GIRL GUIDE NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22823, 6 March 1936, Page 13

GIRL GUIDE NOTES

By Guidee.

PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE. The first meeting for the year of the Provincial Executive of the Otago Girl Guides' Association was held at I rovincial Headquarters last week. The Irovincial Commissioner, Miss V. M. Barron, was in the chair, and there were present Mesdamos A. Cameron, K. W. Cameron, P. Milne, H. K. Wilkinson, Misses Blackmore and Duthie, and the secretary* Referring to the death of King George V, Miss Barron remarked that one hardly realised how personal a matter was the Guide promise of loyalty to the King until it was made with a new King in mind. The first renewal of the promise after the accession of King Edward VIII was consequently an occasion ot great importance. The Provincial Commissioner reported on the conference and the training camp at Marton and stated that training weeks for South Island Guiders would be held in Dunedin in September. It was also reported that the Guides of the Dunedin Division had held a combined church parade with the Scouts on February 23. It was decided to hold a jumble sale on March 13. After accounts were passed for payment the business of the meeting was concluded. CADETS. The Dunedin Cadet Corps under the leadership of Miss Helen Wilson will commence early in March. The training will be fairly concentrated, covering a few weekly meetings only and a weekend indoor camp. There may be girls outside the movement or ex-Guides or Rangers interested in the " Game of Guiding" desirous of being of service to the movement. If names and addresses are sent in care of Girl Guide Headquarters, 40 Dowling street, information could be given as to the qualifications required for Guiders and how the cadet training would help in the management of a company. Captains are asked to send in names of Guides or Rangers whom they would recommend for leadership. CAMPING. '• The thrill and the. adventure of a new and unknown site; the pitching of the bell-tent (is the canvas taut and tio-lit?) ; the hustle and the bustle of getting settled in; and, Oh! there's joy for every Guide when camping days heTin. The fun of making gadgets that are useful to the camp; the happiness of going on an early morning tramp; of hiking through the country, and cooking 'neath the sky; and, Oh! there's joy for every Guide when camping days draw nigh! The thrill of going swimming in the lake or in the sea; the peacefulness of resting beneath a spreading tree; the tonic of companionship, the beauty of the view; and, Oh! there's joy fdT every Guide when camping days are due. Delights there are a-plenty, but this one it is best —at night to sit around the fire and chat, and sing, and jest, and watch the changing beauty of the sky at set of sun; and, Oh! there's joy for every Guide when camping has begun."—Wilhelmina Stitch. On Boxing Day about 50 Guiders and Guides left Queen's Gardens for their summer camp at Lower Portobello. The bus trip down the lower road of the Peninsula proved most enjoyable. Cheers greeted the arrival of the lorry, which was packed skywards with camp equipment and personal belongings. All lent a willing hand to unload, so that within a few minutes of arrival the camp site was a busy scene of activity. It did not take long for each Guide to find her canvas home, as each tent was named with a metal disc bearing such names as Kingfisher, Kiwi, etc. There were eeven patrols, so that the usual camp duties were very evenly distributed. On the Friday afternoon the campera set off for the Centenary Rock, past Otakou, and arrived just_in time to examine a fisherman's catch, which proved to interesting. After the evening meal, country dancing on the sand and a camp fire on the rocks, the Guides returned to their »tent homes across the sands. A visit to the fish hatcheries on the Saturday was both enjoyable and educational, as the curator explained the various species of sea creatures that were to be seen there.

Sunday dawned a wet day. so the campers were glad of the large marquee for shelter at meal time. Fortunately, the weather cleared in the afternoon, and some visitors arrived, including a concert party of Maoris, who gave an enjoyable programme of Maori items. At 4 o'clock the Rev. William M'Arthur, the Presbyterian minister from Portobello, conducted an open air service. which was very fitting to the occasion. On Sunday evening there was a Guides' Own, conducted by the commandant. Miss H. Wilson, St. Andrew Company. Carols in part singing were rendered by the Guiders, and all joined in a few well-known ones.

Property at Wickliff Bay once camped on by St. Andrew Company found the campers lunching there on the Monday. The afternoon was showery and the Guides accepted a very kind invitation from Mrs W. H. Sheppard to go indoors, where a jolly hour was spent in singing and games.

On Tuesday a good start was made by travelling in a lorry to the wharf at Portobello, where all transhipped to the Tarcwai bound for the Spit, where the party landed for lunch and then continued the sea trip to Harrington Point. There the party bade farewell to the boat and walked to the lighthouse. Souk; were privileged enough to look through the telescope at the approaching Discovery, which was being met by the

pilot boat. The Guides hiked all the way back to the camp. In the evening they lit a large bonfire and set off the appropriate crackers, bombs, etc., to speed the departing year and usher in the new one (although a few hours too early). Visitor's day was a very happy one. After the visitors were shown over the camp they were entertained with circles and table tennis tournaments. They were very pleased that Mrs G. A. Russell, district commissioner, was able to visit the camp on that day. Other visitors to the camp during the 10 days were Mrs Peter Milne (commissioner for extensions), Miss Z. Hart (district commissioner), Miss J. Hay (provincial secretary) and a good representation of parents, friends, and Guiders. The day's programmes included hoisting of colours and prayers, canteen and a " rest hour" after dinner. It was possible to arrange a bathing parade every day as, besides the camp sit* being very near the water's edge, excellent bathing places were to be found when hiking away from camp. Woodcraft, the taking of plaster casts, country dancing, and organised games were among many of the interesting activities. Some of the senior Guides and Guiders were particularly interested in fishing, and by special permission deep sea fishing and flounder spearing proved a. profitable sport, but not so for the cook patrol! The days mostly ended with a camp fire, which was held in an intriguing place—a basin-like formation in the sand, a little distance from the site. At these camp fires many visitors came to listen-in from the hillock surrounding the camp fire setting. After an entertaining programme of singing and stunts the campers parted from the camp fire hour, which ended with a vesper and taps, with a happy feeling of frendliness and goodwill. The proposed St. Andrew camp developed into a divisional one as Guides and Guidera represented the companies, St. Andrew, St. Clair, Musselburgh, Otakou, North-East Valley. Mornington, Columba, Roslyn, St. Hilda's, Knox Rangers, Dunedin Cadet Corps, and for a short time Guiders from Anderson's Bay and South Dunedin. The medical officer in camp was Dr E. N. Chapman. The camp was looked forward to with intense joy and finally the striking duties were completed and the 14 tents and the marquee were no longer there to be inhabited by the Guiders and Guides who had spent an inexpensive, healthy holiday. One wonders if they stopped to think of the advantages of the camp as they left the camping ground at sunset on that glorious summer's evening. Advantages of a Guide camp will always outweigh any disadvantages which may be found in any camp. The Guide who has learned to be a good camper has not only added greatly to her own experience, but has_ become a more useful member of society. She has had the opportunity of becoming more capable in practical things. She probably had some training in cooking, and as a result of various duties in camp, will have learned to be generally useful. She has had the chance to develop her common sense, and ability to look after herself. Her sense of order and discipline is increased. In the community life of camp she has learned to think for herself, to be more tolerant of the opinions of others, and to abide cheerfully by the vote of the majority. In these days, when every contingency is provided for, and life offers few opportunities for development of resource and initiative, she has found such opportunities in camp. Finally, in camp life, she has had to contend," not with man-made laws which may be adapted to suit her, but with the laws and forces of nature to which she has had to adapt herself, with the result that she has probably all unconsciously developed patience, greater understanding, more courage, and a better sense of values.