DELEGATE BACK FROM FIJI

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 2

DELEGATE BACK FROM FIJI

Guiders’ Pacific Conference Back from the Pacific regional conference of the World Association of Girl Guides in Fiji, Miss Valerie Fraser, a delegate from Christchurch. gave an enthusiastic description of the 10-day gathering. Present were about 60 representatives from the United States, Canada, Australia, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook and other Pacific Islands, and from New Zealand. The warm welcome of the guides of Fiji and other islands with dances, songs and music on their ukeleles immediately set a happy tone for the whole conference. Miss Fraser said. “In no time at all, we reserved New Zealanders were trying to hula and move our hands and bodies in island rhythm,” she said, though it seemed to her that a specially constructed spine was needed to execute the dances with- the grace of the island women. In exchange, the New Zealand guide leaders taught their island friends the haka and some Maori songs. Miss Mavis Goode, captain of the Shirley company was also a delegate from Christchurch. Company Leader Miss Fraser, who is captain of the Rangiora company of Girl Guides, lost no time in rounding up her company of 30 girls aged 13 to 15 years who were eagerly awaiting news of the conference Later at camp fire nights, during international guide week and on “thinking days” she will try to impart to her company the underlying message of the conference, which was “a new world could be built with mutual sympathy, understanding and trust.” The first meeting was full of excitement when she showed the native skirts and articles she brought back with her and told tales of the feasts and wonderful hospitality that the island hostesses had offered. Mixed Patrols

The conference was arranged so that the girls could work together and get to know one another’s ways of life. Each day a different country was discussed, after a talk outlining its geography, history, traditions and customs had been given. Each patrol was a mixture of nationalities with frequent leadership changes. “For our part I think we learned much from the Pacific islands guiders just by their happy, relaxed behaviour and uncomplicated dispositions,” Miss Fraser said. The Island guides showed great interest in the way guiders from the more developed countries organised and led discussipns and activities. Visiting guides were given a chance to understand the domestic and community life of women through talks on the diet, health and hygiene by speakers from the South Pacific Commission, the World Health Organisation and other organisations working in the Pacific. During discussions on the place of women in various Pacific countries given by delegates, Miss Fraser gained the impression that the women of Tonga led an ideal life and the women of Tahiti were not as far advanced as those in other islands. Many of the islands had women’s committees which were constituted simply but effectively, to deal with problems of hygiene, diet, domestic conditions and education in the villages.

Lady Maddocks, wife of the Governor of Fiji, opened the conference and was also present at several of the discussions. When the guiders were invited to Government House for afternoon tea, Lady Maddocks spoke to each one personally. A message was received from Dame Leslie Whately and a cablegram from Lady BadenPowell was pinned on the bulletin board at the Suva Girls’ Grammar School hostel, where the conference was held. A special camp fire feast was held at the Adi Cakobau Girls’ Boarding School 12 miles from Suva in the most beautiful island setting, Miss Fraser said. Roast pork, island pudding, Indian curries and fresh coconuts were served “In spite of the almost constant rain, which was a great disappointment to our hostesses even more than to us. it was a most successful conference,” said Miss Fraser. “We have gained great stimulation from our guider friends of many nationalities. Now it is our job to spread the word to our companies so that they can know there is a practical value in our code: ‘a guide is a friend to all and a sister to every other guide’.”