GIRL GUIDE CAMP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1939, Page 8

GIRL GUIDE CAMP

BIG CENTENNIAL FEATURE GATHERING AT TAUHERENIKAU RACECOURSE. MANY ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY COMPLETED. At a meeting of the Girl Guide Centennial Camp Committee, recently held in Wellington, reports of progress in all departments of the Camp were submitted for consideration and discussion. The following members of the camp staff were present: —The Chief Commissioner for New Zealand and chairman of the committee, Miss Ruth Herrick (Napier); camp commandant, Miss Mona Burgin (Auckland); quartermaster, Miss Elsie Gray (Nelson); equipment, Miss Joyce Duthie (Wellington); transport, Miss Constance Morice (Wellington); post office, Mrs R. S. Mclnnes (Wellington); entertainment, Misses Hoby (Hastings), Jane- Orford (Geraldine) and P. Robertson (Auckland 1 ; canteen, Miss Olive Mcllraith (Christchurch 1 ; publicity, Mrs Martin Tweed (Wellington 1 ; finance, Mrs Adam Bell, hon treasurer to the Dominion executive (Hastings 1 , and Miss M. Iles, general secretary of the Girl Guides’ Association.

Miss Herrick reported that the camp site at Tauherenikau racecourse had been inspected by the Camp Commandant, Miss Burgin, Miss Duthie and herself, as well as by other members of the camp staff. All were well satisfied with the site, which combined all the practical and necessary conditions for a Guide camp, with the equally necessary attractions of good surroundings.

The camp site and the lay-out of the camp groups have been mapped out to everyone’s satisfaction. In discussing the numbers of Guides in camp, and how this number would be made up, Miss Burgin stated that the camp would be divided into 21 groups, including the staff. Each group would consist of twenty-six Guides and four Guiders. Every group would have its own group commandant who would be a licensed camper, and there would be a quartermaster to every group. The ranger group would consist of 30, and there would be a Maori group of 30. The committee regretted that the number in camp was limited to 600, but the' lack of licensed campers made it impossible to extend the number. The’ camp would be organised arid Staffed entirely by the Commissioners and Guiders of the New Zealand Girl Guides’ Association. The happiness and well-being of all, and the smoothrunning of the administration of the camp would be considered before individual interests. t Each province in New Zealand had already been allotted a certain number of Guides, Rangers and Lone Guides for the camp. The qualifications necessary for Guides and Rangers had already appeared in the press, 'arid, all provincial headquarters had received their instructions: Every Guide company would choose its own representatives by voting. Qualifications, in ' the ease of Maori Guides, would be waived.

Official visitors from overseas will include those from the following places: England (2), U.S.A. (2), Sweden (I), Australia (6); Rarotonga (6), Fiji (6). Replies from other countries were being awaited. Unspecified numbers of Australian Guides and Guiders would be coming from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. They would come fully equipped for a tour of the Dominion, but would spend four or five days near the camp. The Featherston and Greytown schools would be placed at the disposal of these visitors. Miss Duthie reported that a list of the necessary camp equipment had been forwarded to each of the group commandants. Special arrangements would be made for the freight on equipment. Much help had been received from the Defence Department. The hospital tent and medical supplies would be dealt with by the camp doctor, Dr Moana Gow, who would be in. charge of the health of the Guides, assisted by two nurses.

Provisional dates for entertainments were submitted to the committee, and it was decided that the march past would be held on Tuesday, January

Her Excellency the Viscountess Galway would take the salute, in the absence of the Governor-General. Ihe Guides in camp would visit the exhibition on. January 19. There would be special camp fires on the evenings of January 18, 23 and 25. Group campfires, and tramps would also be held. The Rangers would have an all night tramp on January 24, in connection with the Bledislo'e Cup competition for Rangers; There would be a* Guides' Own Service onSunday, January 21, and visitors’ day would be January 23 from 2.30 to 5 p.rn. Brownie revels would also be held during an afternoon.

The fee for the Centennial Camp will be 2 guineas. This will include an excursion (one to the exhibition) and insurance. Concession tickets would be available for 21 days. In-discussing the distribution of food to the camp, this would be done through the chief quartermaster, Miss Gray, to the quartermastci- of each group. Quartermasters would make out their own menus for meals but Miss Gray would be prepared ’to advise on the preparation of new menus to add variety to the meals. The camp committee meeting concluded with a general discussion on canteen supplies, the camp post office, newspaper, transport and the issuing of a camp booklet and posters