GIRL GUIDES HOLD CAMP FIRES ON SATURDAY THROUGHOUT DOMINION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 69, 14 December 1937, Page 11

GIRL GUIDES HOLD CAMP FIRES ON SATURDAY THROUGHOUT DOMINION

Throughout the whole of New Zealand the menibers of the Girl Guide movement held camp iires on Saturday evening, when an opportunity was taken by the guides to bring gifts for the Red Oross Society to send away to the Far East. In most districts the Guides assembled -at the camp fire well before the time for lighting, and the time was spenfc in singing and playing guide games. At 7.30 everyone assembled for the cereinony of lighting tlie fire. The proceedings opened with the singing^ of the National Anthem^ after which the Guides formed a circle round the fire set ready for lighting. Four Guides from north, south, east and west of the circle approached to light the beacon of i'riendship, kindliness and peace, and having knelt and kindled the fire they rosc, stood to attention for a moment, and then returned to the circle. Then four different Guides approached from the circle and placed their sticks in the fire while a Guider quoted, "To those now far .uvay across the water, who are under the shadow of misfortune, we offer our tokens of help and send thoughts of goodwill and peace." Then the camp fire circle said ia unison, "Speed on your way and bring coinfort and relief," and the Guider concluded by suying, "From this beacon may the spirit of goodf ellowship between people of difi'erent races spread his wings and soar to the four corners of the earth. ' ' ,, The hymn ' 'These Things Shall Be ' ' was then sung by everyone. The Hastings district Guiders and Guides and their commissioner, Miss Marjorie Couper, held their camp fire in Wt. Barnabas ' Hall grounds, Parkvale. The district secretary, Mrs. E. Natusch, was also present. After the ceremony Miss Couper introduced Mrs. Leicester Roberts, a Red Cross Y.A.D., who w.as present in uniform, and she spoke to the Guides about the Red Cross o/ganisalion and

•wuwvwtWUWNVIWtH»(M»U«r its work. Later the Guides gave her two large boxes of gifts for the Red Cross Society to fonvard to the Far East. Miss Couper also spoke of the coming departure of Miss Nancy Crompton Sniith, who had been a most enthusiastic Guide, and she presented her with an attache case from the Guiders and their commissioner. , The Central Hawke 's Bay group joined with the Takapau and Dannevirke Guides and held their camp fire in ^ Russell Park, Waipukurau^ when guiders, Guides, their ofiicers and commissioners all assembled for the ceremony. After the camp fire had been lit Miss Nita McHardy, guide commissioner, extended a welcome to Mrs. E. D. Rice, president of the war-time Red Cross, and to Miss Ingles, matron of Pukeora Sanatorium. The Guides then came forward with their gifts and presented them to Mrs. Rice who, on behalf of the Red Cross Society, thanked them and said how greatly appreciixted they would be. The Guides then sang, ' ' Oh? How Lovely is the Evening," and "Three Pirates." In addressing the Guides, Miss Ingles said that she was reminded of a week she had spent in* a Guide camp in Taranaki, when she was chcsen as the camp nurse. Sirlce then, the Guides had done xnany good deeds for her. She spoke to the Guides of serviee, telling them whatever they did to do it cheerfully aud well; also of getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine, which was conducive to good health. In conclusion, she wished them all a happy Christmas, and hoped she would meet them all again. The remainder of the evening was spent around the camp .fire, singing, with stunts by Takapau and Waipukurau Guides. Before the closing prayer and vesperst Miss McHardy thanked Mrs. Rice and Miss Ingles, and the parents, for coming, and expyr -ssed grateful thanks to the Borough Council for allowing them to hold the camp fire in Russell Park, which was an ideal site.