GIRL GUIDE NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22295, 22 June 1934, Page 2

GIRL GUIDE NOTES

By Guider

MELBOURNE CENTENARY. . Now that details of fares have come to hand, and it is found that the only concession is to be a reduction of 10 per cent., a number of names have unfortunately had to be withdrawn. Qtago now expects to have a represeution of 20, which will include all branches of the movement, commissioner?, secretaries, Ranger and Guide captains, Brown Owls, Rangers, and Guides, while the Posts and Lone s will be represented by thciv secretary. It is splendid that so many arcfinding it possible to go, and the movement in general should benefit by their experiences. As mentioned before, no one will be allowed to go to the camp who has not had some experience of Guide camping in New Zealand. Indoor camps will be arranged at Labour Day week-end, and the one Qr two inexperienced people booked for Melbourne must attend. Moreover, those who have never camped under canvas with Guides will be required to sleep in a building in Australia. Passages have now been booked on the Wanganella and Maheno, and those travelling are asked to forward their deposit, £2 at present for the Maheno, and possibly more for tbe ' Wanganella, within the next few weeks. Customs forms to be filled in will be forwarded to country Guides and called for by local ones after the deposits are paid. FIRST CLASS TESTS. First class badges have been won by Helen and Jessie Dodds, formerly of Mornington company, now in the Cadet Corps. Others will be complete when certain badges have been passed. September will see another set of first class tests, at which we hope to see more companies represented. CAPTAINS' AND BROWN QWLS' MEETING. The Dunedin Captains and Brown Owls' meeting was held on the first Thursday evening of the month in the club rooms. To these meetings a representative from every company and pack in the division is expected to attend iu uniform. At 8.15 p.m. all other Guiders are invited to join in the instructive and social part qf the evenings. It was decided to send a congratulatory letter to Mrs Maurice James and also to acknowledge her service to the movement in a gift from the Brownie Folk. To assist the executive financially, the Guiders decided to hold a dance early in the season, and the sub-committee agreed to have arrangement in hand by the July meeting. Later in the evening Miss Blackmore attended the meeting to make several announcements and to. talk over various matters with the Guiders. Captains and Brown" Owb please note reports are to be sent to the District Com* misisoner for the" company and pack by June 30, and the levies to the provincial secretary by the same date. Dunedin North companies and packs will require to have reports sent direct to Miss Blackmore. BADGE NOTICES.

The following are the results of recent badge tests: —

Knitter.~lst Dunedin—B. Thomson, J. Gilbert, C. Holme; 9th Dunedin, L. Ferguson; 11th Dunedin, J. White; 16th Dunedin, I. Clancey; Knox Rangers, M. Peck; Cadet Corps, H. Dodd and J. Dodd. Toymaker.—6th Dunedin, S. Campbell; 7th Dunedin, K. Mundie; Bth Dunedin, F. Hammond; oth Dunedin—B. Connor, B. Ferguson, M. Mitchell, E. Low; 11th Dunedin, N. Reid and N. Skinner; 16th Dunedin—D. Jordan, E. Lumb, and M. Wilson; 19th Dunedin, M. Collins; Knox Rangers, M. Peck and G. Wilson. Laundress Badge.—Entrants note test will take place at 7 p.m. in Guide rooms to-morrow night. The athlete badge test will be held at Woodhaugh Gardens on Saturday, at 2.30. THE GOLDEN HAND TEST. (Continued.)

"God/Save the King."—Some Brownies, when asked, will say they know the first and last verses of " God Save the King," but they yery seldom know the meaning of every phrase. Brown Owl or whoever is teaching the first class work should go through every word with her Brownies, and see that they understand it all thoroughly. They should know, too, how to stand when singing the National Anthem. "' .■■■■,

Eight Points of the Compass.—This can be niacle one of the most interesting and adventurous parts of the test, and yet how often Brownies come to be tested who have never even seen a compass, and only know the eight points on paper. Here we have a really thrilling and exciting thing, a mysterious needle, which, when magnetised, points to the north. It is great fun to take to the pack meeting a packet of needles, a maguet, some corks and saucers for water. Cut the corks, into small slices so that they float evenly. If the Brownies rub the needled well on the magnet and then lay them across the corks, they will turn roughly to the north, and the children can compare them with a real compass. The eight points have to be mastered next, and this seems to take very little time with the average Brownie. Now to use the knowledge we have. We can find out first of ""all which way the doors of our cjubroom face; we can see if the east end of the church is really towards the east; we can see if we have to go north, south, east, or west to catch a bus, to go to the station, to go home. Then, if we live where there arc any hills, we can one day iu the summer go to the top and see what lies to the soifth or west, etc. Another day Brown Owl can come to the clubroom with a very simple trail made out with compass directions. The whole Pack might follow it, the first class Brownies and those who are working for first class might tell in which direction to go, and the rest of the Pack might have an observation game. Then use your compass directions for games played outside, when you have a day in the country. Use them for the walk from the station or bus to your destination. The compass, like semaphore, can be made such fun, and so exciting, so we must make the most of every opportunity. Plant.—There is something peculiarly fascinating to a child in watching a plant grow, provided it does not take too lon<j to germinate. The ideal way is for the Pack to acquire a tiny piece of land of its very own, and even in a town this is often possible. Often the Brownie's flower is ready before the test. It can then be taken to the commissioner or secretary or captain or some other friend who can certify in writing that she saw the plant in flower, and the. examiner can have the certificate, and can ask the Brownie as many questions as she wishes at the test.

Knitting.—To knit a child's scarf or jumper is a great test of perseverance, indeed one might almost say of endurance, for all Brownies except those who Jove knitting and find it easy. Here is a chance to use the pow-wow. Discuss this part of the test at the very beginning of the preparation for the golden hand test. What good turu can the Pack do with the kujtting? If the actual garments are destined for a very particular purpose, and the Brownies feef that they are responsible for, perhaps, a very important part of a Pack good turn, there will be an added thrill. The question as to whether doll's clothes are permitted is so often asked, and this very necessity for perseverance answers this query, because a doll's garment is far too small and quickly finished to bring out this quality, and is, therefore not suitable for the test.

Fire Lighting.—At the Brownie conference this year there was some very amicable controversy as to whether the fire should be lit in a grate or outside. The actual fire for the examination may very possibly have to be laid and lit at home and a certificate brought, but here again the examiner should be sure to question each Brownie as to how she does it. It is not very difficult to find out by judicious questioning which Brownies have practised their fire lighting and know thoroughly how to do it, and which are not sure, or are making up their answers. If the outside method is used, the fire should \>e lit at the test, and used for a. definite purpose. ' Coucurrently with the teaching for the fire should go the teaching of what to do if clothing catches fire. If Brown Owl herself is in doubt as to what to do, her own doctor or the nearest V.A.D. will enlighten her. The idea is not so much to teach the first-aid necessary as to teach the child to act quickly, and so put out the flames before they can do much damage. Wh,on the Brownie is sure that the flames are out shf should cover up her patient and immediately fetch a grown-up. (To be continued.)