MATILDA Registered at the G.P.O., Melbourne, for transmission by post as a periodical.

Vol. XXXV., No. 4. NOVEMBER, 1956 .

. HISTORIC MELBOURNE - THE EASTERN HILL

r

ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL

Block by courtesy of Advocate Pres s.

BE PREPARED FOR ~UR VISITORS-See page 10.

A SONG FROM THE HEART From "The Guide."

High up in the Austrian Alps, in the region known as the Tyrol-"the land in the moun­tains"-we find the birthplace of "Silent Night, Holy Night." Here the Tyrolean peaks, world-famed for their snow-capped grandeUl', rise in lofty simplicity into the cool, clear air, guarding little smiling, peaceful valleys.

Far up in these Alpine mountains, where a love of music is nature's gift to every child, nestles the remote town of Oberndorf, Austria. Here in 1818 lived a devout young Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr, and his friend the village schoolmaster and church organist, Fi'anz Gruber, who were together destined to give to the world this beautiful Christmas hymn. The two men, both great lovers of music, had often talked together of the fact that "the perfect Christmas song had not yet been found."

Meditating on this thought, Father Mohr sat in his church study on Christmas Eve, 1818. Outside, the hushed stillness of the night heightened the snow-clad beauty of the mountain scene. The pure spirit of those high peaks filled his heart with a vision of the radiant peace and joy of the first Christmas tidings. "Jesus the Saviour is born." The thoughts which had been long forming in his mind suddenly found clear musical expression that night in the song which we have come to know and love as "Silent Night, Holy Night."

Page Two • MATILDA

The next morning, Christmas Day, Mohr hurried to his friend's home with the manu­script of hi s precious song. Gruber read it intently, and exclaimed with uncontrolled enthusiasm: "Friend Mohr, you have found it-the right song-God be praised!"

Gl"uber, thrilled with the spirit of his friend's verses, at once set to work to com­pose a perfect melody for "the perfect song." Finally the soft, /lowing air we now use came to him. "It sings itself your song," he cTied to the delighted priest. Gruber's real con­tribution to music lies in the beauty and simplicity of the tune, in its perfect blend­ing in spirit with Mohi"S verses. The two men then sang the hymn over together, to have it ready for the church service that night.

Later in the same evening, when the vil­lagers were gathered in the grey little moun­tain church, Father Mohr and Franz Gruber sang their new ChTistmas song before its first audience. It touched these listeners deeply, and after service they thanked the two friends with tears of joy in their eyes .

The stOi'y of how the song spi'ead from its mountain home in the Tyrol, to become one of the ChTistmas favourites in all part~ of the world, is full of interest. Only very slowly did it come into fame. For nearly a year after its first appearance it lay almost forgotten in Gruber'S desk. Then, in Novem­ber, 1819, the church organ had to be repaired, and the i'epair man, when he had finished, asked Grubn to play something to test the organ. The beautiful melody of "Silent Night" came back to Gruber's mind, and he played it. So entranced was the organ-builder that he begged to take a copy of the song home with him to hiR little town across the mountains. Fi'om one music-lover to another the hymn was passed on. Still it was without a name, and was known simply as "The Tyrolese Song," because it had first come from the Tyrolean Alps. With that title it was printed in 1842 for the first time, twenty-four years after it had been composed.

From that time on the song has been put into other languages and carried all over the world. It touches a heartfelt need, and brings calm and peace to all who hear its stl'ains.

(See page 18)

NOVEMBER, 1956.

THE FOUNDER'S CENTENARY

WORLD GOOD TURN Do you realise that just. one hundred years

ago, in 1857, there came into the world a small baby, who grew up to give the world the won­derful game of Guiding which to-day has spread so far and wide? Have you Guiders told the story of B-P's early life, his fun and outdoor adventures with his brothers, the fine influence of his understanding' mother, his life in India ane! Africa, to yOU1' Guides and Rangers? If not, look it up and l'tad into it all the thrill that lies behind j take in the important home influence and the self­discipline that made him overcome lack of pocket-nlOney and yet create an exciting and self-supporting background to his work in the army.

All these years were really an unknown preparation for the great scheme that had its roots in the boy messE;ngers of Maft-king, in the stories in "Home Notes" and the Brownsea Island Camp, which grew into the creation of Scouting and then Guiding, and its later de­velopment and expansion.

NOVEMBER, 1956.

WE enjoy this Movement because HE thought of it. This year-1957 (this may come to you a little before 1957, but tha t is to "Be Prepared")-we celebrate the Cen­tenal'Y of Lord Robert Baden-Powell of Gil­well, and must do it in a fitting way. So hert! are the suggestions. First, one of the most important principles which B-P taught was to "happify." So let us set out in 1957 to "happify" rather sp~cially. He was born on the 22nd February, now Thinking Day, and "Be Prepared" is the motto he gave us. He also said that tho best things begin and are in the HOME.

Every member of the Movement is asked to try to do six Special Good Turns in 1957, ~ome for her own home and some for other people's homes. We are to star t them On Thinking Day, so we will netd to think about them bef orehand. If you are ready to start, you will have bought a Special Centenary 1ransfer of the World Badge in colour, with l S57- BP-1957 in gold on red superimposed. You can get thtse large or small, bu t I think the large one is best f or the first purpose. Follow the instructions pr inted on it and slip it on to your window. It can be your bedroom window, or perhaps the front-room one, so passers-by can see it. But the moment it is up, you are setting out on your Good Turns. You will get a lot of suggestions later on about what you can do, and you may think of other mOl'e needful or more original ones. In Britain the Guides are placing a candle in their windows, but here in Australia, in February, it is too light and the transfer can be there for the twelve months.

Of course, you need not put these only on your windows. Your H.Q. will have a good supply of large and small ones. Here is the next idea. You can put a transfer on your Patrol Box or Log Book, or school bag, inside your books, on the rear window of father's car (if he permits), on your bicycle, etc. Then, as well as the transfers, Australia is having small, cheap stickers which you can put on letters 01' in your Guide books, etc. These will all remind you of your six Good Turns and keep you moving. They will, we hope, also make other people ask questions about Guid­ing', and who knows but you may bring in more Guiders to help the Movement by the use of stickers and transfers.

MATILDA • Page Thrn

FOUNDER'S CENTENARY (fl'om page 3) Don't be left out! Get your Company and

Pack supply early, explain what they are for, and watch for further ideas in your State magazines. This is world-wide! Let Australia be in the forefront!

(Note-Stickers, transfers and emblems will be on sale in the Guide Shop from the begin­ning of December, at the following prices:­

Stickers (9 to a sheet) ..... 2 sheets for 3d. Transfers (large) ...... 6d. Transfers (small) .... .... .. ...... .... .. ... .. ...... 3d. Emblems ...... ...... ...... .... 3d. -

In order to help the shop staff, you are par­ticularly asked to send in orders in bulk from Packs, Companies or Districts and NOT to encoul'age each individual to call 01' write for her own requirements. The emblem may be worn by every enrolled member, past or present, in Or out of uniform, on and aftel' 22nd February, 1957. All Rangers, Guides and BrowniEs will wear the emblem in uniform from 22nd February, and may continue to do so until they leave the Ranger Comp~ny.

Guiders will also wear the emblem in uniform from the same date, but will take it off when the Chief Guide leaves Australia.)

ANNUAL GUIDERS' CHRISTMAS PARTY, 1956

The 1956 Guiders' Christmas Party will be held in the Nicholas Hall On Monday, 3rd December, at 8 p.m.

ALL Guiders are welcome. L. SHARP, Brownie Adviser. P. BARR, Guide Adviser. K. WOOLACOTT, Ranger AdVIser.

CENTENARY DIARY Guiders are asked to tell their Guides that

the 1957 Centenary Diary will be on sale at Headquarters in November. It will contain much useful and interesting material for all members of the Movement.

GUIDE HOUSE NEWS Guiders-in-charge are notified that a list of

Warden's duties is attached to the inside of the wardrobe door in G.I.C.'s Room in both House and Cottage.

An Open-ail' Chapel is to be made 011 part of the newly-acquired "Hamer" site. The Rangel' "Cabin" is now equipped for five persons. Rent is a flat rate of 10 / - per week-end and £1 pel' week.

J. McKAY, Convener.

Page Four • MATILDA

THE GUIDERS' MEETING CENTENARY PLANS

1857-1957. 1957 will be a very special year for both

Scouts and Guides, for in that year we cele­brate the centenary of our Founder's birth.

Great Britain-the birthplace of the Founder -is to be the hostt:ss country for both a Scout Jamboree and a huge World Guide Camp. Parties of Australian Scouts and Guides are going to England to join in the celebrations. Our B-P contingent of 60 Guides will leave for England in June to take part in the camp in Windsor Great Park. Eleven Victorian Guides will be among this contingent, led by Miss J. Stacy of N.S.W., and accompanied by Miss P. Barr (Victoria) and Miss J. Tucker (S.A.) as assistants.

There are to be three World Guide Camps in other places as well-in Canada, the Philip­pines and Switzerland. Australian Guides will be there too. Forty Australians (including 12 Victorian Guides, Rangers, Cadets and Guiders) will go to the Philippines at the end of January, and 3 Rangers and a Guider are hoping to represent us in Canada.

Obviously, no one country can entertain the MILLIONS of Scouts and Guides in 1957, and there ARE millions all over the world­so throughout the year we know they will all be celebrating and giving thanks for the birth of the Founder, one hundred years ago.

Coming nearer home, you will have r ead in the September issue of "Matilda" of the N.S.W. "Corroboree" (as they are calling their camp) to take place next spring, and to which they are inviting Guides and Rangers from other States. Doubtless many Victorians will be taking advantage of this invitation.

OUR OWN GUIDE-SCOUT SERVICE. In Victoria itself our plans are still far fl'om

settled, but this is the outline of what we hope to do. Further details will be published later or circulated through Commissioners.

We are planning to commence with a large combined Scout and Guides' Own Service on the Sunday afternoon nearest to Thinking Day for all members of the Movement, past and present. This will probably, as far as the metropolitan area is concerned, take the place of the local ~ervices usually held in Districts ahd Divisions. As it is such a special year, country Districts may like to mak p. thEir own al'l'angements to combine in areas ana hold

NOVEMBER, 1956.

similar services, or they may prefer to keep to their usual local celebrations.

In October we are expecting to have the Chief Guide with us for a brief period. Dates, and therefore programmes, are not finali~ed,

but we are planning a large Field Day during' her visit to give the childJ;.en an opportunity of seeing and hearing their Chief.

Then, in January, 1958, we intend running a very large camp at the Guide House as our final Centenary activity. It is probable that the Chief Guide will be on holiday in Victoria at that time, and we are very hopeful that she may be able to fit in a visit to the camp.

All this is still tentative, but we are pub­lishing the outline now, so that Divisions and Districts can plan their own celebrations in such a way that they do not clash or overlap. Elsewhere in this coPy of "Matilda" you will read of the Centenary emblems, stickers and transfers, and also of the six Special Good Turns. Tel! your Brownies, Guides and Ran­gers about them now and about our Centenary Year, and get their ideas of additional ways in which they would like to celebrate it.

SHEILA M. MacLEOD.

CAMPER AND PIONEER BADGES The Camper Badge is now to take the place

of the old Pioneer Badge, and an entirely new syllabus has been prepared for Pioneer. These new syllabuses may be used immediately. It is suggested that any Guide now working for the old Pioneer Badge now works instead on the syllabus of the Camper Badge, but the change over does not become compulsory until three months after publication in "Matilda"­this is, in February, 1957.

CAMPER BADGE.

1. Have camped at least one week under canvas. Know how to pitch, air, strike, do small repairs to a tent, and how to take care of a tent, bedding and ground sheets in all weathers. Take a proper share in the camp duties of the Patrol, including care of lats. and disposal of refuse .

2. Collect, chop and stack suitable firing. Construct a cobhouse, hunter or any other re­cognised type of fire, and know the precau­tions necessary for lighting fires in the open. Cook the following on a campfire: Porridge or Cllstard, stew, dumplings or steamed pud­ding, fded bacon or a grill. Make tea.

NOVEMBER, 1956.

3. Demonstrate how food should be stored in camp. This should include bread, butter.} milk and meat.

4. Erect and strike screening. 5. Demonstrate a use of square lashing and

make at least one useful camp gadget, such as a tripod or pack-rack.

The tester for this badge must be a quali­fied person nominated by a Camp Adviser.

PIONEER BADGE. 1. Show that she can use an axe and saw

skilfully and know how to look after them. 2. Make and use two of the following:­

An emergency shelter, a ladder, a means of crossing a stream.

3. Follow a map through an area unknown to her, and make three discoveries about the neighbourhood. (These will be things chosen by the tester and not by the Guide herself.)

4. Be able to light a fire out-of-doors and boil half-pint of water in twenty minutes. (The time to include collecting wood, but not turfing.)

A tester for this badge must be a qualified person nominated by a Camp Adviser.

WOODCRAFT EMBLEM. The Camper Badge will take the place of the

old Pioneer Badge as one of the compulsol'y badges. The new Pioneer should be added to the alternative badges.

ALL-ROUND CORDS. The Camper Badge should be added to the

list of outdoor badges. It should now read: "Swimmer or Signaller or Pioneer or Camper."

LANGUAGE (for the Deaf). This badge has recently been revised.

M. H. MELLOR, Camping Adviser.

TRAINING NOTICE SUMMER TRAINING WEEK. GUIDERS!!!-Brownie, Guide and Ranger.

The Summer Training Week will be held at the GUIDE HOUSE, YARRA JUNCTION, from 28th December to 7th January. All as­pects of Brownie, Guide and Ranger training will be covered.

Guider-in-charge; Miss C. Broadhurst. Fee: £4/10/-, plus fares. Applications to be sent in to the Training'

Secretary, together with £1 deposit, by 15th November, 1956, if possible.

MATILDA • Page five

INWARDS FOR "OLYMPICS" ! OUTWARDS FOR THINKING DAY !

Our design is a two-way symbol.

"OL Yl\1PICS." Through the excitement and pageantry of

THE GAMES IN MELBOURNE our thoughts and good wishes will be with the Guide folk who are in the thick of it; not in the glamour of the M.C.G., but willingly doing the steady routine work behind the scenes, prepared for any service and emergency.

Staff at Information Centres, on roster with members of other organisations; orderly duty with women athletes at Olympic Village­these are the special parts allotted to the Guide Assocaition.

Volunteers will cany out these duties as representatives of the whole Guide member­ship. Enthusiastically, in the spirit of service and friendship, they accept t he privilege and the hard work; the unknown jobs for unknown people.

Miss Broadhurst, Training Adviser, and her assistants have already held exacting special training which in itself had been a considu­able enterprise.

Many of us will be hostesses, and in Ballarat and other country centres some may have op-

Page Six • MATILDA

portunities for experiences even more personal than in Melbourne, as our visitors spread in smaller numbers across Victoria.

1

Each one of us, in the "midst of it," or at home, may take her part by thought and prayer, confident and grateful that the truest spirit of Guiding and Scouting (for Scouts are doing parallel jobs), may contribute, as each opportunity comes to us, to carry through the Games of 1956 and the visit of our guests, to the highest ideals of success.

"Matilda" is eager for news; we are de­pending on our readers to share their ex­perience.

Please end it in! We can accept paragraphs and articles up

to 3rd JANUARY, 1957.

THINKING DAY GIFTS With t hankful hear ts we br ing our gifts again. (A copy of a letter from the Treasurer of the World Bureau to our Federal Trea~urer,

Mrs. Charlton.) Dear Mrs. Charlton,

How simply splendid Australia has been to have contributed £530 / 3/- to the Thinking Day Fund, nearly three times the target of one penny pel' member! P lease do take steps to

NOVEMBER, 1956.

let all those who gave so generously know how greatly their gift is appreciated. As you know, our expenditure over the last few years has increased by leaps and bounds. Opportu­nities for spreading Guiding further and fur­ther afield must be used as they offer them­selves, and it is our hope that we shall be able to employ a third Travelling Commissioner by 1958, if not sooner. In the meantime, although it is not always possible to carry out plans to the full, the income of the Thinking Day Fund is budgeted up to the hilt each year, so every penny which comes in is very, very welcome.

It is good to know that Papua and New Guinta gave £15 /1/ 7. I know you will send them grateful thanks from the World Asso­ciation.

With all good wishes, Yours sincerely,

WINIFRED K. CHADWICK.

THINKING DAY, 1957 This will be a year of big celebl·ations.

Everyone who can manage it will want to join in the Service with the Scouts at Mel­bourne. Others will be combining with the Scouts in their own towns. Perhaps some will be having their seTVice at the same time, and will use the same order of service as the Melbourne one.

However, these big, inspiring services will not take the place of the small, companionable ceremonies in Company, Pack and Crew, when the Guides themselves will make the plans.

Thinking Day is our own day for remem­bering Guides all round the world, and we give our small thanksgiving present of 3d. to help Wol'ld Guiding.

Have you considered "Thinking of" a spe­cial Company in a far country? You may have a Guide friend overseas and choose her Company or the Company of the pen-friend of one 'of your Guides. If you do not know anyone ovel'seas, I think there is just time to find a Company. First of all, choose your country! Then the Company must write a letter to an imaginary Company there. Tell them all about yourselves ! Send a few snap­shots! Explain that you would like to build your Thinking Day ceremony round them! Ask them if they will help by writing (air­mail) to tell you about themselves, too, and

NOVEMBER, 1956.

send some photos. Later on you can send them a Thinking Day Cal'd with a special message, signed by all your Guides, to reach them just before Thinking Day.

At your Thinking Day Company Meeting centre your activities l'ound that country. Have games, dances and songs; include a pow­wow when Guides tell what they have found out about the country, and show pictures or articles, etc.; read the letters fl'om your new friends. Someone could tell a legend or in­spiring story of one of that country's heroes. You could end with a Horseshoe in which you had the World Flag, the flag of your friend's country and our own flag, and the Guides come up in turn and place their "pennies" in a special box or bag. This is the time when you think of all the Guides in the world.

You would have a simple prayer offering thanks for the joy of Guiding, and asking for a blessing on Guides everywhere, specially the Guides of the Company you have been writing to. You would end with the World Song.

After marching off the flags and dismiss­ing from Horseshoe, you could, if you liked, have something to eat that belonged to your "special" country.

I would be glad to help with 'addresses and translating foreign languages. Plans must be taken in hand at once to make this a success.

ELAINE E. MORAN, State International Representative.

"OLYMPIC YEAR" REVELS One hundred and fifty-five Brownies from

Port Phillip Division, Chentenham and Frank­ston, gathered in glorious sunshine at the Frankston Oval on Saturday, 15th September, for "Olympic Year" Revels. Symbols for the Brownies to fasten over their pocket buttons, and the "Olympic Torch" kindly loaned by tne Salvation Army HQ., was carried in the pro­cession to national flags representing Greece, U.S.A., Russia, Philippines, Japan and Aus­tl·alia. The Brownies "flew" from country to country in "aircraft" piloted by Pack Leaders to play a national game in each country. Fairy Ring and a Grand Salute for the Brownie Adviser, Ml'S. Hartley-Watson, Div. Commissionel', and District Commissioners, concluded the Port Phillip Division Brownie Revels.

BROWN OWL, 1st Edithvale Pack.

MATILDA • Page Seven

"STORY-TELLING" Thank you, South Australia!

Mrs. C'ockington, Training Adviser for South Australia, and her colleagues have developed "Story-Telling" as a prominent Guide activity. Mrs. Trimble, Camp Adviser, very kindly shares their experiences with Victoria.

"I wish I could tell yarns like you do!"

How often do we hear remarks such as this? Let us pause and examine the question. We must remember that Leadership in any sphere is not a question of "imitation," but a ques­tion of expressed personality. Weare not all endowed with the natural gift of "story-tell­ing," but, having proved ourselves capable of Leadership in general terms and fields, the art of Story-telling," to a good Leader, be­comes just another rung on the ladder to success. In other words, no Guider should allow the feeling of inadequacy to override her desire to "Tell a good story," or perhaps it should be "Tell a story well." Story-telling can· provide many golden opportunities to illus­trate the Promise, Laws and special appeals with a pointer towards Moral and Social Codes, and last, but not least, the opportunity to bring "fun" and "enjoyment" to the listeners.

The application of a few commonsense rules should help to overcome any diffidence the Guider may feel, and the rest will come with practice. Here then are a few "pointers" which may help the shy and nervous Guider to "tell an interesting and /or exciting story":-

1. Remember that f:ven round the "camp­fire" it is necessary that one sees the audience and that they see you. Watch the expres­sions on the face of a "Story-teller," in the glow of the fiFelight, and watch the faces of the smallest Brownies or Guides as the story is told. These expressions will be your re­ward. Catch and hold the interest of your audiEnce, and your battle is more than half over. Their interest will help to carry you through to a grand climax.

2. Consider wisely the "theme" of the campfire and the age grouping of your camp­fire circle. Does the Theme call for a sf:rious story, one with a strong moral point? Does the Theme call for a story of daring and ad­venture, or does it call for a story just packed full of fun and enjoyment? Having decided on the type of story, selection will be much easier.

3. For a start choose a story which appeals to you, the teller. No amount of reading a

Page Eight • MATILDA

story which has no appeal or word picture to be painted will achieve good results. When the story appeals to you, the imagination is fired and the story will unfold easily and readily.

4. Read the story again and again. Make a note of the main points and the sequence of events, so that there is no effort to re­member the sequence. As you start to tell your story, the "padding" or "small detafl" will automatically fill itself in. To memorise the whole story before telling it makes your story a "recitation," which at best will sound artifiicial. Memorise the main details and sequence and leave your imagination to do the rest.

5. Remember that very few people are gifted in the "Art of Story-telling." Most have to acquire the art; but, having once ac­quired that "art," we, as Leaders, have in our hands a gift which can be used to demon­strate and illustrate to the Guides and Brownies many of the finer points of our Promise and Law.

From the foregoing it will be realised that "Story-telling" must be just that. A story read is one by which no contact can possibly be made with the audience, with the result that the same depth of feeling cannot be woven into the story. As one who has suffered severely fl'om being "note bound," I would re­commend all potential "Story-tellers" to fol­low the above outline of procedure-conveni­ently leave your story book and /or notes at home, where they cannot be gl'asped at the last moment, take your courage in both hands and "tell that story," keeping your eyes on the audience the whole time. Feel and live the story as you tell it, and you will be able to tell yarns with the best.

Excellent campfire stories can be found in the books which are listed hereunder:-

People of the Dream Time, by Alan Marshall (Australian) .

Australian Legendary Tales, by K. Langloh Parker / H. Drake Brockman.

Stories of Famous Days, by E. S. Brooks.

TalES of All the World, by Margaret Baker.

Creatures Great and Small, by Theodora Horton.

Camp-Fire Yarns, by Margaret Stual-t Lane.

Good luck and good story-telling.

A. TRIMBLE, South Australia.

NOVEMBER, 1956.

PATROL LEADERS' PAGE

CAMP PREPARATIONS Summer camp is not far off now. Have you

thought just how much preparation is needed before camp, if it is to be a real success? Captain is the one who is responsible fol' wch matters as booking the camp site, ask­ing other Guiders to help at the camp, hiring the t.quipment, etc.; but there are a number of things that you can do in the way of pre­paring your Patrol for camp, and taking some of the load off Captain. The Guides in your Patrol who have never camped will be thl'illed to leam a bit about it first, so that everything will not be too strange when they finally ar­rive there, and those of you who have camped will probably need brushing up on a few points.

Let's look at a few of the things you can do in Patrol Time in preparation for camp. You will be surprised to see how they tie up with the Second Class Test, too.

Health Rules in Camp. Of course, Guides in camp aim to keep all

the Rules of Health. Tell the story of a day in camp. Tell it slowly, so that each Guide will have time to note down all the instances of a Health Rule kept (01' broken). Now check your lists, see who has been most ob­servant, and discuss the programme fol' a day in camp.

Ask your Patrol to collect and bring to the next meeting a supply of pictures of different kinds of food. Prepare large cards with the names of places where the food is stored printed on them-e.g., store tent, meat-safe, coolgardie safe, etc. Now you can make a Patrol game of soi'ting out where each item should be stored. Include one 01' two extras, like matches, kerosene, soap, etc.

You can play the same sort of game with the camp rubbish, egg-shells, potato peelings,

NOVEMBER, 1956.

vegetable water, bones, etc., in the pig-tin, grease-pit, incinerator, etc.

Knots in Camp. Last month we learnt how to erect a flag.

pole. There are a lot of other ways in which knots are used in camp. Practise square lash­ing and make a simple gadget like a lid for the grease-pit. You can go on to more difficult ones, so that each Guide will have some ideas on how to "furnish" her tent and make her­self really comfortable. You will find ideas in most Guide books, and in the little Scout books, "Hint and Tips" and "Scout Dodges." Then there is the clothes line, hanging the meat safe, hauling the wood home, and rolling up your bedding. Can you think of any others that can be practised at Company meetings? If you are not fortunate enough to be able to practise tent pitching before you actually go to camp, you can make a little tent out of brown paper, with string for guys, and matches for tent pegs. You can push your "peg" into lumps of plasticine on a board. After that, the first tent will not be so strange and terrible to your new camper.

Bed-making. We mentioned bedding rolls before. Could

each Guide bring an old blanket to Guide meeting, and one bring an old ground sheet? Then in Patrol Time you could have a proper lesson in camp bed-making.

Useful Articles. There is a great list of things that will be

useful in camp, that you can make for the Patrol, for yourself or for the Company. Foul' carefully selected pieces of wood, lashed into a square, make an elegant frame for the notice board. Plastic bags, complete with hanger, are essential for the toilet rolls. The Q.M. will be delighted with a supply of tins with good press-in lids, painted a gay colour, and labelled salt, tea, cocoa, etc., for all those things that come in packets and have a way of bursting out or getting damp. She wiT! also be pleased with butter muslin covers for milk, or food, that is set to cool, or for food that is on the table. Hem them or bind with bias binding, and sew a little weight into each corner so that they will not blow away. You will learn quite a lot about camp deciding what

(Continued on page 12)

MATILDA • Page Nine

/

RANGER KNOWLEDGE OF A CITY,

We express great appreciation to Advocate Press for permission to use the cover illus­tration.-Eds.

Following is the second of two articles deal­ing with early Melbourne; they were requested with the idea that more knowledge of our city might be particularly helpful when we have our Olympic visitors. This account of a hike deals with that part of Melbourne which supplanted the western heights as the smart resident ial area.

It will be noticed that there is some stress on architecture, and this is indicative of the times. Tl1e discovery of gold in the Port Phillip District (1851) greatly increased the wealth and population of Melbourne, and the following decade was a period of extraordinary civic activity; it saw the establishment of many public institutions and buildings­bridges, schools and hospitals, the National Gallery, Art Museums, and the University of Melbourne were founded .

PAGE SITE OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Those who aTe interested in architecture will want to show our Olympic visitors two notable additions in the modern manner-Wilson Hall at the University and the new Olympic Swim­ming Pool. Opinions differ as to the aesthetic value of each of these buildings; but, whether you find you like them or not, they are well worth seeing, if only for their constructional and engineering mastery. You rEally need to see Wilson Hall inside, for it is from within that it is so astonishingly impressive; pro­bably you will not be able to enter, but you could get some idea of its interior from the windows of the lobby at the north end.

Other "Matilda" articles (in addition to . that of last month) which may be helpful with Olympic visitors appeared in August, 1956 (Botanic Gardens) and May, 1956 (National Gallery) . In reference to the latter, it should be noted that the galleries have been com­pletely rearranged; at present (30th Septem-. bel') the Van Eyck Madonna is not on show, but it will surely be displayed at the time of the Games.

A HALF-DAY HIKE. IN HISTORIC EASTERN MELBOURNE Our small party gathered on the steps of

Parliament House at the top of Bourke Street. It was not till our attention was drawn to

it, and we really gazed at it, that we realised that Parliament House is a very majestic building. We noted the dark stone base ("plinth" we were told is its correct name), with the light-coloured stone above it, the impressively broad flight of steps, the rows of fluted columns, the deco,rated "entabla­tUl'e" above them, and the strange, twisted­acorn ornaments breaking the roof-line against the sky.

The people of Victoria certainly had ideas of magnificence whm this building was con­ceived; their .... elation at the separation of the Port Phillip District from N.S.W. and its creation as the Colony of Victoria in 1851 gave them a tremendous feeling of importance , and it was assumed that they must have some­thing really splendid for the new parliament. The first parliamentary sessions had been held in St. Patrick's Hall, Bourke Street, but part of Parliament House was sufficiently neal' COlll­

plftion for an official opening late in 1856-

Page Ten • MATILDA

just 100 years ago, and only 21 years since Batman had come up the Yarra and declared "This will be the place for a village." .

We walked down Spring Street to the Trea­sury Building, stopping en route to look at the statue of Adam Lindsay Gordon (depicted clean-shaven, though he was never seen in Victoria without a beard!), the elaborate little Stanford Fountain that was carved by a man of that name in Pentridge Gaol, f.nd the statue of Genna I Gordon. We mounted the steps of the Treasury Buildings to make the most of the beautiful view down Collins Street.

The Treasury, another handsome ' public building, was completed onl y half-a-dozen years after the opEning of Parliament House. We observed the l'eceEsed centre part, and the paired columns and arches of the second floor; we tried to make comparisons with ParIiam€.n t House, but found that some of us could not recall what it looked like! In our shame we l'durned to Parliament House and then back to the Tr easury. Now we know the facade of those two buildings as we have never known a buildin g befor e! We r ealised, in fact,

NOVEM BER, 1956.

that never before had we looked at a building properly, and that we were "architecturally unobservant" !

Two Churches.

Finally we descended the Treasury steps for the last time that day, and turned along Gis­borne Street to St. Patrick's Cathedral. At least this was something that even our un­tutored eyes could not possibly confuse with classical buildings of the Parliament House type. Again we observed the use of a dark stone and a light stone, but disposed in a very different manner. We were intrigued by the cluster of chapel projections at the east end; we went inside and, after pausing a. moment to admire the effect of the sun pour­ing through the amber-coloured windows at the lEft, we walked quietly down the aisle to look at the interior of those little chapels. A Roman Catholic Church has been on this site from quite early times, but the present build­ing was not started till 1860, and the three spires are a recent addition, completed in 1939.

On the other side of Gisborne Street is the earlier Church of St. Peter's, built in 1846. We went down the driveway that enters from Albert Stre(;t, walked right round the church, and came out through the little lane beside the Naitonal Theatre. This church seemed very simple and plain to us after the decoration of St. Patrick's, but with its narrow, pointed windows and heavy buttresses, it is still un­mistakeably Gothic in style. The cross by the roadside is a memorial to soldiers of the 1914-1918 war.

Fitzroy Gardens.

We walked down Cathedral Parade · to the Fitzroy Gardens. It was winter, and the bare trees were lovely. In the early days this area wa s a rubbish dump, until 1854, when the authorities gave James Sinclair the job of turning it into gardens. Some of the town councillors wanted the eyesore covered quickly with flower-beds, but Sinclair had strong ideas, and he insisted on planting for posterity, with the result that we have here one of our oldes t and fines t plantations of deciduous trees.

We WE:nt straight through the Gardens and came out at the corner of Clarendon Street and Wellington Parade. In the Gardens, quite near this corner, we almost walked on a memorial- a large stone in the pavement in

NOVEMBER, 1956.

front of the house where Sinclair used to live. This is the only "official" memorial to the creator of the Fitzroy Gardens, but what finer memorial could he have than the i:lplendid trees and fern-planted creek?

Jolimont. From Wellington Parade we crossed the

railway line and entered JoJimont, probably the smallest and most compact suburb in Melbourne. The name is derived from a re­mark of La Trobe's wife, a Swiss woman, for when she saw the place for the first time, she is reported to save said, 'Quel joli mont!" (what a pretty hill).

We turned west along Wellington Parade South, passed Charles Street (named after La Trobe's son), and entered through the open double gates of the Deaf and Dumb Society of Victoria (Adult). This used to be Jolimont Square, and was a very elite quarttr. vVe walked all round within the Square, and picked out the five old houses that were built when the Square was first designed in 1858. They are now sadly dilapidated, and even the later houses (none modern) are hardly what we would associate with notable or wealthy people.

We emerged from the Square, continued along the Parade, and turned down Agnes Street, named after La Trobe's eldest daugh­ter. From here, framed by the walls of the house on each side of the narrow street, there is a striking view of Government House on the other side of the river.

Near the foot of Agnes Street are the re­mains of La Trobe's house. He brought the house from Switzerland, and had it erected on this site soon after he came to the Port Phillip District as Superintendent in 1839; he lived there till 1854, when he retired after three years as Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of Victoria. The remnants of the house are very meagre-only one small part (with Beddgood's factory almost on top of it), and part of the garden. Orignially the property extended down towards the river. The gate to the garden was locked, so we could not get very near. It seemed a very humble dwelling, and we wondered what La Trobe would have thought of the present Government House-and of this City of Melbourne to which he had given so much.

We wandered round Jolimont for a while, and found it hard to believe that it was once

MATILDA • Page Eleven

one of the smartest residential areas in Mel­bourne. Bishopscourt.

We returned to Wellington Parade and went up Clal'endon Street to Hotham street to see Bishopscourt. We were quite relieved to find that it is not dilapidated! Old, yes, for it was built five years earlier than Jolimont Square and is of dark grey stone, but it is trim and picturesque, with its old-fashioned verdandah and little square tower. The rakish-looking gum-tree beside the house is said to be 1000 years old! Fitzroy Gardens Again.

We entered the Fitzroy Gardens again to see Captain Cook's cottage. We had some dif­ficulty in finding it, and wandered up and across the park in our search. We had been told that the Fitzroy Gardens are laid out in the form of a Union Jack, but we could find little resemblance to that flag in the plan of the paths . There are diagonal paths and cross paths, but so many of both that we could not tell which belonged to the supposed Union Jack and which did not!

We came upon the old tree-stump cal'ved with the elves and kangaroos, with the little model village neal' it, so we dallied there for some time.

At last we found the cottage-just east of the Conservatory. So this was where the dis­covel'er of Eastern Australia spent his spare time! (As a matter of fact, we knew that it is extremely unlikely that Captain Cook ever lived in this particulal' cottage, but it is gene­rally agreed that he probably lived in one something like this, and this belonged to his family ) . We walked all round it, and were quite fascinated by the trim little place. When Captain Cook sailed up the eastern coast of "New Holland" in 1770, he probably realifed that his discovery would open up a new country to white settlement, but he could not have guessed that his alleged dwelling would be removed fl'om its native Yorkshire and set down in that very country!

In the train, going home, we agreed that the afternoon had been very interesting and had given us a lot to think about. There and then we began testing one another in archi­tectural terms and historical dates!

M.L.

* * * Give to every other human being every righL

you claim for yourself.- R. G. Ingersoll.

Page Twelve • MATILDA

(Continued from page 9) size these things need to be. You may like, too, to make yourselves some plastic bags. These are especially important for shoes and towels, that may have to be packed damp, and for soiled handkies and other clothes. First Aid in Camp.

Have you got that Patrol First Aid kit just so? Do you and all your Patrol know how to deal with simple camp accidents? Have a "Camp Safety" Patrol Time. Each Guide could act a simple camp accident, and the whole Patrol could then discuss how the ac­cident could be prevented.

Plan~ for wide games, exploring, camp-fire stunts and camp-fire songs can all be discussed in Patrol Time before camp begins, and every­one can learn up what she needs to know. Then, once you arrive at your camp-site, you can all plunge at once into the exicting busi­ness of being in camp, without any delay.

V.S . (See page 20.)

FOR PACK LEADERS Last month we talked about grazed knees.

Bandaging a cut finger is the other piece of First Aid that a Brownie needs to learn for her Golden Hand Test.

Cut fingers usually bleed, and the blood washes the cut, so only when the patient's hands are really dirty is it necessary to wash the cut. Use soap or dettol in cold water, or hold the finger under the cold tap. Warm water increases the bleeding. Put a clean dressing ovel' the wound-€.g., lint or linen­and press firmly with the fleshy part of your thumb, not the tip. Sit the patient down. Put the centre of a strip of bandage over the dressing, take both ends firmly round the fingEr, crossing them several times, and tie over the cut. A clean handkie may serve as both dl'es~ ing and bandage. Just like trea t­ing "simple cuts" for Second Class, isn't it? A Bl'ownie must also know how to bandage a finger with a roller bandage, so she can help when a fingtr is not bleeding but needs a dressing on the wound. You need a tightly­rolled bandage about an ihch wide (inch-wide tape is excellent for practice) and small dress­ings. The method of bandaging is illustrated and described in most First Aid and Nursing handbooks . It nEeds a lot of practice not to get too much bandage unrolled and to apply it firmly enough to stay on, but not so tightly that it leaves red marks when it is removed.

NOVEMBER, 1956.

BROWNIE BREAK-UPS AND PARTIES Now that the end of the year looms in sight

-too soon for many of us-Brownie Guiders everywhere will be racking their brains for some kind of "break-up" for their Packs be­fore they close for the holidays. I suppose the first thing that springs to mind is a party­the Brownies must have a party!

But now let's pause and reflect a minute. These days most children get invited to so many parties around about Christmas time­many of them have a sutfeit of festivities. All l'ight! if that's the case, don't give the Pack a party at all-that will save the Guiders a lot of trouble. But, for the sake of fostering that most precious thing-the Pack spirit­most Guiders will want to give their Brownies a break-up of some sort.

Suppose a Pack living in an urban area wants to have a break-up or party, and the Guiders think their Brownies do get too many parties, what about putting it to the Pack in Pow-wow that their party this year might take the form of a good turn for the Pack? One Pack we heard about decided to give a prtsent of dolls' clothes to a children's home, where, although the childl'en had a fair supply of dolls, the clothes to dress them in were sadly lacking. The Brownies brought all the dolls' clothes they could spare, having pre­viously washed, ironed and mended them. At the break-up they packed them attractively in parcels to send to the Home, after which they had an active game followed by simple re­freshments. They wound up with a jolly singing game and a short story. The Brownies loved it, and the Matron of the Home was delighted.

NOVEMBER, 1956.

There are plenty of "Good Turn" break-ups that the Brownies could do. What about ar­ranging with the Matron of a children's hos­pital to act a play for the young patients? or why not go to an old people's home near Christmas to give them a concert, or perhaps sing carols and give each old person a bunch of flowers? The Brownies could make Chri~t­mas decorations as handcraft in Pack mee\. ings, and offer to decorate the lounge of an Elder Citizens' ClUb.

In some cases a "straight out" party, with games and quite a festive tea, is the best idea. Perhaps in some country district where Brownies are rather ntW, a party to which the mothers are invited would be a good way to show what the Brownies do at Pack meet­ings. The Brownies could make their Christ­mas presents, and give them to the mothers off a Christmas tree. Or a new Pack with a long waiting list could invite all the "waiting list" to a Christmas party, or each Brownie might invite a friend. If transport could be arranged, a party for Post Brownies would be a lovely idea.

Whatever kind of a party or break-up the Pack decides on, one theme could-in fact, should-be present in them all-the real reason for having a festive season and for celebrating Christmas-because it is the birthday of Christ. By remembering the real reason for Christmas celebrations we are helping the Brownies to remember and fulfil their promise.

-E.F. (See page 18.)

Not in rewards, but in the strength to strive,

blessing lies.-J. T. Trowbridge.

MATILDA • Page Thirteen

INTERNATIONAL EXTENSION CONFERENCE

The following report has been submitted by Miss Mary Lambe, who attended the Con­ference held at Foxlease in July this year:-

Countries represented were England, Scot­land, Ulster and Wales, South Africa, U.S.A., Holland (both Associations), Denmark (the Blue Association), Switzerland, Sweden, N 01'­way (both Associations), Finland, Germany (the Catholic Association), Ceylon and India.

The training began with a session by Mollie Walker (English Training Adviser) on the needs of the child-the things she needs for real security are love, companionship, solitude, the need to belong to something and be some­one of importance, to have own possessions, not necessarily valuable, the chance to achieve things and to progress from the simple to the more difficult, and opportunities to put know­ledge into practice. All the sessions which followed were built on these needs, and we discussed how, in some ways, the handicapped child was deprived and how Guiding could be used to satisfy some needs in a greater or lesser degree. Miss Constance Green showed us how we could introduce to a Guide 01' Rangtr some simple handcraft which could develop into a lifetime interest.

Great emphasis was placed on Active Guid­ing. Britain feels very strongly that Guides in the Extension Section must have opportu­nities to hep up to date and to see Active Guiding at its best. The Commissioner of a District in which there is an Extension Unit can help by interpreting to the hospital or institution authorities what Guiding is aiming at and making opportunities for the Guider to see good active Guiding.

Another strong feeling in Britain is on the subject of age levels with the physical and mentally handicapped. Even in institutions

Page Fourteen • MATILDA

for M.D. they- try to keep to chronological age levels, not the mental age of the girl. Thty feel it is bad for her self-respect to be grouped physically with children when she is a grown woman. They move girls out of the Guide Company at 16 to the Ranger Company when­ever possible, even though the training is only slightly different. They can wear a different uniform and be "more like others."

Mrs. Phyllis Bargil-Dramatic Adviser, C.H.Q.-worked with us and the Post Rangers in camp at Foxlease on various dramatic pro­jects. Many Extensions spend much time by themselves, and often have very vivid imagi­nations. We can help them by exercising their imaginations in dramatic activities.

Every day we had a session on games and activities for active Brownies, Guides and Rangers, and then spent a little time discuss­ing how handicapped groups could use them. It was pointed out that Extension Guiders should attend ordinary local trainings as much as possible, but must have help to make the best use of the active training for their par­ticular units. A Guider in Extensions is not a specialised Guider, but a Guider with spe­cialiSed knowledge.

Most countries have far more contact with their Post Guides and Rangers and active ones than we do. Largely, this is geographical, but, even in South Africa, they seemed to make tremlndous efforts to have personal con­tact between the Post and active per80n. We appeared to be the only country present that enrols Guides or Rangers by correspondtnce.

We had a most interesting visit to the Ex­tension Camp in the grounds of Foxlease. It seemed that other countries are more able to get their Extensions, especially their Post~,

to camp under canvas than we are. We were shown a variety of camp ovens and fires, etc., so that Extensions in beds and wheel-chairs could have the excitement and satisfaction of lighting real fires themselves. Tin-can cookery has been used most successfully for Exttn­sions.

Lady Alethta Elliot spoke to us on the types of people we do not want in Extensions­the ones who say "How on earth can a physi­~ally or mentally handicapptd girl join the Guide Movement?" and the others · who say:

NOVEMBER, 1956.

"I'm not at all interested in Guiding, but I'd like to help you, as I think the work you do for the handicapped is just wonderful." The answer to the second group is: "If you don't like Guiding, you cannot be interested in us, as Extensions are first and foremost Guides!"

One night we were shown two Extension films, an old one from Switzerland on Post Guiding and the Post Camp, and a recent one in colour from Holland, showing different types of Extension Guiding and also camp. They wel'e extremely moving, and the Dutch one was magnificent. They were real children in real life situations.

We talked about the importance to the Guide of the Patrol System, that the recruit should feel from the very beginning of her Guide life that she belongs to one Patrol, and that to say to the newcomer, "Go into Robins for to-night, and then we'll decide," breaks or, rather, does not start that feeling of belonging to some­thing, which is so particularly necessary and valuable to the Extension. We heard from several Companies about their elll'olment cere­monies. In Holland, the recruit makes her salute, touching the flag while she says the Promise. In Germany (Catholic Section) it is always outside, near a fire if at all possible. The priest is present and blesses the fire; then, after the Promise is taken, the recruit is blessed by the priest. The Wodd Flag, not the National one, is used. Britain makes every effort to have the flag so that all can see it, or it is marched neal' each recruit as she is elll'olled. Sometimes they march the flag through the ward and try hard to give a Guide atmosphere by Company and Patrol posses­sions being put out. The use and value of camp-fires and sing-songs and ceremonies was stressed to help the Extensions feel part of a world-wide Sisterhood.

A prayer of Sir Francis Drake which Lady Stratheden read at a Commissioners' Confer­ence: "Our task is done, yours is to begin. See that ye hold fast the heritage we leave you. Yea, and teach your children its value that never in the coming centuries their hearts fail them or their hands grow weak. Grant us all so steadfast a faith, so high a courage, so great a love, that we may not fail."

NOVEMBER, 1956.

HITHER AND YON

Congratulations to Mrs. 1. L. Proudfoot, Division Commissioner, Outer Eastern Sub­urbs, on becoming Mayoress of the City of Box Hill All wish Mrs. Proudfoot a happy year of office.

Miss Sophie Wirth, who was a member of H.Q. staff before she went overseas last year, writes from Norway giving a glowing account of her travels. She will remain in Oslo until December, having obtained an interesting post at N.A.T.O.'s Atomic Institute there, working in the Library cataloguing the experiments. She recently spent a fortnight on a walking tour in the mountains with Miss Berit Bre­dersen, who, it will be remembered, spent some months in Victoria last year.

Last summer Cadets and Rangers from South Australia camped in the grounds of the Margaret McIntyre House, Tasmania, and as a "thank you" have presented a door-knocker in the shape of a Trefoil to the House Com­mittee. We record this as a nice "Inter­State" thought.

Fitzl'Oy is proud to welcome as Australian citizens two Dutch sisters, Joan and Marlene Hoefnagels, whose parents, with their nine children, were recently naturalised. Joan has been a Guide, then a Sea Ranger, and is now training to be Lieutenant at 4th Fitzroy Com­pany. Marlene is a Brownie.

Three Generations! Edith Thunder,

Guide in 1st Hawthorn Company, married-became Edith COONIE.

daughter, MAVIS COONIE, 2nd Hawthorn Company,

married-became Mavis HARVEY. has daughter, PAT HARVEY,

in 1st North Fitzroy Company.

"The aim of education could be to Know What to laugh at, What to fight and What to reverence."-The Moderator-General at the ceremony to lay the Stone of Commemoration at the new P.L.C. at Burwood.

MATILDA • Page Fifteen

~t. J\ttllrl'W 30th NOVEMBER.

A LETTER TO JESUS King Abgar was a famous potentate beyond

the Rivel' Euphrates. He was of Greek de­scent, and his capital city, Edessa, was a city of Greek people. He sent his messengers to Jesus in Judea, and they looked for him in Jerusalem at the time of the Passover, the greatest religious and national festival of the Jews.

Jesus was in danger of His life, for the rulers of the Jews threatened to kill Him. He passed each night with loyal friends at Bethany, a few miles outside the city walls, and His disciples were watchful. The mes­sengers from Abgar spoke first to Phillip, one of the disciples, and Phillip asked Andrew what they should do. Andrew was a friendly man, who thought of others before himself, and perhaps because of this he could trust himself to feel whether strangers were friends or enemies. Andrew and Phillip brought the Greek messengers to Jesus, and they gave this letter into His own hand.

"Abgar, toparch of Edessa, to Jesus, the Good Saviour, who has appeared in the locality of Jerusalem, greeting : Report has reached me con­cerning Thee and Thy cures, how that they are wrought without drugs or herbs. For the tale is that Thou makest blind to see, lame to walk, and that Thou cleanest lepers and castest out unclean spirits and demons, and healest those who are afflicted with protracted diseases, and raisest the dead .... And when I had heard all these things concerning Thee I had it laid upon my mind one of two things : either that Thou art the God and having come down from heaven doest these things, or that Thou art a Son of God doing them.

"For this cause I have written and asked Thee to take the troubre to come to me, and to heal the disease which I have. For certainly I have heard that the Jews even murmur and wish to do Thee harm. But a city belongs to me, small, but worthy of respect, and it sufficeth for us both."

Jesus replied to Abgar, the King (toparch): "Blessed art thou who hast believed in me

though thou hast not seen me. For it stands written concerning me that those who have seen me shall not believe on me, and that those who have not themselves seen me shall believe and live. But concerning the matter on which thou didst write to me to come unto thee, needs must that I shou ld here fulfil all the things for which I was sent, and after the fulfilment that I should be taken up to Him that sent me . And when I am taken up I will send unto thee a certain one of my disciples that he may heal thine affliction and give life to thee and talk with thee."

These letters are part of the History of the Church by Eusebius (Book 1, chapter 13) .

Page Sixteen • MATILDA

After the Resurrection of Christ, the dis­ciple Thaddeus was sent to Edessa, and Euse­bius describes what happened afterwards. Edessa became one of the first Christian com­munities in the world outside Palestine (Israel and Jordan).

A very strong tradition considers these letters to be authentic; we know that many histories of the life of Jesus Christ on ear"th were written, besides the four gospels of the New Testament, and as the buried cities are dug up and we find more about the ancient manuscripts, the scholars have good reason to believe that some incidents in them are true.

Note.-I am often filled with wonder at the way such lettus have been kept for us; I have wondered how Eusebius knew of them. Just as I had written this article, I spent an even­ing with my sister, and chanced to use her encyclopaedia to check the date of Eusebius.

Eusebius, the Father of ChUl'ch History, was born about 234 A.D. and belonged to Pales­tine. But underneath his biography was an­other Eusebius, a famous pupil of the historian who took his teacher's name; AND this second Eusebius WAS BORN IN EDESSA.

St. John, chapter 12, verses 20-36, tells about these Greeks who said, "Sir, we would see Jesus."

The first letter offered escape from what He knew must lie ahead. Escape! Love! Understanding! was the offer the guiding hand of God? Jesus prayed to God His Father, and the message came to Him. Surely the decision foreshadowed the temptation and decision at Gethsemane. And St. Andrew was near to Jesus at that hour. From verse 23 onwards, we can read the answer of Jesus, as His disciples perhaps heard Him say it, before He wrote it in His letter to reply. Recall the second letter as you read the verses.

Through St. Andrew "the Greeks came to Jesus," and, because the.y all took their part, Thaddeus journeyed to King Abgar and the City of Edessa was won for Christ. The cur­rent of the love of Christ flowed through them, and, because they passed it on, it did not, through them, fail.

St. Andrew's cross is on our flag bc.cause he is Patron Saint of Scotland. He was patron also of Russia, and is greatly honoured throughout Christendom. He is the Fii'her­men's Saint. Sir Wilfred Grenfell, Doctor of

NOVEMBER, 1956.

Labrador, chose that title for his address to the students when he became Rector of St. Andrew's University, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Our Flag three crosses showeth-the second white on blue.

It stands for good St. Andrew, who well his Saviour knew.

He met that light so squarely, St. Peter caught the glow,

And now his cross reminds us, a brother's love to show.

-See St. John, chap. 1, verses 35-42.

WHO'S WHO IN GUIDING

BROWNIE ADVISER. Mrs. A. E. SHARP, known to many before

her marriage as Laurie Wright, has been a inember of the Movement since she was a Guide in Box Hill (and a First-Class Guide, too!). She then joined -Box Hill Rangel' Com­pany and took an active part on the Metro­politan Ranger Committee. She later became first a Tawny and then a Brown Owl. During World War II she enlisted in A.A.M.W.S., and served in New Guinea and Morotai, gaining several War SeJ:vice decorations, among them 1939-1943 Star and the Pacific Star. On her return to Australia she married, and now has a daughter (a Brownie) and a son. She alleges that, after the arrival of the first child, the daughter, a well-known Commis­siner of yesteryear said to her: "Now that you have a prospective Brownie, you had better l'ejoin as a Brown Owl!"-and so she did'!!! Mrs. Sharp gained the Brownie Training Cer­tificate in 1954, and has been Brownie Training Adviser for almost two years. During this time she has, by her vital interest and Enthu­siasm, mai.ntained the traditions :and high standard of the Brownie Branch.

O.G.M.K.

NEW COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED

Welcome and Congratulations: Mrs. C. D. Carn, D.C., Swan Hill; Mrs. W.

E. Mott, D.C., Seaford-Carrum; Mrs. Carey, Division Commisioner, Bacchus Marsh; Mrs. D. R. Lidgett, D.C., Bacchus Marsh; Miss A. Winter-Irving, D.C., Nagambie; Mrs. L. G. Cox, Division Commissioner from January, 1957, for portion of present North-Eastern Division, which is to be split.

NOVEMBER, 1956.

LOCAL ASSOCIATION, BALLARAT TREFOIL GUILD AND

They surely mean to send a B,P. GUIDE to Englandl!

The Trefoil Guild staged a very successful concHt recently, items being musical, song and dance and l'ecitations by juveniles, and a most amusing comedy performed by members. Picture nights were held at Regent Theatre on 17th, 18th and 19th September, and an Antique Show at the City Hall on 4th and 5th October, with a catalogue of exhibits for sale.

The Junior Trefoil Guild, composed of Trainee Nurses, had a dance recently in aid of the BoP Fund, and a number of "Trefoils" joinEd a working party at our Creswick camp, "Lingbogel," last month. The "cabin" was painted and the grounds tidied up generally.

Most Guide Companies are actively engaged in raising money for the lucky girl who goes overseas, and there have been several parties in private homes to help to swell the funds.

Our Local Association is very proud of our Mrs. Cameron, who has been elected to the State Council.

-Fr0Il! Mrs. E. T. B. SCHOFIELD, Secretary.

EASTERN SUBURBS TREFOIL GUILD The annual meeting was held on 24th Sep­

tember at the home of Mrs. Frank Tate. Re­presentatives of other Guilds and the Twigs were present, and apologies were received from Geelong and Ballarat. After a short business meeting, Mrs. Tate, in her inimitable manner, told us a few of the highlights of her recent trip abroad, including many in­teresting incidents in England and on the Con­tinent. Mrs .. Tate and her daughter also at­tended l:\t Olympic Games equestrian events in Sweden, with many views, official and in­formal, of the members of the Royal Family.

A dainty supper concluded a most enjoyable evening.

The Hon. Secretary, Miss M. Fergusson, of 17 Campbell Street, East Kew, would very much like to hEar from ex-active members of our Movement who would like to keep in touch with Guiding-perhaps to assist in some small way and to renew old acquaintances. Meet­ings are held every two months.

RESIGNATION With Regret:

Mrs. W. H. Anneal', D.C., Dandenong.

MATILDA • Page Seventeen

"Christmas is fun, but I'm tired of it by the time it comes!"

-A small boy.

What simple gladness if No Christmas Tree were seen seen till Christmas Eve Or Christ­mas Day.

Teachers and Youth Leaders might consider this. Suppose they helped the children to make Christmas presents, but let each child take the gift home and hide it carefully till Christmas Day.

It would mean self-denial, for they them­selves woud not share the great moment, the reward for their planning, but the experience of each child, the love, and joy on his face when his gift to Mummy and Daddy is part of Christmas Day itself, is most touching and poignant. Perhaps parents would speak of it to teachers and youth leaders afterwards.

-Contributed.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS ~ND DONATIONS

FROM 1st-30th SEPTEMBER, 1956.

Received with Thanks: From Packs-1st Langwarrin, 16/6. From Local Associations-Swan Hill, £1/1/-j

Daylesford, £1/1/-j Richmond-East Melbourne, £2/2/-j East Malvern-Gardiner, £10.

From Individual Donors-Mrs. L. Bakewell, £3/3/-j Mrs. L. V. Lansell, £5/5/-; Mrs. R. G. Orr, £5/5/-j H. B. Dickie Ltd., £5/5/-j Walter and Eliza Hall Tru&t, £17/10/-j Mrs. C. O. Fairbairn, £1/9/6j Commissioners' Conference, £10/8/9; Seymoul'-Pacific Charities Fund, £,3/3/-.

Page Eighteen • "MATILDA"

THE FIRST "CRIB" Saint F.rancis of Assissi (in Italy) called

every living creature his brother 01' his sister, and, when he made the first crib of which we know, the living animals of the town were part of it.

In 1223 A.D. he was living at Greccio, and as Christmas approached he said to Giovanni Velitta:

" ... to celebrate this year's Christmas at Greccio I want to enact the memory of the Infant who was born at Bethlehem, and how He was deprived of alI the comforts babies enjoy; how He was bedded in the mangel' on hay, between an ass and an ox. For once I want to see alI this with my own eyes!'

The joyful day approached. The brethren were called from many communities. The men and women of the neighbourhood, as best they could, prepared candles and torches to brighten the night. The Saint of God arrived ... and rejoiced. The crib was made ready, hay was brought, the ox and ass were led to the spot .... Greccio became a new Beth­lehem. The night was made radiant like the day, filling men and animals with joy. The crowds drew near and rejoicE.d in the novelty of the celebration. Their voices l'esounded from the woods, and the rocky cliff echoed the jubilant outburst, The Saint of God stood before the crib, overcome with devotion and wondrous joy. A solemn mass was sung at the crib.

St. Francis sang the gospel and preached a delightful sermon to the people who stood around him, speaking of the nativity of the poor King and the humble town of Bethlehem. And, whenevel' he mentioned the Child of Bethlehem or the name of Jesus, he seemed as if he would happily taste and swallow thc sweetness of that word.

-From the Christmas Book of F. X. Weisel'.

OLD CAROL.

There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky!

There's a mother's deep prayer And a Baby's low cry!

And the star rains its fire whel'e the beautiful sing,

FOr the manger of Bethlehem cradles ~

King. -J. G. Holland (A Christmas Carol).

NOVEMBER, 1956.

EQUIPMENT DEP ARTMENT OPEN- Week Days: 9 .30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m .

Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 12 noon . Holiday Week-ends excepted .

Please Note.-The Equipment Department will not be open on Saturday mornings during January, 1957.

NEWS AND VIEWS FROM YOUR SHOP

Remember to mark 22nd February on your calendar- THINKING DAY. Send for a Look Wide Pamphlet, 1/-

COUNTRY GUIDERS-Please do not send Registration Slips without attaching your name and address.

Please add exchange to country cheques. Exchange on these cheques costs the Movement quite a considerable sum each year.

When returning goods, please remember to enclose sender's name and address, name of Company, Pack or L.A. to whom the goods were charged, and state reason for the return of goods. No returns or claims after 21 days.

SOMETHING TO INTEREST YOU

We have a good stock of Nature Books.

Wild Life of Australia and New Guinea .

The Stars My Blanket Wild Flowers of Victoria Nature Craft Furred Animals of Australia The Koala The Rock Wallaby The Platypus .. The Kookaburra . • The Lyrebird . . ...................... . Australian Nature Wonders . The Southern Stars . The Sky and Heavens

CAMPING HELPS

Plastic Mugs ... . Plastic Cups ... . Plastic Plates . Plastic Liquid Containers Enamel Plates Billy Sets .2/9 and Soup Bowls

18/6 22/6 13/9 25/-30/-7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 7/6 1/6 4/3 4/-

1/11 1/11 1/11 3/6 3/11 2/11 2/6

USEFUL BOOKS FOR THE COMPANY LIBRARY

The Baden Powell Story .. 8/6 Standard Bearers ... 4/6 B-P's Outlook (new edition ) 9/-

HATS, Etc.

Guide Hats, all sizes 18/6 Guider Hats, all sizes .... 24/6 Brownie Summer Hats, all sizes . 10/6 Fawn Sox, Sizes 9 to 11 ..... 3/11 to 4/11 Hose, Kayser, 1 -2-3 12/6 Guider and Guide Shorts, SSW,

SW, W . .............................. 25/11, 27/11

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Propelling Pencil, Biro and Foun-tain Pen . These sets . 10/6

Torch and Key Ring (complete with Batter ies ) 8/9

Cutlery Sets 4/6 Diaries, 1957 (available in November ) Diary Covers 5/6 Comb, Nail File and Clothes Brush

Sets . 5/3

PLEASE NOTE.-The Guide Shop will not be open for business on Saturday mornings during January, 1957. It will also be closed on Cup Day, 6th November, and on Olympic Day, 22nd November, 1956.

NOVEMBER , 1956. MATILDA • Page Nineteen

REN EWAL OF TRAINING CERTIFICATES

The following Training Certificates hav(' been endorsed for renewal for the year 195G-1957 :-

Guide Training Certificates-Miss E. Bun­ning, Miss J. England, Miss Y. James, Mrs. A. G. Rylah, Miss M. McDonald, Mrs. B. McNally, Miss V. Sherriff, Mrs. K. Woollacott, Miss N. Young.

Brownie Training Certificates-Miss A. E. Allan, Mrs. J. Barratt, Miss G. Buckland, Miss M. Fairlie, Miss H. Gross, Miss D. Holtz , Mrs. A. E. harp, Miss N. Sims.

(Continued from page .12.) Saluting Statues.-Here is a game to help

teach your Patrol when and where to salute, and to make their saluting really smart. Line the Patrol up in front of you and call out various situations that may arise-e.g., "Wel­coming the Commissioner." The Guides im­mediately make the proper salute for the oc­casion, and stay frozen like statues until all are correct. Award a counter or a point to the quickest and the smartest each time.

Let this glorious holiday

Find such holy spending,

That the simple-hearted may

Joy without offending;

And sweet charity may stay,

With our concourse blending.

-Carol.

"MATILDA" An Official Treasure Bag of Guiders' Information

for Guiders of Victoria , Australia.

~Published by the

GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION , VICTORIA,

20 Russell Street, Melbourne, C.l. Telegrams~ "Girguidus," Melbourne.

Price, 10/· per year. Post free.

Contributions should reach Editor not later than

first of each month, and should be sent to

Headquarters .

Subscription s~ould be sent to Headquarters by 30th April.

YOUR BANK IS THE STATE SAVINGS BANK

Every mother should encourage her

child to open a State Savings Bank

Account

Children are naturally eager for respons ib ility,

eager to imitate Mum and Dad, and the most

thrilling way to teach them thrift is to en­

co urage them to have their own State Saving s

Bank Account . Teach them to "save up" for

that new tennis racquet, bicyc!e o r whatever

it is they have se t their minds on.

Be Thrifty Today and Secure Tomorrow !

THE STATE SAVINGS BANK OF VICTORIA

Printed by McKellar Press , 229·231 Glenferrie Road, Malvern, for Girl Guides Association ,

S . S . 8 . 3

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