GIRL GUIDE NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 15

GIRL GUIDE NOTES

By Guider

CORONATION TREE PLANTING Beautiful weather favoured Dunedin Guides and Brownies on the Saturday of Coronation week, when they assembled on the Town Belt to plant trees and bulbs. The Brownies had a particularly busy time with the bulbs, and were absorbed in their task. Mrs T. C. Ross, for two years president of the Otago Girl Guides' Association, came to see the ceremony and planted the first ribbonwood tree. Then the companies set to work, with sometimes a fairly long wait for a spade. When the planting was finished, the Brownies played some games and the Guides sang till voices were tired. Then with taps and the National Anthem everyone was dismissed. KNOX BROWNIES On Saturday. May 8, committee ladies, mothers, and Guiders at Knox were invited to Brownieland for Coronation celebrations. The room, where we spent a very enjoyable afternoon, was most appropriately decorated with posters, pictures, flags, and coloured photographs of the new King and Queen. At first, Brown Owl was discovered asleep by the toadstool, the Forest Messenger called to the Elves, Fairies, and Kelpies to join her, and all linked together in a fairy ring they danced round the Toadstool. This woke Brown Owl, who then invited all the forest folk to Brownieland. A special pack welcome was then sung to the visitors. After this all joined in the game "Pop Goes the Weasel," the Brownies then played "Lord Mayor of London " and " Bridge to Normandy." Brownies were then given some jigsaw puzzles to work out, and when they were finished we saw the complete picture of the State Crown, Orb, and other Crown jewels which would be seen in Westminster Abbey on Coronation day. After this everyone except six '"policemen" had one of the three Union Jack crosses attached to their backs, and these flags decorated the streets, unfortunately the wind blew and the " policemen " had to put the flags in the correct places. When this was done all was ready for the King to pass by. Lining up along the " route " we pretended we were in London to see the royal procession. Presently in came Brown Owl and Tawny Owl carrying on a form the procession in minature. What a gay scene it was with the gold coach and the brightcoloured uniforms of the soldiers, etc. This small glimpse made us long to see the real thing in London. By this .time we were feeling rather hungry, so a delicious afternoon tea was then served—pikelets with a mound of cream, in the centre of which was a tiny Union Jack flying, cakes in patriotic paper cases, and other dainties. Now came the great moment of the day! All eyes were • closed while something was silently carried into the room. How we were tempted to peep through our fingers, but we were very good—we didn't look till, Brown Owl said, "Ready," and on opening our eyes we saw a wonderful cake, decorated not only for the Coronation with flags and coloured pictures of their Majesties, but also for the eleventh birthday of the pack. The youngest Brownie was given the honour of blowing out the 11 red, white and blue candles, and then Mrs D. Lane (district commissioner) cut the cake while we all had a wish. Now it was nearing home time, so after singing some of our favourite songs there was the thrill of having the Union Jack, or the " colours " as we call our flag, marched on by three Guiders, and then dipped while we sang the National Anthem. Brownie Taps and farewell brought a very interesting and enjoyable afternoon to a close. ST. ANDREW GUIDES Since the company resumed meetings indoors after Easter the programmes have been arranged on an Empire basis, so creating a lively interest in the Coronation celebrations and culminating in an open evening held on the eve of the Coronation. After the breaking of the colours in a horseshoe formed of 60 Guiders and Guides, the visitors being Knox Rangers and representatives from the Ist Otago Lones and a number of Dunedin Guiders, the National Anthem was sung and a prayer offered for the King's reign. A Guide, after reading the Proclamation from a scroll and enumerating all the countries over which King George VI would assume kingship, asked the Guides, as servants of the Empire, to renew their Threefold Promise of Chivalry and Honour. The patrol corners in Waddell Hall were appropriately arranged and an exhibition of a St. Andrew Guides* hobby (collections and albums of royalty photographs) proved of great interest. The fishing game, where the names of the Royal family were affixed to a chart showing the descent of the crown and a Union Jack game with painted clothes pegs representing the colours, crosses and countries of the national emblem, were played, the counters for score being Coronation sweets placed in patrol crowns. A living route of the Coronation procession was staged by signposts giving the names of streets, important buildings, etc., en route. As the names were announced the Guide holding the sign described the place and its history, and arrows were laid along the official route three cheers being given as the imaginary procession returned to Buckingham Palace. At camp fire after a short ceremony, the singing was interspersed with various talks, extracts from Guide literature, and the showing of photographs of royalty connected with the Girl Guide Movement, commencing with Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria in 1918, Queen Mary, the Princess Royal, world president of the movement, and Queen Elizabeth, with mention of the late King George the Fifth, and George the Sixth, and Royal Scouts. As a conclusion, a cake decorated with Coronation colours was piped in by a Guide dressed as near as possible to a Highlander, who aroused much curiosity as to how she played the bagpipes with improvised pipes, and later a cornet solo without a cornet. Mrs W. F. Abel, president of the St. Andrew Committee, cut the cake, which was served to an attendance of about 100. A happy evening was brought to a close with the singing of a vesper and taps. CAVERSHAM BROWNIES The crowning of a King is a most exciting experience, and what more fitting time for a Brownie celebration? Now a Brownie party is a happy affair, but a party shared with somebody else is much more thrilling. So each Brownie in the Caversham pack sent out a little invitation in the shape of a crown to a friend between the ages of seven and 11 years. On arrival the guests were greeted by the Brownies, and little Coronation favours were distributed. Then after singing " Smiles" to loosen up our faces we launched out into the King's Navy, wherein we refused any suggestion of pioneers, grenadiers, cavalry, etc., and remained firm in our decision to be the "King's Navy." Then we delved into our nation's early history, and played Roman soldiers. Whether the Romans or the Britons were the victors is still undecided. A few more games and then an afternoon tea fit for a king. This was provided by the Brownies themselves, for, as A. A. Milne would say, we are a pack with a very small purse. It was a gay scene with red, white, and blue decorations, and everyone wearing little gold or silver crowns. Then followed an Indian story, six acting with strong Coronation tendencies, and finally songs belonging to different countries of the world. And so our Coronation party came to an end when we thanked the King of all nations for His unbounded care and kindness. THE TRICK Are you ever disgusted with life, little man? I will tell you a wonderful trick: If you want to be happy in life, little man Do something for somebodyquick! HANDCRAFT Some bundles of pipe quills procurable for a very modest sum provide material for making fascinating little animals, flowers, etc. Most interesting zoos can be made in this way.

PROFICIENCY BADGE WORK A Badge Committee meeting at which Miss A. E. Stevenson, badge secretary, presided, was held recently, and the following points are to be noted particularly by Dunedin Guiders, but Guiders of other districts in Otago may find them helpful in' their company badge work. The following system suggested having been approved of by the Guiders' Club will now come into force. Instead of monthly badge entries being sent into the badge secretary, captains will send in a complete list for the year. It will be unnecessary to send in" the entries on the special forms, but the list should be typed out on one sheet of quarto paper, stating the badges, months, names, and company. This should be sent in at the earliest now to Miss A. E. Stevenson, St. Leonards, N.E.2, and the secretary will know what tests to arrange and what examiners are required in the ensuing year. Although it will be necessary to keep as strictly as possible to the list, 'allowances will be made for withdrawal of names or additions to the list, as circumstances in a company will arise due to transfers, resignations, completion or noncompletion of the second-class test. Apologies will, of course, be expected with every withdrawal or non-attend-ance when the test is held. The proficiency badge certificates will in future be supplied at the examination, and captains will not require to send them in. For badges such as swimmer's, life-saver's, cook's, etc., the captain will probably supply certificates. When the signed certificates are received by the captain they will have been recorded by the badge secretary, and will then be held by the company. For the purchase of the badges under the new system, the order is sent to the provincial secretary, who will not require the certificates. The following should be noted:— 1. As girls have so many outlets, Guides should be encouraged to work along lines of special outdoor interests in their badge work. 2. No more than five proficiency badges should be gained in one year, and one of these must be a badge for the first-class award (cook's, needlewoman's, child nurse). 3. Guides should receive the details for each test as per Policy Organisation Rules and be well prepared for each test they enter by the time the test is held. For the following badges it is necessary to refer to N.Z. By-laws as well, namely, bird lover's, basketmaker, dancer, astronomer, cook's, pioneer's, milliner's, Maori, and the Truby King mothercraft badge. 4. The whole company or one patrol working for one particular badge is a splendid means of introducing the work into the company programme. 5. It will be noted that a further knowledge in first aid and home nursing only is required for the first-class badge. 6. The child nurse badge test is now as in P.0.P., namely, dealing with children from two to five years for Guides, while for senior Guides and Rangers a new badge has been instituted in New Zealand called the Truby King mothercraft badge. For the Guide child nurse a book can be procured from Dominion Headquarters, and, being revised, deals only with the care of a child from two to five years. 7. The cook's badge can be gained by the majority of Guides after the completion of two years' cooking at the primary schools. This badge to be applied for formally by the captain not later than the end of the second year of the Guide's cooking lessons and providing the cooking instructress recommends a good pass. Where this method cannot be arranged the names should be sent in to the badge secretary. 8. Owing to the wet summer experienced, the hiker's badge test is postponed till early in the third term. 9. The swimmer's and life-saver's badge test is taken on arrangement with Mr Mathieson at the Municipal Baths between 6 and 7 o'clock any evening except Fridays and Saturdays. 10. The complete badge list is classified into the following groups, andif the maximum number of badges for the year are entered for they should be chosen as one from each group, and no more than two from one group. If less than five no more than one can be chosen from a group. Group One (Character and Intelligence).—Artist, astronomer, bird lover, book lover, Braille, entertainer, flower lover, friend to animals, international knowledge, interpreter, interpreter to the deaf, minstrel, music lover, naturalist, rifle shot, signaller, singer, writer. Group Two (Handcraft and Professions).—Basket worker, bee farmer, carpenter, child nurse, clerk, cobbler, cook, dairy worker, decorative needlecraft, domestic service, embroidress, farm worker, gardener, handywoman, knitter, lace maker, laundress, needlewoman, photographer, poultry farmer, scribe, spinner, toymaker. Group Three (Physical Development and Strength).—Athlete, boatswain, cyclist, dancer, folk dancer, gymnast, health, hiker, horsewoman, pioneer, skater, swimmer. N.B.—Care' should be taken to see that the Guide is medically fit before allowing her to enter for these tests. Group Four (Service for Others).— Airwoman, ambulance, fire brigade, life-saver, pathfinder, sick nurse. The following is the badge list for the year.—April: Athlete, swimmer, life-saver, hiker. May: Laundress, cooks, domestic service, minstrel. June: Toymaker, • carpenter, handywoman, cyclist, cobbler, knitter, ket maker. July: Artist, clerk, scribe, signaller. August: International knowledge, book lover, writer, Maori, music lover, entertainer, hostess, folk dancer, dancer, gymnast. September: Needlewoman, embroidress, sick nurse, ambulance, child nurse, health, fire brigade, astronomer, thrift. October: Bird lover, naturalist, friend to animals, dairymaid, horsewoman, bee farmer, poultry farmer, gardener, domestic service.

Note: The thrift badge is not a proficiency badge, and is generally examined for by the district commissioner.