GIRL GUIDES

Southland Times, Issue 23949, 16 October 1939, Page 5

GIRL GUIDES

YEAR’S ACTIVITIES IN REVIEW ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL REPORT The activities of Girl Guide organizations during the past 12 months are reviewed in the annual report of the Invercargill Girl Guides’ Association which will be presented at the annual meeting of the association on October 26. “As last year’s report was being written, the threat of war was hanging over us; now, exactly a year later, war has come,” the report stated. “Such a war seems to deal a crushing blow to the ideals of brotherhood for which scouting and guiding stand; but this is not entirely so, for ours guns are directed not against a people, but against the regime which has made this war inevitable. For most of us, our loyalty and preparedness may not be in any way spectacular. Our highest loyalty is in carrying on our particular jobs cheerfully and conscientiously, in unquestioning obedience to authority, and in using available means to make ourselves ready for any emergency. Whatever the call that comes to us, may it find us ready, steadfast and calm in the belief that we are at war in a just cause and that right must be victorious in the end.

“The number of companies and packs stands as follows —Rangers 1, Guides 9, Brownies 5. The Georgetown brownies, after being in recess for a year, have reopened; also the Bluff Guide Company has been reformed after a lapse of about eight years. A 'new company has recently been formed m Lindisfarne, but has not yet been enrolled or registered. The Georgetown Guide Company is in recess, because of a lack of officers, but its guides are at present attending Enwood Company. “It was decided during the year to reduce the annual subscription for associate members from 5/- to 2/6, and to meet the deficit by increasing the membership. The committee members canvassed women of the city, with most satisfactory results,” the report continued. “The association has given £2/2/- to the Health Camp Association, and £5 towards the purchase of a typewriter for use by the provincial and the local secretaries. The balancesheet shows a credit balance of £lO/18/1. “This year has brought no opportunities for special guiders’ training, but the guiders’ meetings, which are held every month, provide as much training as is possible in the limited time. This year, the Owls have held separate meetings and are finding them most profitable. The training of patrol leaders has been undertaken in the form of three training days a year, which embrace tenderfoot, second-class and first-class activities, and should prove of value to leaders in their patrol work. It is hoped by this means to raise the standard of guide work in all our companies. PROVINCIAL RALLY “All companies and packs took part in the provincial rally held on October 8 at Rugby Park. The display was of a high standard, and from every point of view the rally was one of the most successful yet held. The combined local and provincial executives were responsible for catering and also for cake and produce stalls. “On March 18, more than 60 brownies and their officers held their Brownie Revels at the provincial commissioner’s residence at Otatara. The annual district swimming sports were held on March 28. In the senior events High School gained most points, All Saints’ winning the junior events. The Herbert Smith Trust Cups were won by M. Stobo (senior) and E. Walker (junior). “The annual Thinking Day service was held on Sunday, February 19, at First Church, where the Rev. E. Gardiner was the officiating minister. On Anzac Day, commissioners and several guiders attended the afternoon service in the Civic Theatre. Several company church parades were held., At the request of the Invercargill City Council, in December, all guide companies took part in a procession arranged for the National Road Safety Campaign. _ “First Church rangers held an indoor camp at the Rocks, Riverton, during Labour week-end. Most Invercargill companies were represented at the provincial guide camp at the Rocks from December 17 to 24. “Most of the town companies have had the privilege of helping different organizations—Allison Home, the Dee street Hospital, St. Helens Hospital, Health Camp Association and the Crippled Children Society, while some are preparing gifts for the Christmas Stocking Trail at the end of the year. “Commissioners, guiders and rangers over 18 recently filled in National Emergency forms, stating in what capacity they were prepared to serve if called upon. “To raise funds, each brownie pack decided this year to hold an entertainment, to which the other packs, their parents and friends would be invited. Two of these have already been held—a playette by St. John’s brownies and a concert by St. Paul’s brownies. The brownie packs have also beeh visiting one another during the year.”