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.

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.

Guide Law Song

The Guide law song is a catchy song to the tune of Old Mac Donald had a farm.

Written aimed at Phillipine Girl Guides the Laws are very similar to the Australian Guide Laws.



Guide Law Song Sung to the tune of "This Old Man".
Guide Law one, loyal and fun,
Loyal and fun says Guide Law one,
Helping other people, learning more and more,
Guides be true to the first Guide Law.
Guide Law two, helpful you, *i Helpful you says Guide Law two, Helping other people, learning more and more, Guides be true to the second Guide Law.
Guide Law three, considerate be,
Considerate be says Guide Law three,
Helping ........ «
Guide Law four, friendship sure, Friendship sure says Guide Law four, Helping ........
Guide Law five, animals alive, Animals alive says Guide Law five, Helping ........
Guide Law six, 0-be-d-ient , 0-be-d-ient, says Guide Law six, Helping ........
Guide Law seven, smile or gladden, Smile or gladden says Guide Law seven, Helping ........
Guide Law eight, never be late, Never be late says Guide Law eight, Helping ........
Guide Law nine, care of yours and mine, Care of yours and mine says Guide Law nine, Helping ........
Guide Law ten, good citizen,
Good citizen says Guide Law ten,
Helping other people, learning more and more,
Guides be true to the tenth Guide Law.


This song was orginally published in the old Girl Guide magazine 'Matildia' in the mags Training Pages.


Enjoy learning the sang. Onece learned it is hard to get rid of from your head.