GIRL GUIDE NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21985, 21 June 1933, Page 5

GIRL GUIDE NOTES

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HANDCRAFT CUP.

We are glad to say there are good entries for the Twenty-first Birthday Cup. Sets will be sent to all country companies, and can be called for by town companies next week. A date in October will be given later for completed entries to be sent to headquarters. As for the Lady Alice Fergusson Cup, no Guide is to make more than one article, but any number of Guides may work at the same article. The effort is a company one, not a patrol one. Bought trimming is not forbidden, but will be hardly necessary. Care should be taken as to the kind of seams made. Points will be lost if the article has required washing. AROUND THE TOTEM. The previous articles of this series were contributed by Miss E. A. Campbell, former Laughing Owl. We hope to continue the series from time to time with games and further articles. Here are some ideas gleaned at the Easter camp by one who took the Brownie training. Taking first ceremonies all Brown and Tawny Owls know that a ceremony should be “short, simple, and suitable.” It is essential that we should remember this, and not be carried away by our own fanciful ideas. Ceremonies should never be stunts, for the. thing to be done is definitely Brownieish if a ceremony is used.

We should be original about our ceremonies—indeed, it is a good suggestion to let the Brownies themselves help to make their own ceremonies. One illustration taken at camp wag entirely new to the Brown Owls, present. For the evening ceremony imagine the hall a very large ship. Brown Owl is the captain, and Tawny and pack, leaders officers. The Brownies are sent to the first; second, and third-class decks, according to inspection. The very spick and span go to the first class, those who do not reach this standard may be sent to the second class, and even third class, steerage, etc. The purser collects the fare (subscriptions), then the ship sails, dropping the passengers at their six corners. The child who is not yet enrolled is called a recruit, and is. of course, not allowed to wear her uniform until she is enrolled. Neither can she repeat the promise in ceremonies or take part in the grand salute. But she has a lot to learn of the ways of the pack before she takes her first step into Brownieland. In this she is instructed by Brown Owl, from whom she should gain her first idea of the Brownie spirit. It is quite a good idea to let the promise be taught through the Six and Sixers, for often children are better able to explain. It is a good idea to give the recruit an illustrated copy of her promise.' Most grown-ups regard games as a recreation, but with children it is different. Play is most important. A game with Brownies is serious. Good play is true character training. The playing of games at the meetings is essential. By games we may illustrate our laws;_ in fact all Brown Owls should teach their test work by these games. Here is an excellent game to teach Brownies their compass points:—Have cards marked north, south, cast, and west. Line Brownies up in sixes behind Sixer. Brown Owl runs around hall and holds up one card, the Brownies all following her. Each six sees who can be first in taking up correct position, always faking position from the north. INTERNATIONAL NEWS.

The eighteenth annual report of the Guide movement throughout the world contains interesting reports from other countries. We shall publish some of these from time to time, so that we all may have some idea of how our sister Guides are prospering. There are two different categories of companies covered by this annual report. Under one heading come the companies composed of British children in countries such as France, Belgium, and Brazil, where there are many British residents, and where there is a strong national Guides Association of the country. In such places the Guides Association of the hostess country kindly allows the existence of British companies wearing British uniform and working under British head-

quarters. The British Guides are, however, in close touch with the companjei of their hostess country, and join in their rallies and, Guide functions of every kind.

Under another heading come the companies run by British Guiders in countries such as Mexico and Persia, where there is as yet no national organisation and where most of the Guides are children of the country itself. In such places the Guiders are doing splendid work, under great difficulties and often in complete isolation; it is wonderful to get letters from these Guiders who are carrying on their companies single handed, and to" hear of the keenness and enthusiasm of the Guides, of the inspiration which comes to them from ’the Guide- ideals, and of their faith in the international sisterhood which is so real to them' though they have never met their fellow Guides. In these isolated companies the Guide spirit burns very brightly and if they were the only Guides in existence Guiding would still be worthwhile. The past year has been a difficult one in all countries and in many places the Guide companies and Brownie packs have decreased in numbers, but those who remain are carrying on with courage and determination. News has come from the following countries:— ARGENTINA., Progress has been made by Guiding as a whole, and the interest taken in it by the British community is definitely increasing. The number of Guides is smaller, but the Guiders, Rangers, and Brownies have all increased in number. A handicraft competition was held in August, and was so- arranged that all the companies in the country could take part, not only, as on previous occasions, the companies in and abound Buenos Aires. Lady Robertson’s cup was won by the Ist Cordoba (Los Cocos) Company. A sale of work was subsequently held in Buenos Aires and every company in the country had a stall. The Bitenog Aires packs competed for Lady Robertson's Brownie Cup, which was won by th£ Ist Buenos Aires (Hurlinghara) Pack. The annual relay message race was won by the Robin Hood patrol of the Ist Buenos Aires (Hurlingham) Company. A camp for Rangers and Guiders has been held. BELGIUM. The companies have decreased in numbers owing to so many English residents having left Belgium, but the remaining Guides are keen and are working well. It is hoped that the Brownie pack in Brussels may soon be restarted. BRAZIL. In Rio de Janeiro and Nictheroy this has been a very progressive year, and both Guides and Brownies are so keen that they have determined to continue their meetings all through the hot season. The Rio Company and pack have their temporary headquarters at l the Country Club, which is on the sea front, so that they can bathe. The Guide Company, 20 strong, held a successful camp for five days at Therezopolis in the mountains. They slept in an unoccupied cottage, belonging to their commissioner; Mrs M'Crimmon, and did the cooking and camp work very efficiently. They have been for several whole-day hikes and picnics to places of natural beauty or historical interest. The Nictheroy Guides have worked very hard and have earned four first-class badges and 50 proficiencybadges. On Armistice Day the Rio Guides had their colours consecrated at the beginning of the service in the little English Church, which was crowded. There was a great turnout of Guides and Brownies, Scouts and Cubs, from both Rio and Nictheroy, about 150 altogether, and the British Ambassador, Sir William Seeds, was president. His daughter is the Guide captain. During her absence in England the Guides carried on under a captain kindly lent by the Brazilian Bandeirantes, and are grateful to her for all the help she gave them.