table settings reflect the day

When you choose to have table napkins then you need something to hold them together. The use of glasses was really appreciated when we heeded off to the Italian Australian Club one year. The Guides felt that all their efforts were worth everything they had put into the day.

Other times the guides have either used a ready made napkin holder or they made their napkin holders, name cards and servietters.

different table setting to create for meals

At times we have created ourselves, or sat at professionally done table settings for different events.

These events have been at :

• late night suppers,
• Learning about our Four World Centers

• buffet meals,
• formal table settings,
• Japanese table settings,
• finger food
• smorgess board
• hostessing by the plate and requesting refreshment types.
• picnics formal or impromtue,
• around campfires
• sitting on the ground at camp

There are basic Guide traditions and ettiquete that we have shown all the Guides over time. As the Guides learn one thing another is shown. From making the table settings to suit the occasion, to how to eat, pass food, cut meat, handle knives and forks, use fingers, wash hands, communicate, basic table manners, to hosting, serving and doing the dishes.

Written by Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guide District

Encouraged to be written by Clear Vision

Things to do for Girl Guides formal meal

• Will the formal meal occur?
  
• Decide Date
• Decide where and time.
• What is the theme to be?
• Who to invite?
  
• Plan menu.
• Decorations - where.
• table settings.
• Etiquette
  
• Activities and games.
• Who is doing what job?
• What are the Jobs?
  

Written by Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guide District

Encouraged to be written by Clear Vision

This is the basic 2009 menu to work on.

Menu Chosen
Main Course
	Chicken	Roasted
	Beef	Roasted
	Salad
	Potates	Roasted
	Veges
Desert
	Chocolate Cake
	Merrianges
Afters
	Scones and Cream
	Guide Biscuits
Refreshments
	Fizzy drink
	Tea
	Coffee
	Cordial
	Milk
	Written by Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guide District Encouraged to be written by Clear Vision

Together the Girl Guides pool their ideas for the 2009 formal meal..

Now we pool our likes and dislikes
Foods we like	Foods we don’t like
Beetroot
Birthday cake
Cheese
Chips
Chocolate
Cup cakes
Ice Cream
Jelly
Lasagna	Broccoli
Lasagna	Chicken
Mums Cooking	Garlic
Mushrooms	Homemade bread
Nuts	Peas
Popcorn	Quiche
Rice	Spagetti
Rice Bubbles
Roast Potaoes
Slaswinga
Soft cheese
Steak
Tiny teddies
Veges
Written by Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guide District Encouraged to be written by Clear Vision

Girl Guides learning to have a voice at 2009 formal meal planning

Individual
Choose three things you like and one you do not like. Draw a picture or write their names down
Like	Not Like
Jelly
Roast Potaoes	Homemade bread
Birthday cake
Lasagna
Popcorn	Quiche
Cup cakes
Ice Cream
Veges	Spagetti
Slaswinga
Mums Cooking
Lasagna	Chicken
Ice cream
Steak
Tiny teddies	Peas
Chips
Chocolate
Rice Bubbles	Broccoli
Rice
Beetroot
Mushrooms	Garlic
Cheese
Soft cheese
Nuts	Meat
Chocolate
Written by Hazelwood and Churchill Girl Guide District Encouraged to be written by Clear Vision

Junior Birdsmen

Chant:
Oh my goodness, oh my soul, here comes the junior j bird patrol!
Sing: Up in the air, junior birdsmen,
(Make thumb and forefinger goggles over eyes,)
Up in the air, upside down
(bend head low)
Up in the air, junior birdsmen,
With your noses to the ground.
When you hear the grand announcement,
(Hands cupped over ears,)
That your wings are made of tin,
(Flap wings)
Then you'll know you're a Junior birdsman,
(Goggle eyes)
So send your box tops in.
You need five boxtops,
(Five fingers up
Four bottle bottoms,
Four fingers up
Three labels,
Three fingers up
Two wrappers,
Two fingers up
One thin dime.
One linger up
Zooooommmm!
Flyaway)


(Traditional, North America Summer Camp)

Basket ball in the park

At the end of first term 2009 when the Guides were planning out their program a few wanted ball activities.  Others wanted to have a BBQ, while still others wanted just to be outside later than normal. Friends were invited.


We ended up going to the Glendonald park ion Churchill.  Here there is a net ball and basket ball court.  Well half the court is net ball, the other half is basket ball.

After all the glass was swept away we were able to go on with trying to get a leader to throw the basket ball  into the hoop.  After a while she actually did it.  Much to her surprise.  But the Guides won the count.  Even Debbies 2 year old grandchild helped.  We put her on our shoulders then helped her throw the ball into the hoop.  We stood under the hoop.  She did better than the leaders.

The leaders might need practice gettintg the ball into the hoop but they can still pass the ball with force behind it!

 

Learning to march

Learning to march sounds boring. Done the right way is fun. We had fun. Even when you are asked to go back and do it again. And again.

First you start with remembering what one is your left foot! Once it is pointed out that Guide Salute with their Right and shake with their left things are easier. The left foot is the lead foot. we often mucked up.

To correct that there's the skip step. The one where you do a half step and repeat it a few steps later. That way the marching is all back in rhythm again.

Then when your finally moving when do you know when to stop. besides the person in front running stopping and you running right into them. That's where listening to the commands come into it. And doing the commands helps too.

Marching involves swinging the arms. The other arm to the foot that is moving. Or you may end up out of balance and falling into someone else.....the ground hurt's when there is no one to stop you falling.

The hand does not go further than the knee. If you swing the hand too far the steps get out of rhythm.

It took us a really fun time to get this marching stuff under control. then we got new people and we had to show them how it was done. That was really funny cause we realized how funny we looked when we begun to 'March'.

We learned to March so that we could be on parade and escort the colors when the Second World War Board of Honor was brought back to the Hazelwood South Hall. Then we did Australia Days, and Anzac Days. Everytime there was something that we wanted to march in there was new things to learn too.

We were working on our Explore: guiding, Our World and Friendship badges, others doing sections of our Create: Feet, hands, Ears badges. Some of us were doing more to their Junior BP and BP badges,

Similar but different causes confusion

Often games are played or similar activities are done through out the world. One game may have developed one way, another branched out some other and the original changed beyond recognition. Usually because games and activities spread as people spread, played in may different countries, across class and culture and with anything that is on hand.

The Churchill Guide Unit has up to 6 different primary schools making up the membership. Being a flexiable Guide Unit, with an age range of five to seventeen at different times a simple game or activity needs very clear rules. So now advacacy and self government help in keeping the rules clear to all. These rules are remade several different times over the years.

At different times various camp rules , games [ kick ball, skipping, sack races, craft activities, clean up duties] all come under scrutiny. Discussion is keped cool as the process of determining the rules is decided.

Do we all have an equal input around the discussion circle, in the patrols, patrol leaders meeting, at a committee meeting.

Accusions of Cheating

Learning to play by the rules of any game is difficult. add to this a splash of variance of the accusion of cheating often comes to the forefront.

The game then becomes a matter of behavior modification and tolerance / forbearance. Dealing with issues and volatile emotions rising their head and messing up a perfectly good game or activity.

Kick Ball : Churchill Guide Style

1) No head butting the ball.
2) No fighting over the ball.
3) Kick ball to the goals to gain points.
4) Put the goals on the ends of the field.
5) If tagged 3 times from opposite team member, the ball is to go to the other team.
6) Be a good sports person.
7) No cheating.
8) No swearing at the elders.
9) No rematches when you’re out.

Keep it up

Orginally this game came from Communicating September 2002 P 8. Over time several changes have been made.

Keep it Up!** players are in a scattered formation and try to keep a beach ball in the air as long as they can by hit­ting it before it touches the floor. Each time a player hits the ball, she says something relating to the theme selected. Examples include items in a first aid kit, sporting events, healthy snacks, what to take on a hike, safety hazards etc..

using the 'Silver lining' proforma

People have different gifts and talents. People look at other people from their understanding of life. Therefore using this chart has helped when trying to sort out what different affect people in various ways. Turning negative thoughts into positive thoughts and paving the way for a more creatively positive attitude and environment is a terrific thing to do. Used often with reflection and evaluations this chart becomes instinctive in it's use. Able to be recalled often .

Where are we?

When the Guides are trying to work out where there relatives are that live in Australia this is one of the maps we have used

STAND EASY

STAND EASY:

Command - Unit, stand EASY

The feet remain in the same position as stand-at-ease, but the hands and body may be moved. This position is used when a group are in position and waiting for the arrival of a VIP as in a guard of honour. To bring the group to attention, give the command: Unit, atten-SHUN. On the word 'unit' the group will come to the stand-at-ease position and on the final order come smartly to attention.



Practiced using the Ceremonial made Easy pamphlet.

STAND AT EASE

STAND AT EASE: Command - Unit, stand at EASE


The left foot is moved about 30cm from the right, weight is placed evenly on both feet; hands are held behind the back and the right hand clasped in the left. This is a more relaxed position and can be maintained for a longer time.





Practiced from Ceremonial Made Easy pamphlet

ATTENTION:

ATTENTION:
Command - Unit (or camp,
patrol etc), atten-SHUN

This position should not be maintained too long. The body is held erect, head and eyes facing front, hands by the side, fingers lightly clenched at the rear of the skirt or slack seam, knees and feet together.


From Ceremonial made easy pamphlet.

Giving orders

If the leader moves smartly and well, her example will be followed.  The leader is the pivital point of any 'command center'.  What people see and hear is how they too will react.


If orders are given smartly - they will be carried out smartly.  This is really important when dealing with many people in a crowded area.  In order to get the commands over to others the leader should have practiced using her voice so that when calling commands it is done clearly and therefore well.   Before the actual comands are given the voice box should have had a 'warm' up practice session.


During the commands the accent is always to be on the end of the word eg 'Atten-SHUN' or on the last word in the command, 'Quick MARCH'. Girls should be taught that they do not move until the whole command has been given.

Promise Ceremonies are Different too

The Promise Ceremony may be different for every Guide who makes her Promise.

Making your 'own' Promise  is different from the iniatial listening to others make their Promise.  When you choose for it to actually be your turn the time is special.  There after every time you renew, or someone renews or makes their Promise your memory may transport you back to when and where you initially made yours.  Even years later your memory will flash this on your mind.


So the Promise Ceremony is a special time. The creative setting made, the people invited, as well as those who stand up their with you are specially remembered too.

The Value of Ceremonies

Ceremonies give a sense of belonging and of achievement. Be the traditional or ceremonies that the Guides have created and carried out themselves.


In order to create a ceremony the Guides first witness and learn about different ceremonies.  The Promise, Flag Protacol involving unfurling of the Flag, Flag Flying, protecting the Flag,  receiving awards are a few repeatitive ceremonies that are carried out within Guiding.

Sometimes different symbols and familiar items are among the things there when the ceremonies begin.  Things like pictures, songs, toys, teddies, seats, buildings, trees.

A little about ceremonies?

Throughout the world Ceremonies and ceremonial form part of every heritiage. Guiding is world wide.  As such the Ceremonies practiced in Australia is similar to these through out the world. As a nation Australia is making her way to being multi-cultural whilst developing an Australian Culture, it's own Ceremonies and Traditions that are able to be shared and celebrated by all.  


Special occasions and a combined heritage are marked by the Nationally recognised Ceremonies.Australia Day, the Opening of Parliament House and Anzac Day are among ceremonies carried out each year by individual Guide Units or the comming together of many Guiding people.  Right down to the Guides within a Patrol celebrating the Promise Ceremony of a new Guide.. 


All the cereminies are important.  Having a regognised methodology as to how things are run, commands called, and actions expected or taken makes the running of such an easier job.  When a Guide moves on within her Guiding, from one age range to another, more depth to the commpands is given and expected in return.

Any interest in radio communication?

Hi all,

Thanks to Susan for the invitation to join the blog - my first blogging effort!

The Eastern Zone Amateur Radio Club meets at the Hazelwood South Hall on the first Thursday of each month, except January.

We can run training courses leading to people gaining their Foundation amateur radio licence. We will be running a course on Saturday 12 December, with the assessment being done on Sunday morning 13 December. This is probably too close for anyone that is interested but has not yet started studying.

You can find out more about the Foundation licence from the WIA website:
Discover amateur radio
Foundation licence

If any of the Guides are interested, let me or Susan know. We can arrange a talk about what is amateur radio as a starting point. If there is interest, we can start some training sessions if needed.

If you have your own licence, you can communicate via amateur radio with others at any time. At a JOTA event, you can use the radio without supervision (within the terms of your licence).

Some may have some experience with CB radio - amateur radio has some similarities but is very different.

Cheers,

Peter

Butterly

We know what we are calling Rebecca ...it is Butterfly.

Choosing governace

Governance is about having the choice to choose, then knowing what to do with this choice.  All levels of Guiding are shown different processes for the same thing. 

  The 7 to 10's are called Dolphin Patrol.  We already have the Koala Patrol for the 11 to 14's.

There are different badges that the Guides have chosen to do.

We played Hop-Scotch. And we did some more of the Columbia badge. 

Some more Guide revieved their sashes and some badges.

There were
Special Badges - 100 year celebration, Jota/Joti,  2 round badges called Build a better World, Discover your Potential.

Some Guides got their Explore: Freiendship badges.

We are nearly finished some others too. They are

Explore: Our World, Life Skills,Guiding, Outdoors, Arts

Some have started their Explore: Faith Awareness and their Explore: Health and Fitness and Science and technology badges.

And we have also begun the :
Challenge Badges: Girls, Rope, Food, Fire, Hands, The Arts.

Theres one called the Bridges over to Argetina and we have started that too.

Unit Scarves near door.

From now on when we go into Guides we get the bag of scarves and put them near the door. Then we put one on for the night. After the meeting we leave them behind near the door...but not in the bag. That way the ones worn will be washed and made ready for nest week.

Our next job is to get the Unit flag stand ready to erect the flag. The Flag pole goes in the North side of the Building. That is where the roof is highest near the office door. A compass can be used to check this out.

After Guide and before the Color Party people put their scarves away they must put the Flag and its pole and the stand away.

Recieving that first badge.

When Youth members receive their first Sash it is important to them.  Then when they receive the first badges there is a positve wow factor.  Everyone present feels like they too are getting their first badges all over again.

In Novemebr  2009 two members received their sashes.  Also the badges that had been achieved to that date.  Besides the Patrol Badge some were special badges, while others were Explore and Challenge badges.

These badges were awarded today:
Patrol Badge: Koala

Special Badges: 100 years of Guiding badge.
     
Explore: Friendship, Guiding, Outdoors, Science and Technology, The Arts, Guiding. There are skill more to come by the end of the year.

Challenge: Food.

These youth members are so close to finishing other badges that they will be surprised early next year when they realise how close they were to receiving them.

 

For now though the challenge is to have these ones sewn on before we return next year[ January 20th 2010]. Now they are learning how to sew them on. Then they have finished the challenges towards their Create Hands Badge!!  I am sure that they will share and commiserate with learning to  hand sew with other people. Glad the badges are safety pinned in place.

Groundsheet

Next you will need a ground sheet made of any sort of waterproof material. You can buy ground sheets from a camping store, use heavy weight plastic or builder's plastic or an old shower curtain. Your ground sheet will need to be about 2 metres x 1 metre, a little longer and wider than your sleeping bag when it is rolled out.

I found that having the builders plastic really makes crinkles and russling sounds at night. Also the builders plastic is 'slippery'. The ground sheets that appear to be made of the matted plastic wear down slowly but you do not slip down wards so many times. As things should have at least two uses on camp have you considered how the ground sheet itself would be protected from ripping if you had to use it for an emergency shelter?

When you are sleeping, your ground sheet protects your sleeping bag and sleeping mat or air mattress from moisture and protect you from the cold. The warmth of your body draws the dampness up out of the ground and the underneath of the ground sheet will be quite wet in the morning even if the ground appeared dry when you laid the ground sheet down.

During the day your ground sheet will form the waterproof outer layer of your bedroll.

Sleeping bag

Firstly you will need a sleeping bag. There are basically two types of sleeping bags -ones filled with down or feathers and ones filled with synthetic material.
Down-filled ones are generally lighter, less bulky and warmer but they are mere expensive and harder to dry if they get wet.

Bags come in all sorts of shapes and thicknesses. Bags with a hood and drawstring around the neck will keep you warmer than those without. The warmest shape is called a "mummy" bag.
Choose a bag that has an insulated flap along the zip so that you don't get cold along the zip line and one that can be unzipped from the inside and outside of the bag.

Most sleeping bags come with a cover or stuff bag. Down sleeping bags are simply 'stuffed', feet end first into this bag. Synthetic sleeping bags are generally rolled up and slipped into their cover. If you don't have a cover for your sleeping bag you could make one or make a couple of strong bands of elastic to hold it together.

Sleeping bags inner bag

My mum used to use these in the sixties when we went camping. You got it . She learned this trick from her mum. And relearned it when she was a Girl Guide just after the second world war. How did you guess. Yes her mum was a Girl Guide Leader too.

Linen inner sheet
A sheet inside your sleeping bag will add to your warmth and keep the inside of your sleeping bag clean. Sew an old flannelette sheet into a rectangular bag shape - leave the sides open near the top. A warmer, lighter sheet bag can be made from pure silk lining material. Buy double your length and stitch the sides.

Australia Day in Melbourne

Australia Day celebrated as a State Event in Melbourne. This event has the Guides carrying a large Australian Flag. For this the day is primarily aimed at the BP's, Queens Guide's and OBPs presented the previous year. The years that I took Guides down who had achieved these Peak Achievement we had a ball. At the end of the march there we were in Government gardens joining in the festivities.


Full Uniform is worn. Take drink bottles full of water and sun hats. Make sure you are well fed before the ceremonies begin.

Australia Day Jan 26th in Hazelood and Churchill shopping Centre.

Starting usually a 7am this local event is now being held at the Hazelwood and Churchill shopping Center. (theory of this is great) As a Hazelwood and Churchill Event it is open to all aged Guiding personal and members. Event permission forms should be handed to the Guide Leader in Charge of the Guides on the day... signed by parent or carrer.


Previous years we have been asked to face paint as an activity while people eat and catch up with friends. Other times there have been odd jobs like the handing out of flags, song sheets, readings, hoisting the flag / color party [with Scouts].


One draw back here is that we usally do not get finalisation of anything until the week before. When we do it will be posted here. So keep an eye out and email us when if you think you are coming.