GIRL GUIDE NOTES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 68, 13 December 1933, Page 7

GIRL GUIDE NOTES

Commissioners’ Conference (By the “Scribe.”) The Annual Dominion Conference for Commissioners was held recently in Dunedin, at the headquarters of the Otago Girl Guide Association. Mrs. Wilson, chief commissioner, Miss Herrick, deputy chief, Mrs. Tolhurst, chairwoman of the Dominion executive, and Mrs. Watson, head of brownies, were present, also all the provincial commissioners, and many others representing divisions and districts. The Mayor of Dunedin and the Mayoress were present at the opening of the conference, and welcomed the visitors to Dunedin. The conference occupied four full days. Work began every morning at 9.30 and continued late into the afternoons. Many interesting discussions .took place, and many new ideas and suggestions were exchanged. One afternoon was devoted to a special session for training for commissioners. This was greatly appreciated by all, and will be of the utmost value. The commissioners were the guests of the Otago executive committee at morning tea at the Women’s Club one day, and at afternoon tea another day, during a delightful motor drive round about the beauty spots of Dunedin. An “At Home” was also held one evening at the club by the president of the Otago Girl Guide. Association, Mrs. Stevenson, and Miss Barron, provincial commissioner to which all the visiting commissioners and their hostesses were invited.

Nearly 100 Dunedin guiders joined with the commissioners at camp-fire one evening, to welcome the chief commissioner. Another evening everyone attended a camp-fire for the guides. This was held in a field at Mornington, and was attended by about 500 guides. It had been arranged to hold brownie revels out of'doors, on the last afternoon of‘the conference,- but unfortunately it rained for the first time during the week, and the brownies hud to’ meqt in the Concert Chamber instead, where they gave a splendid show. On Sunday church parades were held in nearly every church in -Dunedin, including an evening service at the Roman Catholic cathedral. These services brought the conference to a fitting close. " > ■ ■

Swedish National Camp. At the beginning of (he camping season it is interesting to hear how camps are run in other parts "of the world. Accounts have been received of a huge camp held in Sweden last summer, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Swedish Association. The camp was held at Hesselbykolm on Lake Melaren, 50 miles from Stockholm. There were 935 Swedish guides in camp, in addition to a good many visitors from other countries. The visitors were much impressed by the discipline of the camp which was maintained without effort. The children were always happy, laughing and singing, yet there was no wild yelling and noise. There were great pyjama parades at night as in groups of 20 the guides marched, either in straight line with arms linked, or Indian trail with arm swinging, to their wash-houses, all in step and all singing. The quartermastering in camp was a wonderful success. Twenty-one volunteer ranger cooks provided delicious food daily for nearly 1000, and on one occasion provided lunch for 800 visitors as well—and this with the temperature at 100 in the shade. The heat was made bearable by the wonderful bathing. The guides bathed in batches of 450, rather a responsibility for the guiders in charge, but the Swedish children all swim very well.

For the last day of two the whole camp was moved into Stockholm, where the 935 slept on palliasses at the Ling College of Physical Culture, and found their way about ‘by coloured arrows, a new sort of tracking game which resulted in much

laughter and fun. The time in Stockholm was arranged so that children from far distant places should see their capital. Some came from isolated farms and villages and some even from Lapland, and hundreds would probably never see Stockholm again. . The English visitors were greatly impressed with the orderliness, comfort, and fun of the camp. The only flaw in the camp from the English point of view was the difficulty of sleeping, as the nightp were never dark. Finally came the last day in Stockholm, and the moment during the closing ceremony when endless blue and yellow Swedish colours, held high, were, carried up the steps of the famous Town Hall. There followed supper for the 900 guides and their guests in the Golden Room of the Town Hall, and the fact that permission for this had been given by the authorities'of the town showed how much the officials and public of Sweden appreciate what is being done by the'Guide Associations for the youth of the country. Provincial Headquarters. , Provincial Headquarters will close at 1 p.m. on December 23 and will re-open on January 23. Palmerston North.. Palmerston North district is running a Christmas stocking trail on December 16. The following is the route with approximate time? :—Fitzherbert Bridge, 11 a.m.; corner Te Awe Awe Street and Fitzhqrbert Avenue, 11.10 a.m.; All Saints’ Church, 11.30 a.m.; corner Rangitikei and Featherston Streets, 12 noon; corner Kairanga-Bunnythorpe Roads. Rangitikei Line, 1.5 p.m.; Kairanga Hall 1.15 p.m.; Rongotea Square, 1.30 p.m.; Kopane, 2.10 p.m,; Awahuri, 2.30 p.m.; Feilding, opposite “Tivoli" 2.45 p.m.; Bunnythorpe, 3.45 p.m.; St. Paul’s Church, Broadway, Palmerston North, 4 p.m.: corner Victoria Avenue and Church Street, 4.20 p.m.; St. Andrew’s Church Street, 4.30 p.m.