KEYNOTES HALF YEARLY NEWSLETTER FOR GIRLGUIDING SUFFOLK SEPTEMBER 2017 COUNTY ADDRESSES County President SUFFOLKSUFFOLK SNIPPETSSNIPPETS Judy Jones 7 Grasmere Avenue Felixstowe Suffolk MOOT VI 2017 IP11 9SG 01394 282090 [email protected] County Commissioner Tricia Hale 11 Aldercro Close Ipswich IP1 6PN 01473 414304 [email protected] County Treasurer Sheila Tall 9 Western Avenue Felixstowe IP11 9SP Ipswich IP9 2HY 01394 670259 [email protected] County Office Gillian Smith 9 Brandeston Close Great Waldingfield Sudbury CO10 0XY 01787 375113 gillian.smith44@bnternet. com Newsleer Jackie Hobson 10 St Peters Close Henley Ipswich IP6 0RH 01473 831693 [email protected] Moot through Time 1st Chedburgh Brownies 1st Chedburgh Brownies celebrated 50 years inviting old leaders and girls to a reunion. Photos of activities over the decades were on display as well as girls undertaking a show of the history of the unit and displaying uniforms since the unit started and some girls completed their hostess badge. It has been a busy year with a village fete and a pack holiday at Stoke Ash, celebrating Easter in July. Great fun was had as girls made craft and played games and had a big Easter egg hunt. The term ended with our annual water knock out when girls got very wet. Suffolk meets Norfolk to celebrate Rainbows’ 30 th Birthday Over 630 Rainbows, leaders and parents from all over Suffolk and Norfolk joined together on Sunday 2 nd July at BeWILDer- wood Adventure Park near Norwich to mark 30 years since Rainbows were first formed. The day was a great success (partly due to fantastic weather!) with Rainbows enjoying the delights at the park including a tree walk maze, zip wires, den building, boat rides and lots, lots more. Special activities just for the day were decorating (and eat- ing!) a cupcake, painting a wooden disc, having a group photo taken and getting together with all the Rainbows in the afternoon to sing some guiding songs and of course to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and cut a magnificent cake. It was a wonderful opportunity for the youngest members of our movement to meet girls from other units and to realise that they are part of a worldwide organ- isation. The Rainbows certainly got to try lots of exciting things, challenge themselves and make lots of new friends. Everyone went away with a special badge and lots of memories of an awesome Birthday party… 2 Iceland 2016. A short report, by Margaret Snow In the autumn of 2015 I was lucky enough to be selected as part of the leadership team going to Iceland in August 2016. For me this was my first guiding international trip and I was so pleased to be selected. I started to prepare for the trip in the January sales, as I need a lot of new kit- good walking boots were the most essential, short- ly followed by a waterproof! Unfortunately we had a few days of bad weather, which meant we got a bit soggy, but we still enjoyed ourselves and had an amazing time. We were lucky enough to squeeze in 3 pre meets to get to know each other, but before we knew it, it was time for the off! After landing we were straight off to our first Icelandic adventure, the Blue Lagoon and it was amazing! I think this along with canoeing and the glacier walk were my favourite activities of the trip. In the 10 days we were away we managed to squeeze in so much; a day in Rey- kjavik, including whale watching, horse riding, swimming, a few hikes, relaxing in a natural hot spring, community action and so much more. I think I can safely say we all had an amazing time and we have Girl Guiding to thank. I would recommend a trip to Iceland, as we were at the airport leaving another Guiding group were arriving! I would definitely like to go back one day, and revisit my favourite bits and explore the places we just did- n’t have time for. MOOT VI 2017 3 1st Old Felixstowe Guides Emma and Kerri from 1st Old Felixstowe Guides who recently completed their BP Award. They chose to celebrate by having a fun evening with a picnic for the unit before the guests joined us later in the evening for the presentation. Emma and Kerri asked their Year 5 teacher to present the awards to them as it was in her class they first met and became friends. West Ipswich Division Thinking Day Celebrations at Hallowtree 2017 It was Birkfield District turn to organise the above event and over 250 attended. Rainbows, Brownies and Guides all made hats to wear at the campfire. The Rainbows and Brownies took part in a scrabble game,while the Guides braved the weather for ori- enteering around Hallowtree. Each unit gaining points for the Divisions cups. Hot dogs and smores were had by all before heading down to the wood for campfire, where fun was had singing campfire songs and finishing the evening by renewing Guiding Promises. Rainbows and Brownies headed home, Guides and their Leaders stayed for a sleepover and enjoyed a Dra- ma Workshop by the New Wolsey Theatre and Mr Bean Circus Skills all before bedtime. Winners of Challenge Cups were: 1st Birkfield Rainbows, 12 th Brownies, Prizes for best Thinking Day Envelope on the theme of Campfire- Brownies Ruby Riches A big thank you to members of Trefoil and FOGS and Leaders who made the event a success. Vickie Vallow – Birkfield District Commissioner. More Moot photos 4 COUNTY ARCHIVES The Archives are now organised at Stoke Ash. We were allocated a small room (previously the Headmaster’s Office) and a large shelved cupboard (previously the School’s Book Cupboard). We have 2 wardrobes for uniforms and a good work sur- face. The archive boxes containing all paperwork, photographs and ephemera all fit within the 2 rooms and the flags are stored on a large shelf. Before being stored all items are catalogued. In the entrance hall we have a small display cabinet which currently has a display celebrating the Rainbows 30 th birthday. The display will be changing 3 times a year. In addition we now have 3 mannequins who are currently wearing the summer/camp uniform for Leader/Guide/Brownie and again we will be changing the uniforms several times a year. We are currently putting together boxes of items suitable for Guides/Brownies to learn about the History of Guiding and which might also help with the Traditions badge etc. These boxes will contain uniform, handbooks and other, hopefully, interesting items. The boxes are, of course, different for Guides and Brownies. We will be distributing these boxes throughout the County and hopefully there will be one of each within all Divisions in order that they will be available to all Guide and Brownie Units to use within their programmes. We continue to be given a regular supply of items for placing in the Archives which is most pleasing. The most exciting item received recently was a Nurse Cavell Badge. This was an award for “Guides who had demonstrated special pluck in saving life, self sacrifice in work for others, endurance of suffering or calmness in danger” and was only issued between 1920 and 1926. A rare item. We are becoming increasingly aware that Units, Districts , Divisions etc. are commissioning their own commemorative badges for events. We often only come across these by chance and there are no doubt many we do not see. These badges are a vital part of the history of Suffolk Girlguiding and it would be nice to have them in our collection. Please could you consider us and send one for the archives Although happy to receive most items we would prefer not to be offered further Brownie uniforms with the exception of early dresses with top pockets which we are lacking. We are also keen to receive Brownie triangular ties and belts and navy blue berets as worn by early Guides and Rangers. We are always pleased to hear from anyone who might have items for the Archives so do not hesitate to get in touch. Margaret Tinworth O1449 737073 / [email protected] Britannia District On 25 March 2017 Britannia District hosted a visit by some Norwegian Girl Scouts. Their leader had been in touch with Teresa Riches as they had both met on an international trip to Mexico in 2007 and they were visiting London. The Girls were very keen to meet English Guides and share stories and so the leaders arranged the visit at fairly short notice (about a week)! So some of our guides, brownies and leaders learnt what they do in Norway and how it compares to Guiding in England. We also tried some Norwegian cheese, sweets and were given some badges, which in the tradition of International trips we 'swapped' and gave them badges and cards. We all had a great evening, ending with Fish and chips and a very fast car convoy back to Ipswich station for their return journey to London. We have an offer to visit Norway sometime which our girls were very excited about! 5 Camping under the midnight sun - Jessica Shire, 3rd Woodbridge Brownies/Senior Section This year, for me in guiding, has been pretty incredible. I have been fortunate enough to attend two international camps both in the midnight sun in Norway and Iceland. I have also been lucky enough to be invited to the 36th WAGGGS World Guide conference happening in India this September. The first camp was the Norwegian national jamboree that happens every four years.