The discussion rose to the dignity of a sub-leading article. I write about this, because it is typical of a principle that can be a comfort and a challenge to us all. A difficulty we meet among our Guides is not personal, but a symptom of something epidemic in the community. It is not a personal failure on our part nor on theirs. Let us trust them and trust ourselves, l'esolve that they need help and not blamE', and that if we use Guiding rightly we may prevent the epidemic from becoming chronic. Treatment: Tell Guides of the creeping, unseen danger; challenge them to take pride in the power to concentrate; each comp_any can become a "Cell" of people who are able to co-operate, truly alert. Tackle the Hm Difficultv with energy and humour. ActivIties: Observation games, in a series getting harder each time. Memory tests, message I!arrying and memorising, see also under paragrallh 2. Connected with habit of inattention is carelessness in answering letters. Our minds are paralysed with impact of printed word.s. The simplest circular seeks to be dramatlc and arresting to "get action," and this defeats its own object through being overdone. Activity.-Any programme that depends on sealed orders is good. The written word means that you are expected to act. Invent simple orders dispersed through ! a programme of a different type. "At 8.15 your patrol is to be placed so that no one is touching the ground." "Immediately the third
2.-0u1lline for "A Law in the Company." Decide which law, and for how long it shall be the central theme. Ex.: Loyalty shall be our thought for two weeks. Decide (a) What the Guides already think about it. Guides usually think of loyalty as personal, sticking up for a pal, steadfast. (b) What further thought you need to give them; e.g., widen idea to patriotism. (c) Should the company institute any definite "test" in connection with this for a second-class Guide? If so, Guider must supply material from which they can choose, e.g., Should Guides know the National Anthem? Should they kno'!Y wQrds of Advance Australia Fair or Australia? Or The Southern Cross Or My Country? Activity: 1, Memory test. Decide which verse or verses should be learnt, write out in separate lines, one copy for each patrol. Patrols widely spaced. Each Leader leams one line, tells it to next Guide, and so 011 down patrol. As s90n as leader has passed on one line, she learns the next and passes that on, as each Guide finishes the verse she writes it down. 2. Write lines or half lines on separate pieces of paper and put them round the room. Guides to find them and put them together in correct order to make the verse. When verse is correct have company repeat and learn. Application: What does our Country require of us? Laws are the laws of our King. Whenever we respect a notice, "Trespass" or "No Road," or traffic sign, we are obeying the command of our king, and helping him to rule our country - whenever we obey a police¡¡ man, too. When the Prince of Wales visited Melbourne people knew he would drive down the main street of South Melbourne, but the folks in all the side streets swept and tidied and made the houses and yards clean anu beautiful, in case he should go past. Your backyard is part of the King's country-what if he came past to-day? What can you do to keep the King's Hi~hway ready for him? So on, indefinitely. 3. This is the last of the articles to be written by me, but I have called it TO BE CONTINUED, for, unless they are continued, in thought and act, by you and by me, they (Continued on 'Page Seven)
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October, 1943.
BADEN-POWELL MEMORIAL FUND
"You must pray to God whenever you can, but you cannot be good with only praying; you must also try very hard to be good."Feb. 26th, 1865.
You have accepted the challenge, Guiders and Brownies, and excelled yourselves. The £1000 came in September instead of October. I wonder if "Matilda's" challenge of £1160 will come to light in October; I shouldn't be at all surprised. It just shows what can bl' done when there is a spirit of co-operation about, and the "will to win." We have equalled the English Guides' average of '2/6 pel' head in 10 months. Theil' total average was 4/6 per head. This would mean that we must gather in ~1800 altogether. Is it possible? You are such a grand, earnest lot of workers that I wouldn't put anything past you. Gear yourselves now for the final spurt, just as a runner reserves his last ounce of strength for the last lap of his race. On Saturday, December 18th, the Keeper of the Funds will be at Headquarters all day to receive the results of your final efforts. Come along, Guides, and see the Chart being coloured while you wait. Will that final ring, representing £2.000, be filled in? I wonder, I wonder! Christmas is the time for remembrance and for fun. Many of you will be preparing for camp-the fun, the hard work, the games, the bl'f<iutiful walks, the camp fires-camps that the Chief made possible for you. This is the one year that you have the opportunity to thank him in a real and concrete way. So put your heads together and see what you can do. Here are some ideas:Have a hike with games and competitions, inviting non-Guides to come, too. Have a concert. Have (l back-yard bazaar. Have a dog show, with sideshows as well. Have a party, with sweets and a dip, and ask all your friends. It's astonishing how pennies mount up. Have a swimming gymkhana. Have a trading competition.
Have you purchased your Chart from Headquarters yet? They are selling well, so send your pennies in. You may have one for the Patrol, or else each Guide and Brownie in t he Company or Pack may have one. It is such fun colouring the rings, and the chart looks so very gay now. The Headquarters one is quite full, because it was onlY made for £1000, but it is being altered so we can go merrily on. Don't miss getting a chart, as no more can be ordered when this lot runs out. Send stamp for postage-but a lot of charts can be sent for the one stamp. M. Hoffmeyer, Convener.
"RINGS OF COLOUR" CHART.
THIS MAN BADEN-POWELL. YoutMul Ambitions. As a youngster, the Founder w~nted to be an engine driver. When be was eIght ~e became a reformer, and wrote the followmg :Laws for me when I am old:"I will have the poor people to be as rich as we are (which was not saying much) . Also, they ought by right to be as happy as we are · All who go across the crossings shall give the poor crossing sweepers some money, and you ought to thank God for what He has given us. He has made the poor people to be poor and the rich people to be rich, and I can tell you how to be good. Now I will tell it to you.
LIST OF GIFTS TO SEPTEMBER, 1943. Previously acknowledged .. £954 2 6 3rd Richmond Rangers (in recess) 1 0 3 lstA Sale Town Company . . .. 1 5 0 1st North Fitzroy .. ... . 2 0 0 2nd Caulfield Guide Company 2 0 0 Miss Enid Bunning .. .. .. .. 2 0 0 3A Rangers, Geelong .. .. .. .. 0 14 0 2nd Shepparton Guide Coy. .. 1 1 0 Murtoa Local Association (Certs.) 2 0 0 1st Pakenham Guide Co. (Certifs.) 2 0 0 Footscray and Yarraville District Guides (Certifs.) . . .. .. 1 0 0 Outer Southern Division .. .. 16 5 0 1st E.Malvern (Korowa) Guide Coy. 0 11 6 Miss M. H. Morris (Certificate) 1 0 0 3rd St. Kilda Coy. (Certificates) 4 0 0 3rd St. Kilda District Rangers (Certificates) .. .. .. 300 9th Hawthorn Coy. .. 100 1st Flinders Coy. . . . . 5 2 6 Mrs. Britnell . . .. .. .. o 5 0 1st Cohuna Coy. . . .. .. o 12 0 2nd Wangaratta Coy. .. .. 2 10 0 1st Burwood Brownie Pack (Cert.) 1 0 0 1st Bendigo Past and Present Guides (Certifs.) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 0 0 Darlton Coy. Sunraysia Div. .. .. 0 15 0 "Wellwisher," Sunraysia Div. .. .. 0 13 0 W ooriyallock Girl Guides (Cert. ) 1 0 0 3a Geelong Guide Coy. .. .. .. 3 3 0 1 0 0 10th Ballarat Coy. Certificate) 1st Portland Brownie Pack 1 0 0 2nd Caulfield Coy. .. 5 0 0 Outer Southern Division .. 2 3 0 2nd Richmond Brownie Pack (Cert.) 1 0 0 Grand Total at Sept. 23, 1943 .. £1029
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SPECIAL NOTICE. Would givers of cheques please make these out to the BADEN-POWELL MEMORIAL FUND, and so simplify matters for the Hon. Treasurer.
october, 1943.
MATILDA.
RECEIPTS. Please read carefully. To save postage receipts may be obtained at Headquarters on application. They will be posted only if stamped and addressed envelope is forwarded. Contributions rand progl·ess totals will be acknowledged each month in "Matilda." You will receive a Give-Lend Voucher when your funaJ amount comes in. 1. Make out cheques, postal notes or money orders to the BADEN-POWELL MEMORIAL FUND. 2. Address letters to Secretary, B.-P. Fund, Girl Guide Association, 60 Market St., Melbourne, C.l. 3. Please send money in round sums of pounds and shillings (not p'ence)~ SIGN POST (Continued). will be useless. They are planned as a basis, a springboard, what you will, so long as you get off from them, and GO ON. Our Law is a joyous gift, the way to be what we would be and to do what Wr.' would do.
"TAKE ALL YOU WANT UPON YOUR OWN STRONG BACK. .." Last month we talked of fires for cooking. If you read the April issue of "Matilda," you
will find another article there, called "Fires and Fire Lighting.," which gives you further ideas, and a few hike recipes. Other recipes were published in the March issue, so try t<, borro~' that, too. The Hiker syllabus demands that you "show proficiency in cooking in the open, with an without utensils," and it is only by trying all sorts of recipes several times, often im · proving on the original, that you can be· come proficien~, so off you go on tj1e track! Before you set out, you will need to "pack up your dinner in your haversack," not to mention your First Aid kit, matches, something with which to "remove turf," and packed in your head must be ideas about the "responsibilities involved in regard to trespassing, gates, crops, game preserves, and wooding for fires." What you need in the way of foodstuffs and utensils depends on your menu. You may have already gained the Cook Badge, and if you have also the Health badge, you will have definite ideas about the kinds of food that give the best value in nourishment, especially in these austerity times, when thrift is a national duty. Try to work out a menu that will be satisfactory in food value, ;n view of the energy you will be expending in the course of the hike; and suit the menu to the weather and time of year. You will find a bit of extra thought on the subject of menus will repay you. You will like to have two courses. You do not want to be burdened with heavy jars or bottles containing fluid
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(soup, for instance), nor do you want a 2-lb. packet of flour "in case you want to make damper." Plan it out beforehand, measure out what you need, and pat yourself on the back if you have a good, satisfying meal ~nd have nothing in the way of food to brmg back home. The utensils you lbake -for cookiing will depend on how adventurous you are and how much you have practised the patent dodg~s in -regard to cooking without utensils. Year:; ago some Rangers I knew used to take a frying pan, a large mixing bowl, bo~tles of milk, and half a dozen eggs to a hlke, and make pancakes! Delicious ones, too-but the Rangers did not enjoy the hike part as much as the "eats" on account of the burden they carried. Would you like to send me (c/o. the Edi· tor) some of your hike menus, to help other less experienced hikers? It would be goot! if we could fill a whole column in next issue with your brainwaves! The next thing mentioned for your packing is the first-aid case, but I hope you won't need to use it as a result of your cooking prowess. The syllabus tells you to "bring to the test a pocket first-aid case, fitted up by YQurself for a hiking expedition, and give reasons for the choice of its contents." It is likely that you may have already gained the Ambulance badge, but even if not, vou have learnt some first aid for Second Class badge. In deciding the "contents," think out the kinds of injuries you are most likely to have to deal with when hiking, apart from emergencies for which we are bound, by our Motto, to Be Prepared. There will be the usual scratches from blackberry thorns, cuts when the knife slips, ant-bites, burns sustained by inexperienced cooks! There is a possibility of a sprained wrist or ankle if you do any climbing among rocks or along creek beds. There are the "nose-bleeds" t'hat make a mess, and occasionally a "touch of the sun," but this latter is usually a result of carelessness or disobedience, so Be Prepared here and watch the Guides in your party on .a very hot sunny day, and see that they keep theh· hats on. In an interesting article in "The Guide" some time ago, ~ read that there is one thing, one simple specific which, if it werl' all you had with you, could be used for almost every elementary first-aid need. That would make a nice light first-aid case, wouldn't it? Ask Captain if she remembers reading it, and perhaps she can lend you the magazine concerned. If notJ have a good "think" with one of your grown-up friends who have qualified for ~t John Ambulance certificate in first aid, and see if you can, between you, work out a minimum kit that will seem adequate for normal hikes. Having decided on the "contents, and reasons for choice," it will be fun to find a tin or other small receptacle into which you can just fit t'he things. I have see_n one or two very neat and cunningly packed kits, pro-
MAT1LDA. duced for the Hiker test. I'd love to see yours! The section of the syllabus which we have not yet dealt with asks you to "know what precautions to take ~hen lighting fires in the open, and how to remove turf, and the l'esponsibilities involved in regard to trespassing, gates, crops, game preserves, and wooding for fires." The rtrst part of this clause has been co'.'el'ed to a large extent in the course of your training for the Second Class test; if you have never yet removed turf, do try to do 30 neatly while the ground is still soft and the turf green, so that you will know how the Guides in Great Britain and similarly situated countries do it. Actually in Australia there is often either dry brittle grass or no grass at all, and then there is no use for this woodcraft dodge for leaving the site as you found it. But sometimes you have a special chancp of using it, as we did many years ago on the lovely lawn at Government Cottage.. Macedon. The English Guider in charge ot us made such a good job of the turf removal that it was impossible the next day to find any hace oFthe spot where the fire had been! The second part of the clause quoted above does not 'apply quite in the same way here as in older countries in the other he!!lispherc, but the principle underlying each "responsibility" is that of the Fifth Guide Law (If courtesy-to the owners of the propertiel; 1)11 or near which we hike, and to the wild crea路 tures whose natural home we are invading, After all, the laws of trespass, though seem ingly made for the protection of the property owner, are in large measure designed to guard from harm and molestation God's other creatures of the air, the earth and the water. Remember: "The grace of God is in Courtesy." When may I test you for the Hiker Badge? -Yabinga,
(Editor: Elsie Sydes) A Happy Coincidence. I was knocked rather flat on reading my August "Matilda" to find a three-column article from the "Guide" on the new alter路 native in Second-Class Woodcraft Test headed "Are you a gate-crasher?," My September notes on Nature Diaries had already gone in, so it did seem a little like duplicating, but there it was! And I had planned to follow up with a few more notes this month, so here they are. My first thought was to head this a "sad coincidence," but on second thoughts
October, 1943.
I decided on a "happy coincidencc," because you can read the two together and get two J.loints of view, and perh!1Ps different ideal; from each. Testing Nature Diaries. Shall I pass it or not? How are you to decide this important question? First, I would like to say that the three Nature Dlaries published in last month's "Matilda," are not hand-picked, and so the observations are not all necessarily good or up to standard. They were 'taken as they stood. As it points out in the August article, "Are you a gate-crasher?" - "a string of facts, such as 'Found a robin's nest' can bp deadly dull." Yet, if you are a consistent Nature observer over a number of years, you can relate plain facts such as these to other factsl and they become interesting, e.g., "Heard the cuckoo (pallid) 8th September, 1943" can be compared with similar entries in 1942 and 1941, and you can see if there is any variance in the cuckoo's return. If you have kept weather observations you can relat ~ these to the cuckoo's return, too, To pass as a Second Class observation the child should be able to add any of the following facts to the bare statement: "Found a robin's nest" - position of nest, kind of tree or bush it was in, if in log or bank, etc.; height of nest; materials used in construction; date when found; young or eggs, colour of eggs if easily to be seen (no poking in closed-in nests and removing eggs to see)' if young ones, notes on feeding, etc. There is the broken-wing trick. Ability. She could include one or more of these according to her ability or keenness as路a n<ttu路 ralist. And this is a very i.mportant point. What will do for one child you will know will not do for another. The naturally keen child, or a child of marked ability, can be expected to find out all the above facts, or the more advanced and less obvious things. Her eyes and ears will be open and alert already. The beginner or the not-so-keen will need encouragement. If she brings you the easy, obvious thing, accept it with the addition of a question of two, which she is to find out. To take the robin's nest again-she can find out one kind of material used in it. Or to use the Nature Diary in last month's "Matilda"-the Guide having noticed parrots on a plane-tree can be as~ed "What were they eating?" The answer being seeds from the balls naturally leads on to further observation about the plane tree. Thus the beginner, the not-so-keen, the slower, the diffident, the easily discouraged, can and must be given encouragement. If she tells you something about a sparrow, or something else you think is rather easy because you see them evel~ day or know all about them, use this same tact and she will go away thinking that, after all, she CAN do nature, and it's not so bad, after
October, 1943.
MATILDA.
all. Encourage and inspire and the answers to the questions you ask will all come back. You can go through a child's Nature Diary and gather quite a lot of questions from her observations. These she can find the answers to. This has the desirable effect of keeping up the interest in observing, and not letting it stop with the completion of a test. Two other points to consider are-checking up on whether they are from books or not. You can generally !ell by the way they are written up. Further questions are again a help here. Check up the accuracy. Children are generally very vague in their descriptions of birds. You can help them to be more accUI'ate, which really meallS more thorough and careful observation, as well as good memory and a reliable describing of the creature to you. - E.S.
9
bunch of m~stletoe, the deep nest was flung round as the ibl'lanches threshed in a. high wind. The young were well grown, and seemed in imminent danger of being flung out. While we watched one of the parent bh'ds came and clung to the nest, completing the picture with its colour scheme of yellow and black wings and tail, grey-fawn breast, and pink bill. Days like these are the ones you mark with a star in your calendar. - I. Watson.
The Black Honeyeater. Yes, "Matilda," I have seen the Black Honeyeater. It flies !down to nlest in lowgrowing bushes known as "Chinese Scrub," between Golden Square and Kangaroo Flat, outside Bendigo proper, at intervals of eight years. The official records show that some· times a small number of the 'bIrds return the succeeding year. This is what happened in both 1939 and J.940, when I saw them. Evidently dry con· ditions in inland Australia-its natural habi .. tat-for\:e the birds to find thf' requisite con· ditions for nesting elsewhere. Just why tht~ birds should pass over whAt appears to human eyes just as suitable locations, to nest in this l.ocality, has still to be fathomed. (Here is a job for some Bendigo Guide or Guider! ) I have seen its nest-a small, well-shaped, open cradle of fine twigs-usually built about 2-4 feet above ground level, among the dry sticks of the scrub. There were usually only one or two eggs, and I recall being told by a friend, who had watched the procedure during previous visits, that only one young one seemed to be reared. I have several photographs of nests and eggs, and even one of the female on the nest (if not a good enough picture for reproduC'. tion in a high-class paper such as "Matilda," you can at least actually see the bird with a g ood magnifying glass!) My impression of the bird is of a quick flying sprite, smaUer but rather like the Spinebill-a black and white edition, lacking the Spinebill's colouring. The curved bill is distinctive. The female is plainer and a brownish grey. My notes do not mention its call, and I have no recollection of it.
Christmas is on the way, and Brown Owls will soon be thinking of ideas for the little gifts that Brownies like to make for Mother or Father. Here are some suggestions which may be helpful:-
FOR MOTHER. Moth Ball Flowers. Cover mothballs or small quantities of lavender with small pieces of coloured material, stitching the edges into a firm little bundle. Cut from felt of a suitable colour. strips shaped like two long narrow petals joined in the middle. Stitch two or three on each flower, with thick green silk or cot·· ton, covering the bundle of edges and making the stitches represent a calyx. The com · pleted flowers should resemble fuchsias with ends of the green- thread for stems. About six flov.\ers, their stems ltied with a tiny bow of the -felt, are ready to hang in a wardrobe or lay in a drawer. - H.G. Mend~ng
And Painted Honeyeater.
Toadstools. Required - A fan of stocking mending. thin cardboard or stiff paper, paints, or coloured paper and paste and a paper fastener. Cut from the cardboard two toadstool~ large enough to ~over the fan of mending- · only one toadstool needs a stem. Make hole!' in the toadstools to correspond with thl! eyelet in the fan. Paint the stemless toad· stool or paste coloured paper over it (chocolate wrappers ana jam labels provide quite large pieces of suitable colours, spots can be added if desired) and fix mending in middle with the paper fastener. - H.G.
That same visit in 1940 was memorable for finding the nest of the Painted Honeyeater. Hung among the drooping ends of a large
Flower Pincushion. From a 4in. square of coloured felt cut a small piece midway along each side, so that
MATILDA.
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it resembles a four-petalled flower. Cut a hole in the centre and darn with green, yeJlow or brown wool, leaving loops all round. The darn should be at least an inch across. Make a little pincushion, smaller than the flower. This may be made of two squares of firm material, o!J,e about n inches bigger than the other. The edges of the big piece are turned over the small piece to form a hem, tacked on three sides, stuffed, and the hem completed. Sew the flower on top of the cushion, ple.ating each petal so that it curves up slightly; and stick some pins into the darn for stamens. - H.G. Billy or Thermos Cover. Required :-Hessian (sugar bags do very well. One bag will make three covers for II 2-qt. billy), scraps of coloured wool. Cut a length of hessian the depth of the billy, plus U inches for turnings, and long enough to g9 around the billy and seam up . Cut a circle for the bottom, allowing i-ill . turning all round, and a long strip 2 in. wide for the handle. Turn in both edges of handle, one over the other, and stitch with decorative tacking. Turn over ¡n inches- on to right side - along top edge of cover, and stitch to match handle, about i-in. from raw edge. Then dtaw the threads to leave a fringe. Seam up side seam of cover, put in bottom, and sew on handle. - D.H.
FOR FATHER. gerviette Ring. Each Brownie needs a piece of firm, plain coloured material about 8 by 3i inches, one press stud, a needle and coloured threads. Cut one end of material to a point, turn a hem of about half inch all roul)d on the right side, and do several rows of tacking. Sew press stud on wrong side of point, and about an inch and a half from the other end on the right side. Some Brownies could finish by embroidering initials or a design. Shoe Polishing Pad. Rlequired: 'Plieces of VEllvet or 'm oquette. cut to size to make a bag about 5~ by 3 in!' .. scraps of woollen material, old underwear or old stockings. Stitch bag, leaving one end open. Cut filling material into small pieceo; and fill bag, pushing well into corners, top sew end. - D.H.
IDEAS. These come this month from Western Divi¡ sion, the last of the Metropolitan Division~ to contr ibute under this heading. Service Star Ceremony. Twelve Brownies crouch in a circle facing outwards. Elach Iholds a card bearing thE' name of a month. Brown Owl stands in the ('entre of the circle near the To~em. The Brownie to receive a star starts at the month in which she was enrolled and taps ',e ach month as she 'passes round the circle, at
October, 1943.
which they stand up and t urn inwards. When the Brownie comes back to where she started and all the months are standin~, she goe!l into t he centre to Brown Owl and receives her star. The rest of the Pack (if any) who have been hiding in the form of toadstools round the room now run in and join the circle and all skip round the Brownie and Brown Owl, singin,g this rhyme (tune, "Boys and Girls come out to play.") Brownie, Brownie, you've come each day, To Pack Meeting to work and play. When it's wet or when it's been fine, So now on your pocket a star doth shine. -V.H. Attendance Book. Perhaps this idea for the keeping of th e attendance of Brownies at Pack Meeti.nr~ would interest other Brown Owls. An ordinary drawing book and a page for each child. Mark the page out in squares, and place a date for each meeting possible for the year in each square. If the Brownie attends she colours in the square for that day, and if wished at the end of each month, if all the meetings have been attended, something extr a, such as a scrap, can be pasted in. It is not necessary to keep strictly to squares, circles, tdangles, dia!!londs 'or any design fanci ed ran be used. To make the book attractive, paste wall paper or coloured papel' on the cover and finish with a suitable picture cut from a book or magazine. - V.If.
ANGLICAN GIRL GUIDES. A Week-End for Anglican Guiders is being arranged by the Anglican Youth Council f rom Friday, 29th October, to Sunday, 31st October, at the Y.W.C.A. Cottage at Seaford. Fee 10 / -, or 5/- from Saturday night. The pr ogramme will include a corporate Communion, direction on prayer and meditation, discussion groups, time for thinking ovp-r and talking over problems, sing-songs. Applications together with 2/6 depos:it to be sent to Sister Julian , C.R.N ., 265 Spring Street, Melbourne, C.1, not later than 22nd October . There will be a Corporate Communion for Anglican Guides, Rangers and Guiders on Saturday, 27th November, at 7.15 a .m. at St. John's, Latrobe Street. Breakfast afterwards in the Hall (charge 6d.). Will t hose who wish to stay to breakfast please notify Sister Julian, C.H.N., not later than Monday, 22nd November?
October, 1943.
MATILDA.
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Patrol Leaders' Page. Have you ever thought seriously about badges and wondered why we wear them? If not, do so now. Picture a Guide with a neat row of green proficiency badges arranged in pairs down her right arm. Think of why they are there--just a decoration, something to look nice? We all know that is not the reason. They are there as a sign that the Guide in question has a special knowledge in c'e rtain subjects, and is ready to use that knowledge in order to help other people. Are we always quite sure we remember that? We knew om' subject thoroughly when we gained the badge, but do we know it equally well now? We must be sure of that. Unless we keep up to date we have no right to continu'e to wear the badge. Doesn't that bring in our First Law? Think of your own badges. Are you ,ro.. a Swimmer, and can you still throw your 'ro.. lifeline? Did you learn to turn a heel simply o I to gain your Kniteer's bjl.dge, or can you still do it qui_c kly and easily ? Can you play the National Anthem if called upon suddenly at the end of -a concert-if not, why are you weal'ing a Minstrel Badge? It is a good thing to have a stocktaking like this occasionally, Go through your own badges and then chat with your Guides about theirs. The Second Class Badge has just the same meaning. Here is a story I l'ead in a Guid p book the other day:"That's splendid. Marjory-your last test, too!" and Captain filled in the square marked "knots" on the Second Class card. Marjory skipped back to her Patrol in high glee. "Good for you," said the P.L. "That means that you're the next candidate f or the emergency test." "Do you really mean that I shall have to deal with toe next accident, even if you or Captain are there?" "Yes, Captain says that an ounce of practical knowlcdge is worth a pound of theory, and that a Guide who can recite the whole of the Badge Book by heart and yet not kno '.v how to follow up a trail isn't much use to ws, , That is why we have the emergency test for each new Second Class-er, just to prove that she really has earned her badge, you see!" "I had an awful time just after I got my Second Class," broke in the Patrol Second, "Captain told me a lot about the practi(!~] tests, and how Tenderfoots had to prove their worth by dealing with the first emergency that cropped up, and she warned me that I shouldn't 'be allowed to keep my badge if I couldn't prove that I knew how to do things in practice. So I swotted up like anything, and I knew every old emergency and accident that could possibly 'happen. I really do be-
lieve that if a man had fallen off the top of St. Paul's Cathedral and broken both arms and legs, his neck and his skull, I could have bandaged him in two ticks and saved his life! Anyway, one Saturday, a week later, we all went off to Barner's Common to hunt for wildflowers. We wandered all over the place. and I hap"ened to be with Captain, and we could see the others in grou~ hem" and there. Quite suddenly fan enormous thunder clou4 came up behind us. "My hat!" said Captain (or words to that eff'e ct), "We're in for a drenching. Look here, I'll whistle 111 those pegple behind us, and we'll make for shelter. But we'll hawe to signal to that group in the valley. They're too far away to hear the whistle. Here take my silk bandkerch~ef and tie it to a stick and signal to them to make for that hut on the left. I must run and see if there are any more strays." I opened my mouth, and goggled, and then said, "Yes, Captain. What shall I say?" Captain was running, but she turned and yelled. "Say, 'turn left hut.' They ought to understand that." I could see the old sh~d she meant, not far from the Guides in the valley. Well, you know, if there are two letters in the morse alphabet which I find hopelessly difficult to remember, they are Land F . I could do them all right just signa lling through the alphabet to Captain, but at that moment, whilst I was tying the wretched silk handkerchief on to that horribly knobhv stick (with granny knots, too!) I couldn't r ; member which one was didahdidit, so that was that." The Second stopped and thoughtfully fingered her badge. "What happened?" cried the impatient listener. "Oh, I lost my head properly, mixed up the two letters, left out one dit in the U in the last word, and the mes,;age read 'turn felt hat.' !he Guides. thought it was a new game, and, In huge dehght, turned their hats inside out. They got drenched to the skin, and the Court of Honour made me take off my badge." Marjory listened to the story in silence, and mentally resolved to have another look at the morse code at the earliest possible moment. Which was didahdidit? "I wonder whatever my test will be?" she said. "I wish I knew, and then I'd learn that bit up like anything." "Ah," said the Leader, "that's the whole point. You must 'be urepared' for anything." That Company demanded a really high and practical standard, didn't it? Now, here are ideas for the month, divided into four sections of one week each as we had them last month.
12
MATILDA.
1st Week. Read the story I have just told you to the Patrol and see what they think of it. They may ask you to suggest to Court of Honour that your Company institutes some such challenge, or they may prefer not to. Anyway, it will lead up to your talk on keeping one's knowledge up to date, and get the'll thinking why they do wear badges. Then warn them that you are go]ng to test them out during the next two weelfs. 2nd Week. On your next hike wait until your fire has gone out, then say you have sprained an ankleJ and challenge them to deal with it without appealing to Captain for help. Were you wrapped in coats and placed on a groundsheet? Was the ankle supported and handled gently, or did you scream with pain at the way in which it was touched? Was a bandage improvised from a tie? How long did the fire take to get going again for your hot drink, and was someone left to chat and reassure you, or were they all too busy with their varioils jobs to think of that? The Tenderfoot could have coped with the last thing, &he could also fold and retie the tie at the conclusion. If several' patrols staged similar scenes you could compare notes at the end, and pick up hints from one another. 3rd Week. .C amp practice. Get hold of a clothes prop and borrow some rope from Captain, then let the Patrol erect a flagpole. You will have to make a small ring and attach it to the top of the pole and through it you will run your halyards. The two ends of the halyards will be knotted together and then tied to the pole to prevent them blOWIng out of reach. To support the pole attach three ropes to it a few feet from the 'bottom, put pegs in the ground a couple of yards from the base of the pole and spaced evenly round it, tie the spare end of eac.p., rope to a peg-with what knot? Then collect a duster, or something similar, and improvise a flag. Half the fun is missed if you cannot use your flagpole. Fasten a little piece of wood to the top of the hoist and 18 inches of cord to the bottom. Thes'e are already in position on a real flag, and are known as the toggle and strop respectively. Tie one halyard to the toggle and the other to the strop, pull on the halyard, which will send the toggle up first, and hoist your flag to the top of the P91e. If you have never done this before yourself, you, as well as your Patrol, will have to work out what knots to use. However, you are a Second Class Guide, and can use your knots, so accept the challenge, think hard, and try it out. Then ask Captain to come and criticise the final result. (th Week. Once again have a Patrol discussion. Talk over the activities of the last few weeks, decide in what tests you were up to standard, and in what ways you could improve. The Guides may have irl!!.!ls themselves, new plans for testing out their knowledge, or schemes for issuing a challenge to another Patrol. If you decide to do that, make sure first of your own knowledge and of the practicabil-
October, 1943.
ity of the test. Try it out on yourselves first anQ discover any snags. Remember always that the result depends on everyone in the Patrol, one brilliant Guide is not what you are looking for. No t that a Tenderfoot is expected to be on a par with a First Class Guid!', but everyone should know thoroughly all that is included in any test which they have passed. "On the strength of each link in the cable dependeth the might of the chain." Make sure, Leaders, tha,t your "chain" is strong enough to bear any strain. "Tul-Kara."
WHY NOT SAY THANK YOU! A True Incident. A group of friends-"when Thanksgiving Day was just round the corner and Prosperity wasn't"-were talking of what they had to be thankful for. One said: "I for one, am thankful to an old school-teacher who, 30 years ago, went out of her way to introduce me to Tennyson." "And does she know that she made such a happy contribution to your life" asked another. The result was a letter to which this was the answer:"My dear Willie--" That in itself was quite enough to warm my heart. Here was a man of 50, fat and bald, addressed as "Willie."I read on:"I can't tell you how much your note. meant to me. I am in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely and like the last leaf of fall lingering behind. "You will be interested to know that I taught school for 50 years, and yours is the first note of appreciation I ever received. It came on 'a blue, cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has in many years."
WHAT IS FREEDOM? What is freedom? It consists of two things: to know each his own limitations and to accept them. That is the same thing as to know oneself, and to accept oneself as one is, without fear or envy or distaste; and to recognisCl ,and ,accept the conditions under which one lives, also without fear or env)' or distate. When you do this, you shall be frt!e.-Ann Bridge, W6Uyrian Spring" (Little, Brown).
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