Girl Guide Notes.

Southland Times, Issue 20044, 4 December 1926, Page 23 (Supplement)

Girl Guide Notes.

(By ‘Tenderfoot.”) COMPANY NOTES. WYNDHAM. On the afternoon of Saturday, November 13, the committee, assisted by some of the Guides, had a street stall at which they sold cakes, produce, bulbs, flowers and magazines and raised over £4 to go towards our uniform fund. On the Wednesday following we held a euchre party and dance in the town hall, the ladies of the committee providing supper. After the expenses are paid, we hope to have a little more than £5 also for the uniform fund. For the second time the Guides paraded to the Presbyterian Church for the morning service when Mr Lopdell gave them a short address which was very much appreciated. BLUFF NOTES. A very bright entertainment was presented by the Bluff Girl Guides and Brownies in the Drill Hall on Tuesday evening. There was a large audience which was not lacking in expressions of appreciation of the efforts of the young performers. The first part of the programme was a playlet entitled “Doris in Badgeland” acted by fifteen of the Guides. The second half was taken up by a programme of songs, dialogues, recitations and dances by members of the Company. Among those present were: Mrs C. de R. Andrews Provincial Commissioner, Mrs A. Moffett, District Commissioner, Captain Newman, Lieutenant Schofield, Mrs Robjohns, in command of Brownies, Mesdames Nichol, Hinchey, Waddell and other ladies of the committee. ST. ANDREW’S COMPANY. Od Sunday, October 28, the St. Andrew’s Girl Guides held their first church parade in St. Andrew’s Church, South Invercargill. All the Guides were present, and a very interesting address was delivered to us. WESTERN DISTRICT RALLY. On Saturday, November 27, a combined rally of Western District Girl Guides was held at the Rocks. Though showery, the weather did not interfere seriously with the day’s programme. The bungalow of Dr. Gow, Winton, was very kindly lent to the committee of the Riverton Local Association, who entertained the committees from Orepuki and Winton to lunch and afternoon (

tea. Mrs C. de R. Andrews, Provincial Commissioner, and two Guiders from Invercargill, were also present. The Guides spent the day in taking part in various sports and inter-company games on the beach, under the direction of Guiders Fordyce, Gilmour and Todd. Prizes were distributed by Mrs Andrews. Votes of thanks were given by cheers and acclamation to Dr. M. Gow for the use of her bungalow, and to the Riverton Committee for their hospitality. Mrs L. R. Jordan, Commissioner for the Western District, replied on behalf of the Riverton Committee, saying that she hoped that there would be other rallies in the future. The Riverton Committee had enjoyed making preparations for the rally, and were pleased if all had enjoyed themselves. The following is the prizelist:— Senior 88yds.—Nesta Fortune, Orepuki. Junior 66yds.—Edith Weir, Orepuki. Hop-step-jump.—Senior, Vina McKenzie, Orepuki; Junior, Veta de Clifford, Riverton. Observation.—Elsa Pierce, Winton; Beryl Pascoe, Riverton, equal. Walking.—Senior, Vina McKenzie, Orepuki; Junior, Isabel Ward, Riverton and Annie Fraser, Riverton, equal. Clothes-peg Race. —Milly Tillie, Orepuki. Whistling.—Tui Ward and Bessie Walker, Winton. Knotting Relay.—Orepuki. Line Zigzag. (Bean bags). —Orepuki. Zigzag over-head ball.—Orepuki. RETURN OF MISS BEHRENS. After a seven months’ comprehensive tour of Australia in the interests of the Girl Guide movement, Miss A. M. Behrens, who formerly had charge of the training of girl guide instructors for the movement and is now deputy-chief commissioner for the North of England, returned to Auckland by (he Maunganui in order to complete her New Zealand tour of inspection. Miss Behrens brings back very favourable impressions of Australia and its hospitality. In South Australia she was visited each afternoon by the director of education and conducted to every primary and secondary school in the neighbourhood of Adelaide. When it is learned that in addition to her other daily activities she attended an average of six meetings a day during the month she was in South Australia, it will readily be understood that she had few leisure moments. The biggest rally she attended was held at St. Kilda, Melbourne, a thousand girls participating.

In every State Miss Behrens was accorded a great welcome and was invited to attend special training camps, each extending over. a week. These camps occupied a great deal of her time, but proved thoroughly enjoyable to all concerned, as the young women were brought into personal touch with their visitor and had the benefit of her wide ex- I perience. Miss Behrens has particularly fond memories of the great outdoor camp at Galston Gorge, about 30 miles outside Sydney, where she had her first experience of an Australian spring, and later of the two weeks she spent in Tasmania, which reminded her of England in May. One of the things that most interested her on her return was the news that New’ Zealand’s gift to the Fox Lease home in England was ready for presentation. It consists of a beautiful desk constructed entirely of New Zealand woods. Fox Lease House is the pride of the Girl Guide movement. It is a magnificent old home, situated in beautiful surroundings in the New Forest, about nine miles from Southampton. In 1922 it was offered for . sale for £45,000, but failing to obtain the price asked, the owner, Mrs Archibald, a wealthy American woman, gave it to the Girl Guides as a permanent home for girls needing a rest, girls in training and visiting guides from abroad. Hundreds of girls from foreign countries put up at Fox Lease every year, a fact which brings home in striking manner the international character of the Girl Guide movement.

Fox Lease House is a true hall of nations if ever there was one. Practically every country in the world has contributed to its furnishing. There are rugs from the Central Provinces of India, teak chairs from Ceylon, antiques from China, a gong from Egypt, a wooden clock from Switzerland, a Welsh dresser from Wales, a grandfather’s clock from Gloucestershire, and a hundred and one other articles representing every nation and nationality. Two large bedrooms have been fully furnished by girls’ schools in Dublin and other bedrooms have been furnished by North Wales and Bedfordshire. London is represented by a magnificent mantlepiece, the gift of Princess Mary.

When a girl says to her companions, “Meet me in Scotland,” she merely means the drawing-room furnished by the girl guides of Scotland. When a girl is asked to “sleep in South Africa,” she is directed to the bedroom with the verandah and the model of the springbok, furnished by the girl guides of South Africa. No matter from what part of the world she comes, each girl will find something in this marvellous mansion to remind her of home. ‘

It was to Miss Behrens that the equipment and furnishing of this wonderful house was entrusted in 1922 by the Chief Guide, Lady Baden Powell. Miss Behrens is familiar with every corner of it and speaks fondly of the happy times she has spent there. She recalled the “Cook’s parties” which were taken over the house every Sunday afternoon. These took the form of “personally conducted tours” for the benefit of new girls and visitors. “So popular has the place become,” she declared, “that we have a long waiting list every day.

“The home has been an inestimable boon to the movement and what is of particular significance, every overseas girl who goes to England knows she has a home waiting for her when she arrives.” Owing to the tremendous demand made upon accommodation in the past year or so it had been found necessary to open a second home in the North of England. Scenes of wonderful enthusiasm were described by Miss Behrens in speaking of the great world camp held at Fox Lease House in 1924. It was preceded in 1922 by an opening function at which 22 nationalities attended. In 1924 the first world camp was attended by no fewer than 1200 persons, representing practically every nationality, including girl guides from Iceland. It was an inspiring sight to see the great concourse sitting round the camp-fire listening to the addresses of the Chief Scout and Chief Guide and speakers from a score of countries. Miss Behrens spoke of the very fine services and valuable assistance lent to the movement by Princess Mary. The latter had given the Girl Guides £6OOO of the money collected for her as a wedding present from the Marys of the Empire, and £4OOO collected from the people who paid for admission to view her wedding presents. AJI this money had been invested and was bringing in an annual income of some £5OO or £6OO. It had been in recognition of her muchvalued help that the Fox Lease property had been called Princess Mary House. A month will be spent by Miss Behrens in New Zealand. The programme will include her attendance at the big guiders’ training camp at Levin, commencing on December 26. The camp will extend over 10 days and will be attended by 70 or 80 girls. When the camp is over, Misc Behrens will pay a return visit to Australia and will then sail for Canada, where another great rally will be held. She expects to return to England by next September.