Girl Guides

Southland Times, Issue 22508, 16 February 1935, Page 19

Girl Guides

By

“BIG GUIDE"

Thought for the Week. Love’s secret is to be always doing things for others and not to mind because they are such little things. * A Recipe.

Gretchen, can you explain this recipe to your guide friends. “Mix well together cheerfulness, obedience, selfcontrol, loyalty to God, love, usefulness, and kindness of heart in large quantities. Add a pinch of pride, a cupful of cheer, essence of energy, and heaps of honour. Flavour with smiles, jokes, and love of fair play. For Patrol Leaders add a dash of authority, and a large lump of enthusiasm. Put all together into one small girl aged 11, wrap in the happy and friendly glow of a good Guide Company for about five years, turn out at the end of the time, one ripping Girl Guide ready to be served to the Ranger company.” Which are You?

The two kinds of people on earth I mean, Are the people who lift and the people who lean, Wherever you go you will find the world’s masses

Are always divided in just those two And, oddly enough, you’ll find too, I mean There is only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you? Are you easing the load Of overtaxed lifters who toil down the road? . Or, are you a leaner who lets others bear

Your portion of labour, and worry and care?

Thinking Day.

February 22 is the birthday of both the Chief Scout and the Chief Guide, and during recent years it has been termed “Thinking Day.” Therefore on that date, which is Friday, you are all asked to think of Guides all over the world. You will give your badge a very special shine and wear it all day. Then the thoughts of all of us will be linked up into one big chain which will circle the whole world, that chain which the Chief Scout began to forge 26 years ago. There are only three countries which are not among the links Germany, Italy and Russia. Still we can send thoughts there too in the hope that some day they may become part of the chained circle. As darkness falls here, and day begins in England would we each keep quite still for a few moments and in the dusk see that chain. Not every Guide in the chain will wear exactly the same uniform, _ not every one even belongs to the white races of the world, or believes in the same creed. But everyone will have the same cheery smile and will be wearing the tenderfoot badge with its three leaves reminding us of our threefold promise. Shall we repeat softly and reverently our own Guide prayer: “Almighty and everlasting God, by whose grace Thy servants are enabled to fight the good fight of faith and ever prove victorious, we humbly beseech Thee so to inspire us Guides that we may yield our hearts to Thine obedience and exercise our wills on Thy behalf. Help us to think wisely, to speak rightly, to resolve bravely, to act kindly, to live purely. Bless us in body and soul, and make us a blessing to our comrades. Whether at home or abroad may we ever seek the extension of Thy kingdom. Let the assurance of Thy presence save us from sinning: strengthen us in life, and comfort us in death. Oh, Lord, our God, accept this prayer for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.”

Then will we sing softly as we turn again to our various duties: “I would be true for there are those who trust me, I would be pure for there are those who care. I would be strong, for there is much to suffer. I would be brave for there is much to dare. I would be friend to all, the foe, the friendless, I would be giving and forget the gift. I would be humble, for I know my weakness; I would look up, and love and laugh and lift.”

Thinking Day Fund. All the units of the Guide organization are linked up first to Provincial Headquarters, then Dominion Headquarters, then Imperial Headquarters and finally at the top is the World Bureau. Like all other organizations, the World Bureau needs funds if it is to function easily. The Chief Guide says, “Does thinking with us not usually lead to action, and wouldn’t it be nice if this year we could perhaps give something as well as our thoughts—to help develop the world friendship which is growing slowly year by year and which we hope to see growing larger and larger all the time? Could we not each on Thinking Day send a tiny gift to our World Captain to help her with her work?” Most districts in Southland hold a service for Thinking Day. If your district is doing so, will you give in your pennies then. If not will you give them to the captain next week so that she can hand them in. Invercargill Guides will join with the Scouts and hold a service on Sunday, February 24, at 4 p.m. _ I am sorry that I can give you no details, but it will be held in town and will last about threequarters of an hour, I am sure if you explain to you Sunday school teacher that this is the one time each year that we have such a service she will

allow you to get away in time. Brownies are also invited to come and please bring your penny. Be prepared to follow whatever instructions I publish for you next week. Notices.

All notices and official information are included in this column. Will secretaries,' Guiders and Guides therefore please make a point of reading it each week? It is not always possible to send out detailed information to everyone, but it will always be here. ' Dunedin Rally, March 16.

In order to make definite arrangements for travelling and for refreshments, we must have the approximate numbers as soon as possible. This is urgent. Will you please send to Mrs R. S. Mclnnes, 9 Duke street, numbers under 15, under 19, and adults. Remember all your parents and friends may also go, but we must know at once the numbers. Therefore numbers please now.

All Guides and Guiders will wear Maori costume (consisting of mat and skirt) and plaited head band. The mats can be made from sugar sacks and may be dyed. A border of coloured wools is darned round and then pieces of wool are pulled through at intervals. The skirts will be made of tow. Mrs Mclnnes will send you the amount you will require when you send her your numbers.

The head bands are made by plaiting flax. If you have no one in your district who can do that, let Miss McKenzie know, also at once. You must know the National Anthem in Maori (published a fortnight ago) and HoeaRa. Everyone has to know that.. Those who cannot come to the practices in Invercargill will have a rehearsal in the train. Invercargill companies will practise to-day and meet at Queen’s Park, south entrance, at 2.30 p.m. Every Guide should have sticks, have learned the words of the National Anthem, and know Hoea-Ra. The stick game will be done in circles of eight. Y’ou may choose your own eight, but each must have a Guider or reliable P.L. who will be in such a position as to be able to take the time from Miss McKenzie. All sticks are to be brown (you can dye them with Condy’s crystals at company meeting), and should be cut or roughened in the centre portion to make gripping easier. Of course, if you are clever with a knife, you can carve them. The following addition has been made to the programme for everyone. As the Chiefs, after inspection move away the following Maori farewell will be sung. Please be sure of the words:—

Hei ko rei ka ho-ki mai a no Haere a na au ki pa ma mao Ha e re ra ma ha ra mai a no Ke te a ro ha tangi a tu re.

This is the translation: — Now is the hour for me to say goodbye Soon you’ll be sailing far across the sea When you’re away, oh do remember me And when you return, you’ll find me waiting here. The music for this song can be obtained from Miss Lipscombe, Nelson street, or from Miss McKenzie to-day. The circular letter will be sent as soon as we have those numbers, but in the meantime will country companies note what they are asked to do: Mataura and Gore (Maori oven and cooking); Waikaia, Riversdale, Balfour (weaving); Otautau, Winton (headbands); Ohai, Riverton, Lumsden (preparation of pois); Edendale and Wyndham (Maori mats). Flower Show.

At the Provincial Executive meeting on Friday it was decided that besides having classes for decorative sections, the following should be added: Ranger: (1) Any piece of embroidery; (2) thrift article (made from waste material); (3) knitted jumper (silk or wool and may have been worn and washed); (4) collection of hand-made toys (at least six from a company)(s) miniature garden. Guides: (1) Cotton frock to fit herself (machine or hand-sewn); (2) cushion suitable for a Guide corner (suitable materials sugar sack, hessian cloth, britway etc.); (3) beret or cosy (knitted). Brownies: Dress a doll (partly knitted and partly sewn). You could make dolly a knitted dress and sew her underclothes, or her singlet could be knitted and the rest of her outfit sewn. Now we want all the pack to help and so when you send in your entry, you will be asked for the number of Brownies who made clothes and what it was each did. The remainder of the schedule will be published later. All the handwork must have been made during 1935. Gilbertson Scroll.

Here is just a reminder for you: A nature log-book to be sent in by every patrol. Each must be the work of at least three girls. The log must be compiled between February and September, 1935. Sports Rally.

The Sports Rally held usually in March each year has been postponed until October. This is because you all have so much to do at present in preparing for the Dunedin Rally. Swimming Sports.

These will be held some time at the end of March in conjunction with the Scouts. This will be in the nature of an. experiment, but it should be great fun. Anyway get on with your swimming practice. Every Guide who can swim will be able to gain points for her company. Brownie Revels.

The Brownie Packs of Invercargill are to have their annual revels next Saturday. You will wear uniform, bring your tea and a mug, and each of you may invite some of your small friends, who will likewise bring tea and a mug. Brown Owl will tell you how many friends you may ask. Yoq are going out to see Wharemoana, so there will be bus fare, but I can’t tell you how much that will be yet. Brown Owl will tell you that and I’ll have it here for you next week too. This will be your special column the next week, so I do hope you will remember and tell me something about what you have seen in the holidays. Invercargill Local Executive.

' It was decided that the Executive should visit Wharemoana, as some of the members had not seen it at all. The excursion will be made on Friday, March 2, members meeting at the Post Office at 4 p.m. Anything which can ba planted now would be acceptable, also wire netting. The trees which were planted last spring are beginning to grow, but we are afraid the rabbits will eat all the young shoots, hence the need for protection. Camping.

Mrs Cordery reported that during the holidays there were 42 girls in camp at Wharemoana, there being as many as 28 Guides and Guiders at one time. Guides came from Queenstown, Waikaia, Winton, the Lone Company, and several town companies. The association was very grateful to Miss Beard, a visitor to Invercargill who had acted so capably and willingly as Q.M. Besides the camp at Wharemoana very successful camps were held at Stewart Island (Miss Cumming,

commandant) and Papatowai (Miss Hedley, commandant) and Waikawa (Miss Perry commandant). I have received a very good description of the cycling tour from the company leader, St. John’s Company. Many thanks, Patty, I shall have to hold it another week, as there are so many notices for this week. Miss Aitken reported executive meeting that the Waikaia company had so thoroughly enjoyed themselves that they had gone home determined to earn enough money to put up a permanent chimney.