GUIDES AT TRENTHAM

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 6, 8 January 1930, Page 11

GUIDES AT TRENTHAM

FIRST DOMINION CAMP

HOLIDAYING IN TENTS

The broad acres below tho Trentham hills have many times boon peopled white with tents, but tho Girl Guide camp at present being held thcro is probably the first big camp whose inhabitants have been girls. This gathering is the first Dominion camp for Guides, the five hundred participants coming from all over New Zealand, and they are in a sense "picked troops," for every ono of them has her pioneer's badge and has previously been under canvas. A delightful /spot has been chosen to pitch tho tents, which are arranged in fourteen self-contained groups, each with its own commandant I and quarter-master. A coloured pen nant flying frpm a business-like manuka polo proclaims the namb of each little colony, such as "Kauri" and "Houhore," the titles all being chosen from tho names of native trees." THE DAY'S DOINGS. ' As the camp is a holiday one and not held, for instructional purposes, the day is more or less-free for excursions and pastimes as planned by each group. Hiking, swimming, and other activities are busily engaged in, the only set routine for all being:—Breakfast, 8 a.m.; orderly work, etc, until "colours" at 10, this, ceremony being followed by voluntary prayers in the shade of the trees. Dinner is at. 12.30, canteen, at 1.1,5 p.m., and tho next hour is definitely a rest hour, when silence is observed. Teatime is 5.45, and "camp fire" is hold either in groups or together in one huge assembly. Bedtime comes at 8.15, and 9 o'clock sees all lights out. One uncommon feature of the camp is that four "post Guides" and their leader, Mrs. Huntington, havo come to it. "Post Guides" are those who'are not physically' fit, by reason of paralysis or some such trouble, to take part in all the usual Guide activities, but they find plenty to fill in tho time, both out of camp and in it, where they are affectionately attended to and helped by their stronger sisters. An "all over" charge of '&5 is the fee for Guides coming to tho camp, and that amount does not vary no matter whether the Guide comes from as far away as Bluff or as near as Wellington itself It includes railway and steamer faros, etc., and Guides are not supposed to call upon their parents for this sum, but should havo been earning it little by little during the past year. It was originally intended to hold the camp last yeai-j but the time did not seem quite ripe for it then, and so it was postponed until now. A health certificate is required from each girl boforo she joins the camp, so that every precaution is taken to avoid anything in tho nature of even a mild epidemic breaking out. STAFF OFFICERS. Tho preparations for a camp on such a large scale has not found tho executive officers wanting. Miss Alison Kebbcll (Levin) is the popular and capable camp commandant, and those associated with her are Miss C. O'Eorko (Christchurch), "Eaglo Owl," or head of the Brownies for the Dominion, who is in j charge of stores, assisted by Miss M. Hogg and Miss O. Macllraith; Miss Warburton (Palmerston North) is postmistress; Miss J. Duthio (Herotaunga) is transport,officer; Miss Gray (Nelson) directs tho orderlies, and Miss Loo the swimming; " Miss D. Anderson (Christcliurch) is head of the canteen; the equipment is watched over by Miss N. M' Hardy (Waipawa), and the secretarial duties of the whole camp are carried out by Mrs. Houston (Taranaki). Dr. Buckley Turkington (Auckland) if the camp medical officer; Dr. Booth, of Wostland, is also in camp, and there (.'->.J four nurses, sisters Harris, Young.. Lusk, and Wereta, attached to tho Bed Cross tent, so that parents need havo no fear of sprains, bruises, and other troubles going uncared for. A 'GOLD CORD" GUIDE. The camp will continue until tho 17th. Afc present there is an atmosphere of interested anticipation abroad, for tho giant Girl Guide rally on Saturday at Nowtown Park is being much looked forward to. Miss Dalton (England) is making most of the arrangements in this connection, and something really spectacular is planned. Tliis morning, after ''colours," a very interesting provincial ceremony took place, when the Nelson Guides numbering 36 were gathered together to witness the presentation of a "gold cord" to one of their number, PatrolLeader Patricia Maunsoll. To win a "gold cord" is to win the highest Guide award there is, and it can only bo achieved when a Guide has already won 23 badges, and is noted also for her good influence and character. This is tho second time a Nelson Guide has won a "gold cord," and there are only about five holders of tho coveted honour in tho Dominion. Miss Enid Bell, Deputy Chief Commissioner, made the presentation. Judging by the small amount of impedimenta in the tents, guides should not grow into that type of woman so beloved of cartoonists who travel with a multitude of trunks and hat boxes. Workmanlike butter boxes, lidded, and with rope handles, contained heavy equipment such as blankets, and made a handy tent seat, and any lighter necessities appeared in most cases to be packed in very modest-sized suitcases. Tents arc shared by guides from entirely different districts, and this dis-. tribution naturally helps to increase that spirit of friendliness which is one of the main objects of tho guide movement.. From everything that a. "Post" reporter saw this, morning the first Dominion guide camps promises to bo tho happiest of ventures. Considerable help has been given the campers by officials of the Prisons and Defence Departments, whose co-opera-tion is much appreciated by tho guide authorities.