BE PREPARED

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXV, Issue 3276, 2 March 1935, Page 3

BE PREPARED

Dear Guidos and Brownies, I thought you would like to hear what the Chief Guide says about uniform this week. You have all heard, no doubt, that the official uniform for New Zealand is now a fadeless navy cotton instead of serge as in days gone by. The Chief Guide says: ‘‘l have just heard that someone accuses our Guide uniform of being ‘absurd, stuffy, hot and unhealthy to the last degree.’ Oh, dear, Oh, dear! What an indictment. And to think that nearly a million girls are wearing this fearful uniform year after year.” To make it quite clear, T would like to state that this uniform- consists of a plain blue cotton overall, that in winter can be worn over warm underclothes and in summer without. It i's also washable. There is also a tie which is a triangular bandage for use in an emergency. For camp, if the Guide can afford it, she can buy an open-collared, shortsleeved overall, but if funds will not allow of this the usual overall can have its tie discarded, sleeves rolled up, and the neck opened at will. A leather bolt is also worn round the waist again for smartness as well as for use, as on it hang all the impedimenta dear to the hearts of every child such as knife, pencil, whistle, compass, bank of cord, and even small folded mackintosh square upon which to sit on wet ground when the occasion requires. The motto of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides is ‘‘Be Prepared.” Then we come to the important question of the Guides’ legs. Here again our critic, considers us early Victorian in the matter of wearing stockings. We lay down no hard and fast rule, but we say that in public, and on ordinary occasions black stockings are worn, though in camp they are removed, in hot weather, the youngfr Guides who ordinarily are accustomed to going without stockings need not wear them to Company meetings. NOTES On Tuesday night last we were very pleased to have with us at Company meeting oar Divisional Commissioner, Mrs G. G. D. Taylor. We also had our president, Mrs Tiichards; secretary, Mrs 0. Gane, and two committee members with us. The occasion was Ceremonial night and Mrs Taylor enrolled five recruits as Guides. They were: Dinah Chatfield, Nancy Fairbrother, Beryl May, Muriel Burns, and Winnie Brockway. Service Stars were won by Sid. Peppercorn, Margaret and Ruth Sa ter, Lindsay Hill and Margaret Cornwall, and Writers’ Badges by Lil Bone and .Edna Wilson, and Scribe by Ruby Wilson. More signalling squad games followed and then Captain told us about the Scout Camp at Frankston during the Centenary celebrations in Melbourne at Christmas time. Don’t forgot the hike to-day to Pukekura. Senior Guides meet on 1- ridav night at 7 pun., and Saturday ntternoon at 2.H0 tor Ambulance. Swimming on Monday at a.SO p.m. ’brownie party On Wednesday afternoon a party of eighteen Te Awamutu Brownies visited the local pack. What, a great time they all had: each Cambridge Brownie had one Te Awamutu Brownie to look nr tor, and they were soon friends. Our Divisional commissioner came to the party tea and we were very pleased to see her again. Pat Tod won her golden bar after some, hard work, and Olwvn Barrett won hei' Thrift. Service Stars were won by Olwvn Burrctt, .Tune Clayton, Joyce Lane. Shirley Tod made a presentation to Brown Owl on behalf of the Brownies to mark their good wishes on her eoming-of-age. Captain had brought her Koala bear so every Brownie had a wee cuddle, and then Captain told them all about the “cuddly” bears in Australia, and about, the .Sydney Zoo. A treasure hunt was organised by Brown and Tawny Owl and a very exciting 10 minutes passed until Wynne Lees found the treasure. The Te Awamutu Brownies gave some Hawaiian songs in costume, and the Cambridge Brownies did semaphore to music. Then followed soiltc good impromptu acting of various nursery rhymes by the Brownies “on masse.’ Taps brought the happy evening to a close. Cheerio! 818 DIE.