GIRL GUIDES

Southland Times, Issue 21431, 27 June 1931, Page 19

GIRL GUIDES

« By

"ATALANTA.”

Extention, Post Guides and Brownies. One of the most remarkable things about health is that we who have it think so little of it that we hardly notice we are well until we are ill. Now the Extension Branch brings Guiding to children lying in hospitals or in their own homes —the deaf,

blind, and mentally defective. But being ill is bearable if it does not last too long. Now I want you to remember that most of the Guides in our Extension Branch are Guides who are handicapped for life. The biggest thing that Guiding brings to them is that it puts handicapped children on the same level as the ordinary child. They can wear the same uniform, gain many of the same badges, and do a great many of the tests in a modified form. We have about 400 companies in the Extension Branch in Great Britain, and other countries are taking it up. We have three leper companies in India, we have blind, deaf and crippled companies in France, Finland, Belgium, Norway and Iceland. The Extension Branch takes in Rangers, Guides and Brownies, and is divided into five sections: blind, deaf, crippled and hospital Guides, mentally defective, and the post Guides. Blind: We have blind Brownies, Guides and Rangers, of all ages, up to sixty-five. The Braille Magazine is run for the blind in co-operation with the Scouts, and this magazine, which has only recently been started, has already a circulation of over 500 copies. Now there is all the difference in the world between girls who are bom blind and the ones who can see a little, having seen once. Blind Guides call the ones who are born blind “Thoroughbreds” and they call the others “Mongrels.” Do you realize, that girls who are born blind have 25 per cent, less vitality than ordinary people? Exercise is very important for them. They are very quick to interpret sounds and do their signalling with taps for dots and thumps for dashes. Mentally Deficient: Guiding does not attempt to touch imbeciles, but it does help an enormous number of children who are feeble minded or mentally defective. Guiding in homes for the mentally deficient has been very enthusiastically received by the Ministry of Health, and in some of our large institutions the Government is paying Guiders to do Guiding and nothing else, because they think it is such a wonderful thing for the character development of the children. Often girls who are mentally defective arc nice looking, apparently normal girls; in fact, I often think how funny it is that so many ordinary people look mentally defective, and so many mentally defective people look normal. The other day I nearly landed myself in an awkward situation, because I went with a friend to one of these homes and I noticed she was talking to a woman who had—well certainly a most plain appearance, and I noticed my friend having rather a difficulty with the conversation. Later I said, “Was that one of the mentally defectives who was too bad to be allowed to be a Guide ?” and she said “Sshh . . . That is the rescue worker!” So you see there are difficulties.

The Deaf: At a deaf enrolment not a single sound is heard, because you ask the question and frame the words with your lips and the Guide in front of you watches you and she makes her Promise and you watch her; or else it is done by finger spelling. Hospital Guides: With hospital Guides the enrolment sometimes takes place with the beds all put in a semi-circle, as invalid children love ceremony. Sometimes it is rather difficult to know where to put badges. For instance Brownies having sun treatment wear no clothes. Finally we had special badges made and they wear them on their wrists or round their necks.

Post Guides: These are solitary invalids who are ill in their own homes scattered all over the country, and they do Guiding through a monthly letter sent them by their Captain. —Abbreviated report of Miss Daly’s speech at the International Conference.

Georgetown Company. Georgetown Company has a most enthusiastic committee, and last Wednesday two of its members, Mcsdames Hoffman and Raines, were joint hostesses at a delightful evening given at the former’s residence. Both Guides and Scouts were guests, and as a result the funds of both should be considerably augmented. The set supper was much appreciated by the young people, after which there were games, competitions and concert items. Miss Lipscombe, on behalf of the Guides, and Master Egertoq Officer, on behalf of the Scouts, thanked the joint hostesses for their hospitality. Later in the evening a dance was held for parents and friends.

Colac Bay Motos. A Guide in the Colac Bay Company has w'ritten that she intends sending in a monthly report for the Guide column. This is an excellent idea, and if adopted by other companies will keep the column up-to-date. She writes:

I am afraid I have been very tardy with my promised report of the enrolment we had in March. On Wednesday, March 4,. Commissioner Waldron, of Riverton, came up to Colac and enrolled 4 Guides, 3 Brownies and 3 committee ladies. After the enrolment, Brownie Remu Raku presented Commissioner Waldron with a bouquet. The committee ladies then entertained the Guides and Brownies to afternoon tea, and before the enrolment the committee ladies had afternoon tea with our Commissioner its their guest. After afternoon tea Commissioner Waldron addressed the Guides, Brownies and committee ladies on Guide work. We are all looking forward to our next visit from our Commissioner.

On March 19 we had a hike around to the point where we cooked our tea, which consisted of boiled eggs, boiled potatoes and baked onions. In the evening we held a camp fire in Mrs Burtenshaw’s paddock, when the Guides, parents and the committee ladies were present. We had Miss Vial from 'the Owaka Girl Guides at these two functions.

We all enjoyed our trip to the Dunedin Rally and still talk of the wonderful time we had. On Anzac Day we travelled to Riverton by car and joined the Riverton Guides in the March past and at the service at the hall and afterwards at the ceremony at the Memorial. We made a Red, White and Blue wreath which Lieutenant Egorton placed on the Memorial at Riverton. Patrol Leader Pont placed a wreath on Mr H. Driver’s Memorial at Colac Bay.

We are very proud that one of our girls, Guide Pearl Neilson, has been chosen to knit a hot water bottle cover for Lady Alice Fergusson’s knitting and sewing competition.

At present we are all working hard to get our second class, and one girl, who has only recently joined, is working for her Tenderfoot.

On May 23, Patrol Leader Pont invited the Guides up to her home for the evening and the time passed quickly with singing games and dancing. On Tuesday, June 16’ we held a social evening in the Drill Hall for Company Funds. The evening was a

success and we now hope to be able to do something to our Guide room, which at the present time is very bare. We are very grateful to Mrs Belsham for supplying two items for the social, also to Miss Harrison for accompanying and to Mr Hodge who acted ms M.C. for the dance. We are very fortunate to have such a lot of good friends and well-wishers. —From One of the C.B. Company. A Former Captain. Guides and Guiders will be pleased to know that Mrs Cordery has returned from her holiday with renewed health. Although she is not yet able to take an active part in Guiding, she was the guest of her former company, Central Rangers, at tea last Monday evening. Badge Examinations. Ambulance: All Guides who wish to sit for their Ambulance Badge are asked to attend lectures on Wednesday evenings at 6.30 p.m. at St. John Ambulance Rooms, Sick Nurse: The examination for this badge will be held on Friday, July 3, at 6.30 p.m. in the Girl Guide Rooms. Pathfinder: Another test for this badge will be held in November. A Game a Week. Heads and Tails: This game is played with two sides; one called “Heads” and the other “Tails.” One person stands out and tosses a penny (or other coin) in the air; if “Heads” is called she crys out “Heads,” and if “Tails” turn up she calls out “Tails.” The players must crouch on the floor back to back in two rows, the “Heads” facing one way and the ‘Tails” the other. When “Heads” is called, the “Heads” must run to the end of the room they are facing, with the ‘Tails” chasing them. Should any of the “Heads” be caught they must go over to the “Tails” side. When “Tails” is called the “Heads” chase them, and if any “Tails” are caught by the “Heads” they must go to that side. The side who has the most members when the game is finished wins.—Sent in by a Colac Bay Guide.

Princess Mary Reviews Brighton Guides. Last month the Royal President, Princess Mary, who had not paid an official visit to Brighton since the day before her engagement was announced, reviewed over 1000 Brighton and Hove Guides. The Princess, who was in uniform, received a warm welcome. At the Royal Pavilion, Guides and Rangers marched past, led by Guides from Roedean School—the first in the country to adopt Scout activities as part of the school organization. Later her Royal Highness inspected the Extension Guides (physically disabled girls), and visited a model camp. A netball match between Brighton and Hove Guides followed. Then a signaller, by semaphore, sent to Princess Mary the message: “Welcome back to Brighton.” A pageant, representing historical scenes between 1651 and 1814, was performed by Brighton Rangers. The Princess left for the station a few minutes after the Guides and Brownies had given the “grand howl.”