I started Brownies when we lived in Launceston and loved it. The challenges of doing ‘badges’ and the fun of playing games made Brownie Day a favourite day of the week.
Then we moved to Sandy Beach. No Brownies there.
Ballarat had a ho-hum Brownie Pack at the Anglican church, but I couldn’t wait until I turned twelve and could start Guides.
Friday night in the Methodist Hall next to our house and I’m in Magpie Patrol. My sister Dorothy is our patrol leader. We have two adult leaders, ‘Cap’ and ‘Lefty’ – yes, of course, short for Captain and Lieutenant!
Cap, whose other name was Miss Edna Perry rode her bike to Guides from the other side of Ballarat. She had some day job, but we only knew her as our leader. Though quietly spoken, she was definitely in charge. She always had an interesting program prepared which would include the guide promise, a game or two, singing some fun songs and some badge work.
The Guide motto was ‘Be Prepared’ and our program reflected this. We learned to tie knots (a Reef must never be replaced by a Granny knot!), learned the Morse Code, how to cope with snake bite, the street names of our surrounding area and so much more.
When joining Guides as a tenderfoot, we had to learn the Guide Law and Promise, the salute, hand signals, some knots and facts about the flag, before we could don a uniform and be enrolled.
Re-reading the Guide Law – and I know we took it seriously – I was impressed.
After enrolment, it was up to each guide if they wanted to pass further tests, but it was encouraged. There were Second- and First-class badges with a series of tasks to be accomplished. The Queen’s Guide award was the top and had to be finished before we were sixteen. Despite my ambition, I didn’t get that far. In the meantime, there were proficiency badges covering a wide range of skills. We prepared as necessary and then Cap would find an appropriate tester. I did a number of these including Reader, Hostess, Homemaker, Cook, Knitter, Cyclist, Emergency Helper. I loved the challenges.
And then one day Cap announced that we were having a Guide Camp, and we were going to sleep in tents! I couldn’t have been more enthusiastic.
Then we moved to Sandy Beach. No Brownies there.
Ballarat had a ho-hum Brownie Pack at the Anglican church, but I couldn’t wait until I turned twelve and could start Guides.
Friday night in the Methodist Hall next to our house and I’m in Magpie Patrol. My sister Dorothy is our patrol leader. We have two adult leaders, ‘Cap’ and ‘Lefty’ – yes, of course, short for Captain and Lieutenant!
Cap, whose other name was Miss Edna Perry rode her bike to Guides from the other side of Ballarat. She had some day job, but we only knew her as our leader. Though quietly spoken, she was definitely in charge. She always had an interesting program prepared which would include the guide promise, a game or two, singing some fun songs and some badge work.
The Guide motto was ‘Be Prepared’ and our program reflected this. We learned to tie knots (a Reef must never be replaced by a Granny knot!), learned the Morse Code, how to cope with snake bite, the street names of our surrounding area and so much more.
When joining Guides as a tenderfoot, we had to learn the Guide Law and Promise, the salute, hand signals, some knots and facts about the flag, before we could don a uniform and be enrolled.
Re-reading the Guide Law – and I know we took it seriously – I was impressed.
- A Guide’s honour is to be trusted.
- A Guide is loyal.
- A Guide’s duty is to be useful and to help others.
- A Guide is a friend to all and a sister to every other Guide.
- A Guide is courteous.
- A Guide is a friend to animals.
- A Guide obeys orders.
- A Guide smiles and sings under all difficulties.
- A Guide is thrifty.
- A Guide is pure in thought, word and deed.
After enrolment, it was up to each guide if they wanted to pass further tests, but it was encouraged. There were Second- and First-class badges with a series of tasks to be accomplished. The Queen’s Guide award was the top and had to be finished before we were sixteen. Despite my ambition, I didn’t get that far. In the meantime, there were proficiency badges covering a wide range of skills. We prepared as necessary and then Cap would find an appropriate tester. I did a number of these including Reader, Hostess, Homemaker, Cook, Knitter, Cyclist, Emergency Helper. I loved the challenges.
And then one day Cap announced that we were having a Guide Camp, and we were going to sleep in tents! I couldn’t have been more enthusiastic.
I loved every minute. I came home with a recipe for French Toast – soak a slice of bread in a beaten egg mixture and fry lightly on each side. Ecstasy!
We left Ballarat when I was fourteen and my wonderful Guide company was never replicated. There were no Guides in Belmont, so I caught a tram into Geelong one night a week. The Guides were young and not very interested in badges. I left there and joined an after-school company from Morongo. They were much more upbeat but, being the only one from another school, I didn’t really belong.
I joined a church youth group and became enthusiastic again.
But I’ll never forget the Pleasant Street Methodist Guide Company and our ‘Cap’.
Carmyl Winkler
September 2024
I joined a church youth group and became enthusiastic again.
But I’ll never forget the Pleasant Street Methodist Guide Company and our ‘Cap’.
Carmyl Winkler
September 2024
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