Girl Guides

Southland Times, Issue 25341, 20 July 1935, Page 19

Girl Guides

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‘BIG GUIDE'

Thought for the Week. God will not seek thy race, Nor will He ask thy birth. Alone He will demand of thee What hast thou done on earth. GENERAL NOTES. Service. Service is giving, but giving because we want to, not because we feel we must. Service may mean sacrifice, very often it does, but it is never a burden. Almost every week I bring before your notice ways in which you as Rangers, Guides and Brownies may be of service to others. None of these suggestions is in the nature of what you must do. They are mentioned often, because it is so easy to forget. I have had a good deal of exeprience of “I did mean to help with that, but we just forgot all about it.” Therefore I remind you every little while. Also I know that some Guides see these notes only at intervals, and I would not like any of you to miss anything of importance. I have mentioned this again, because some of you who are interested in Guiding feel you are always being asked for something different. Your company may have launched out in a very comprehensive scheme of service, and you cannot therefore be expected to add anything else, but again there may be others of you who have not and then these suggestions are there for you. Jubilee Library.

We would like you as Guides and perhaps as committees to donate a book to the library, but again it is for you to decide. I mentioned a book from each patrol, but the Provincial Executive decided a book from each company. I am sorry I made that mistake because I was at the meeting, and should have listened more carefully. That need not be very expensive because you can get books from one shilling upwards. You as Guides will not benefit directly, because it is a Guiders’ reference library that is wanted, but you will be helping captain. Knitting.

I have already received offers to knit eleven pullovers (not jerseys) for the children’s health camp and the wool has been sent. This is a different form of service, because it entails a gift of time not of money. If you have some spare time, please let me know. Stocking Trail. Here again is another form of service which entails time, but not necessarily money. Collect toys suitable for gifts or make them of waste material. Wharcmoana.

Again a chance for sei-vice that means money. The new chimney is being built as soon as the weather will permit and, we hope, before Mrs Cordery leaves. The Waikaia Company donated £6 for this purpose, but the whole job will cost at least £lO, and we would be glad to get this debt cleared. Lone Company.

Miss McKenzie, captain, acknowledges one shilling from Mataura Guides and two shillings from Edendale.

Invercargill Companies.

I am sorry that so much trouble was caused the Guiders because of my handwriting. The dates for your rehearsals are still the same, July 26 and August 3. As soon as the tickets are sold, take the money to captain because it is a great help to the committee not to have to handle all the money at the last minute. Good News.

Mrs J. G. Macdonald (Provincial Commissioner), who was granted a year’s leave of absence by Miss R. Herrick, at the meeting of the Provincial Executive returned to office. We were glad to welcome Mrs Macdonald, and do hope she has enjoyed her rest. Appointment.

Mrs F. M. Corkill, Gala street, has been appointed district commissioner in place of Mrs R. S. Mclnnes, who has resigned. Mrs Corkill commences duty on August 1, and we do welcome her

and hope she will enjoy being with us. Invercargill Guiders and Rangers know Mrs Corkill very well. She was the first captain of First Church Rangers, and it will be gratifying to her, I am sure, to see that so many of those First Church Rangers are now Guiders. A Farewell.

Mrs Cordery will remember July 12, 1935, for a long time I am sure, for quite a number of the Guide world decided on that day to show their appreciation of her efforts in Southland. The Provincial Executive had a luncheon party and Mrs J. G. Macdonald presented her with a gold thanks badge. She was also the recipient of several posies from members present. St. John’s Company had an enrolment ceremony in the evening and invited all the Guiders of Invercargill, Commissioners, and Mrs Cordery to be present. At camp-fire the Guides sang her a song specially composed for the occasion and the company leader presented her with a picture made entirely by her leaders. Supper was served at the close of the evening and after the company had left, the Guiders gathered together round Mrs Cordery and Miss C. L. Cumming, on behalf of the Guiders, presented her with a crystal vase and a nosegay of freesias. Mrs Cordery was so overwhelmed at the end of the day that she did not quite know what to say. She said it had been a day of delightful surprises. On Wednesday the local executive met for afternoon tea when Mrs Cordery was the guest of honour. The executive meets usually only to transact business and thoroughly enjoyed the social afternoon together. Mrs Mclnnes made a small presentation to Mrs Cordery, who had represented Central Rangers on the executive for several years. She thanked Mrs Cordery for her great interest in the Rangers and Guides of Invercargill and said how much the various company committees appreciated her efforts in getting as many children as possible into camp and so fulfilling the greatest desires of the Chief Scout and Chief Guide. Mrs Mclnnes also took the opportunity of herself saying farewell to Invercargill. She was sure they would as loyally support Mrs Corkill, as they had herself. Mrs Mclnnes also mentioned that she was the last of the original Southland and Invercargill executive which was formed in December, 1925. The original members were Mrs Andrews (Provincial Commissioner), Miss Macpherson (hon. secretary), Mr Fox (treasurer), and Miss Cumming (now of Timaru), Mrs F. O. Strahy, Mrs A. H. Mackrell, Mrs C. B. Snow and herself. In September, 1926, the executive was divided, forming a Provincial Executive consisting of one delegate from all country associations and six members from Invercargill and the Invercargill local executive made up of one member from each company committee and three members from the honorary membership. This committee appointed the Invercargill members for the Provincial Executive.

St. John’s Company. On Friday night St. John’s held a ceremony evening. They decided that it should be an open evening and all the Guiders of other companies were invited and most of them availed themselves of the opportunity. Ten recruits were enrolled and their parents were also present. Other guests were Dr. M. Gow (Division Commissioner, Western), Miss C. L. Cumming (District Commissioner, Invercargill), Mrs Cordery (Provincial Camp Adviser), Mrs Brookesmith (president of the local association), Mrs Ford (chairwoman of St. John’s committee) and Aunt Hallie (4ZP). Lone Guides are always very thrilled if they get an opportuntiy of attending an active meeting and the Lone Captain is very grateful for the opportunity of being present with her lieutenant and three Lone Guides. One of them told me afterwards that she had really learned a tremendous amount from seeing the enrolment ceremony, including the correct method for Guides to fall in and march. Dr. M. Gow took the enrolment. St. John’s has six patrols, a company of 37, and there were only two absentees. Each patrol had her patrol corner set up and the visitors were very interested in studying charts, etc. After the ceremony there were games and then camp-fire when the Guides sang almost everything they knew. P.L. Evelyn (Fuchsia Patrol) read an account of the Chief Guide’s visit to Thursday Island. Captain gave us something to think about and to look for when she told us of the beauties of the commonplace we might all see every day. Aunt Hallie thanked the company for acting as radio fairies for her poor children every week for more than a year. This was real service and was greatly appreciated. She explained how each Wednesday some St. John’s Guides took gifts and an apple and stick of chocolate for those children of the Invercargill Mission whose names were called over the air. Vesper and taps closed a very impressive evening. Supper was served to everyone by.the leaders and one more ceremony evening was concluded. Provincial Executive.

At the meeting of the Provincial Executive the date of the Guiders’ training camp was altered to November 8-15 owing to the fact that Miss Duthie cannot come in October.

The camp will be held at Mrs Macdonald’s Otatara cottage. In connection with the Jubilee Library a committee of three was appointed, one representative of the Provincial Association (Mrs A. C. Ford) and two Guiders. I Guiders are asked to have their companies collect stamps, the revenue from the sale of which will go to the Crippled Children’s Fund. These will be collected at the same time as the Stocking Trail. A letter received from Miss Herrick said that she hoped to be able to attend the rally in October. In regard to the Guiders’ camp at Otimai it was decided to use part of the funds of Guiders’ training towards the expenses of two Guiders, one from Invercargill, and perhaps one from the Central District. Eastern is financing a Guider from that district. Tlie resignation of Mrs R. S. Mclnnes was received and a minute of appreciation of the 91 years’ service was recorded.

The Entertainment. The dates of the rehearsals are.— Full dress rehearsal, Friday, July 26, in St. John’s Hall; Brownies at 6.30 p.m. sharp, Rangers and Guides at 7 p.m. Some Rangers I know, will not be able to come till after 8.30, but I want all others there at seven. The next rehearsal (not a dress rehearsal) will be on Saturday, August 3, as follows:— Brownies at St. John’s Hall at 2.30 p.m.; Rangers and Guides at Girls’ High School at 7 p.m. There will also be a third rehearsal, in the theatre, but the date of this cannot be fixed yet. You all understand how important it is that every Guider, Ranger, Guide and Brownie should be present at these combined rehearsals, just as important as it is on the night of the entertainment. So everyone is expected to be there. Another thing to remember—everyone is asked to bring to the first rehearsal on July 26, her ticket money and also any tickets that she knows definitely she cannot sell. Captains and Brown Owls will collect these. Riverton Guides.

On Friday, July 5, we celebrated our ninth birthday party as guests of the committee. Otautau Guides, Scouts and Rovers were also present and, in all, there were about a hundred assembled. Our Captain, Miss M. Borland, acted as master of ceremonies, and the older Guides each helped by running a game. A few competitions were interspersed with the games, and the evening passed all too quickly. After supper a beautiful birthday cake, the gift of the committee, was brought in

by our District Commissioner, Mrs Walden. She spoke enthusiastically about both Otautau and Riverton companies, and then called on Miss Donnan, the Otautau Captain, to cut the cake. Thanks were expressed by the Otautau Scoutmaster for a very pleasant evening’s entertainment, and then, amid rousing cheers, the candles were blown out and the cake cut. The very enjoyable evening ended with singing the National Anthem. An apology for non-attendance was received from Dr. Gow, Provincial Commissioner. Naturalist Badge. I do hope you have cut out all the articles I have written on this badge and kept them together and that you are keeping your eyes open. As far as seed dispersal is concerned it will be too late quite soon to find fruits and seeds. This week I saw the first bud which had out new leaves for the spring. All the trees will be getting on their spring dresses quite soon. You have to know how plants climb, so I am taking that next and you can keep a watch for examples. Plants have many methods of climbing and they will climb as quickly as possible to get their leaves to the light. In a forest hundreds of seedlings will germinate every year, but few grow into trees. It isn’t possible to grow a long, thick trunk quickly and so these seedlings perish. Many hundreds of years of climbing in a forest makes this a habit and even when the same plants grow in an open garden, they will still climb. Any part of the plant may be used in this way. The simplest form, of. course, is to have a twining stem, which is slender and light and twisting round whatever is nearest brings the plant into the light.. The hop and. convolvulus are always the first mentioned in this connection. Both climb by their stem, the hop clockwise and the convolvulus anti-clockwise. You may not see each of these easily, but the scarlet runner is like the convolvulus and perhaps you’ll be able to find another like the hop. I cannot think of one at the minute. The supplejack is interesting, because it throws itself about just anywhere there is anything handy to catch hold of. Sometimes you will find great hoops that look like swings in various parts of the bush. The supplejack ring, however, if a suitable trunk is nearby acts like the hop. There are several rata vines that use aerial roots. These are set in the decaying bark or other vegetable matter and pull the stem and leaves upwards. Watch the ivy. It has rootlets all along the stem which take hold of any crevice. The clematis twists the leaf stalks (petioles) round any projection. The lower climbs by curved hooks set along the midribs of the leaves and along the petioles. (Remember that the New Zealand bush grew without protection from animals, because there were none, these hooks were not there for protection as in the case of the thorns on roses, etc.). The eleagnus is a very clever plant. The top-most branches curve back and are used as hooks as further branches are found. Those first used straighten up and place the leaves in the best position and the new ones turn back. The sweet pea, passion flower, grape and cucumber all climb by leaf tendrils. When you can examine a sweet pea leaf you will find it is divided into leaflets and that some of the leaflets have only petioles left and these are twining tendrils. These are sensitive and when they touch any object attempt to move round it. In the passion flower the tendril is a branch; in the vine it is really the flower. The Virginia creeper climbs by tendrils also, and these are really leaves. In this case the tendrils don’t coil. There are suckers at each tip and these attach tile plant to flat objects. It might be as well here to mention parasites and epiphytes. .The former live on other plants, taking most of their food from the plant on which they live. Thus the Mistletoe, which actually lives on beech or other trees, is a parasite. Rata and broadleaf are examples of epiphytes. They grow on dead, decaying matter in a tree and then send down roots into the earth. Sometimes these roots begin many feet above the ground. The ivy is not an epiphyte. The aerial roots are extra roots used for climbing. The plant itself is like all plants extracting its food from the soil. GAMES. Footprints. In patrols the Guides each cut out the outline of their own footprints in paper, some without shoes and others with shoes on showing where there are nails in the sole, pattern of rubber heels, etc. When each patrol has a set they can be used as follows: (1) They are arranged on the floor with a number against each. Other patrols say which numbers are pairs and which pair belongs to each Guide. (If this is difficult, the owners can sit in a file with feet outstretched so that the “detectives” can compare feet with footprints. (2) Outlines can be arranged on the floor in the places where tracks would be left by running and walking feet. Another patrol could read the story of the footprints. (3) The footprints could be used when laying a trail in a restricted area to teach ordinary tracking signs. The tenderfoot following the trail would guess which of her patrol had preceded her.