St George’s Guilds of Australia Promoting the ideals of The International Fellowship of Former Scouts and Guides

Celebrating 100 Years of Scouting in Australia

All members of the Scout, Guide and Guild Movement
are invited to attend a

Centenary Thanksgiving Service

for The Year of the Australian Scout

at historic St Anne’s Church Ryde
SUNDAY 21st SEPTEMBER 2008

at 10am followed by Morning Tea / Refreshments

Afterwards lunch at historic “Addington”
Headquarters of the St George’s Guilds in Australia
at 813 Victoria Road Ryde

The Hon WENDY BADEN-POWELL Granddaughter of the Founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell will officially launch the new Scout, Guide and Guild Museum at Addington at 2pm.

Three members of Sydney Guild will be attending the 25th World Conference in Vienna, Guildmaster John F Booth AM, Treasurer Ulrike Eichmeyer and Herald Neita Matthews OAM. We will also be joined by another longtime Guildbrother Hana Gerzanic-Hons now resident back in her native Czech Republic.

AFOFSAG Changeover in Sydney Sunday October 26

Annual General Meeting of the Australian Fellowship of Former Scouts and Guides and Changeover of the National Joint Council to New South Wales from Queensland will be held Sunday October 26 at the Baden-Powell Training Camp Pennant Hills at 2pm.

Asia Pacific Gathering in Malaysia July 2009

A proposal to re-establish the Asia Pacific Region organisation will be discussed at the World Conference in Vienna with a plan to hold a Regional Gathering in Malaysia in July next year 2009. We will keep you posted.

Jim Called Home

Jim Dormer was Called to Higher Service on June 26, 2008 and his Thanksgiving funeral service was held Friday July 4 at St Bede’s Anglican Church, Saratoga on the Central Coast.

Jim was invested into the Sydney Guild in June 1979 along with Muriel and they were stalwart and enthusiastic members and moved permanently to the Central Coast in more recent years.

They attended numerous International Guild meetings and had hoped to go to Vienna this year. The Guilds and Scouting were well represented at the funeral service and Guildmaster John spoke on behalf of the Movements.

We extend our sincere sympathy to Muriel in her sad loss which we all share and offer our thoughts and prayers of support in the days ahead. We love you Muriel.

* * *

John Emerton planted a tree in memory of his beloved wife Val at Camp Windeyer Crosslands after the unveiling of a plaque in the camp chapel. Our GM JB is wet after accidentally falling in the river crossing which resulted in numerous broken ribs and pneumonia. He is at last recovering and still hopes to go the World Conference in Vienna.

Australian Organ Donor Register

Our Organ Donors Register Good Turn project is being well received following its launch by the Prime Minister Hon John Howard MP and Mayor of Ryde Clr Ivan Petch. Guildbrothers are asked to check with Margaret Blair on 9798 4060 or Neita Matthews OAM for information and work roster.

We are most welcome at North Ryde’s Cox’s Road Mall. We were happy to have the Register’s Jane Treloggen along again to our May meeting to update us on the program. She is very supportive and thankful for all our efforts.

Sydney and Ryde Guildbrothers visited The Fort museum at North Head where Rusty Russell OAM is on duty each month and also saw the beautiful gold embossed Britannia coach being built by Jim Frecklington nearby.

Christmas in July at the New Horizon Nursing Home with our entertainment stars Rusty and Mayor Ivan Petch put smiles on a few faces. It was lovely to see the residents and the Guild members enjoying themselves.

Lynette Donald and Charles John Donald were invested as Companions in the Guildhall on Tuesday July 1 and they were welcomed by Guildbrothers at the supper table when we had Helen Brownlee OAM, President of the NSW Olympic Council, as a guest speaker on the Beijing Olympic Games. Lyn and Charlie will be joined by Ron Sinclair and John P Morrisby in a Squires Study Group starting in August.

* * *

Happy Birthday to

Howard Blair June 13

Muriel Dormer on June 19

Priscilla Hillam on July 21

We wish you all the Best!

Happy Wedding Anniversary to…
Margaret and Howard Blair on June 4

* * *

St George’s Guild of Sydney GUILD PROGRAM

Sydney Guild meets on the first Tuesday every month except January at historic ”Addington” 813 Victoria Road Ryde.

AUGUST 5, 2008: Guild Meeting, Rec Margaret, MC Howard
SEPTEMBER 2, 2008: Guild Meeting, Rec Howard, MC Rusty
SEPTEMBER 6, 2008: Saturday Working Bee Addington 10am – 3pm
SEPTEMBER 21, 2008: Centenary Service BP Guilds and St George’s Guild NSW
OCTOBER 7, 2008: International Guildhall, 5 Mins St George Rusty, Rec Neita, MC Ulrike
NOVEMBER 4, 2008: Guild Meeting, Rec Rusty, MC John
DECEMBER 2, 2008: Christmas Guildhall, 5 Mins St George Neita, Rec Howard, MC Margaret

St.George’s Guild of Sydney meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at historic Addington, 813 Victoria Road, Ryde, commencing at 7.30pm.

The Guild is open to anyone 18 years and over. Visitors are most welcome.

Why not come along for an enjoyable, obligation-free evening! (Please let us know, for catering purposes).

Contacts:
John F Booth AM, Guildmaster, 9807 6666
Howard Blair, Chancellor, 9798 4060
Ulrike Eichmeyer, Treasurer, 9807 6666

Interfel: We welcome your contribution! Contact Ulrike Eichmeyer 9807 6666
PO Box 123, Ryde NSW 1680 or ulrike@weeklytimes.com.au

* * *

How to combine some history of the ages in a state of the art item requiring an archaic means of propulsion? If nobody else’s, evidently this question had exercised the mind of Jim Frecklington, carriage builder and previous coachman to HM Queen Elizabeth II; and an expedition of Guild members and friends went to examine the fruits of his thinking and handiwork – the Royal State Coach Britannia, his second coachly creation for Australia to gift to HM - at his North Head workroom at the old Army Artillery School.

Incorporation of history into the high-tech, all mod cons vehicle is achieved by inclusion of a myriad small panels of timbers and artefacts from 90 diverse and fascinating sources including buildings ranging from St.George’s Chapel at Windsor to Scott’s and Shackleton’s polar expedition huts, ships (e.g. the Mayflower, the Cutty Sark, Cook’s Endeavour, the Sirius, Nelson’s Victory, Royal Yacht Britannia, QE 2, QMs 1&2, and Henry VIII’s Mary Rose, sunk in the Solent during a battle with the French in 1545 and finally raised in 1982), bridges (Old London, Tower), umpteen cathedrals palaces and castles, archaeology from Roman and Viking Britain, military uniform buttons from Gallipoli and the Western Front and a Waterloo musket ball; both the Domesday Book and Magna Carta (on micro cards), and much, much more...

Under construction for 4 years to date, on completion the coach will be freighted to London for HM’s State uses, and when on TV we see it rolling along on its aircraft grade aluminium wheels, its 10,000 sheets of 23.5 carat gold leaf gilding agleam in the sunshine, we’ll be aware of the wonderful piece it is, not only of craftsmanship, engineering and art, but a capsule of the history of us and our forebears.

After Jim Frecklington’s interesting and informative talk and morning tea, the Guild party removed to the café at North Fort for lunch, enjoying the glorious views across the Heads and Sydney Harbour, then a North Fort Artillery Museum tour.

We love to welcome visitors at all Guild outings, meetings and events.

So, what’s happening with Scouts in this Centenary Year?...

SCOUTS AUSTRALIA AWARDED 2008 ANZAC PEACE PRIZE

In recognition of the part that Scouting has played in the development of two million Australians over the past 100 years, the RSL has awarded the Association the 2008 ANZAC Peace Prize. Today young men and women, boys and girls, continue to enjoy the benefits of belonging to the largest youth movement in the world, with more than 28 million members in 156 countries.

This uniquely Australian award is given to Australians based on the ideals, dedication and spirit of selflessness that shone through and above the horrors of war. John Ravenhall, Chief Commissioner says, “Scouts Australia is proud and delighted to accept this wonderful award on behalf of the many thousands of men, women and children who are currently and have been over the past 100 years, involved in Scouting. Scouting worldwide, through its diversity of membership across 156 countries is indeed a movement that prides itself on being a culture and active agent for peace.”

The ANZAC Peace Prize, announced annually, is awarded by the RSL to ‘recognize any outstanding effort by an Australian citizen who has promoted the concept of international understanding and who, in so doing, has made a contribution to world peace.’

SCOUTS GET NEW WATER TANKS

One of the main activities continuing behind the scenes is the installation of water tanks in our Scout Halls. Over 300 are now in place and we are still on track to have this major project completed by May next year. That said, I never cease to be amazed at the hurdles that our councils seem to delight in making us jump to complete the project. Some are small, procedural issues while others have required a deal of tact and ingenuity in ensuring that we move forward. Our thanks go to all who are involved.

MURRAY DARLING RESCUE

Success! The Murray Darling Rescue has again successfully contributed towards a sustainable environment with a major tree planting effort at the Jack Smith Lake Game Reserve on the 24-25th of May.

Despite last minute notice over 70 Scouts, Leaders, parents and other volunteers rallied to the call and to the amazement of organizers, planted nearly 10,000 trees over the weekend along with volunteers from the Australia Deer Association.

The setting for the event, all of 10 minutes walk from 90 Mile Beach presented us with beautiful weather and glorious sunrises which was a big relief for Scout organizer and our partners at Greenfleet and Parks Victoria.

Spource: Scouts Australia Newsletter June 2008

Guildmaster’s Message

Greetings Everyone,

In a few days our country celebrates World Youth Day, and here in Oz this day is connected with the visit of His Holiness the Pope – and surprise, surprise! – our train drivers decided, What a good chance to stage a strike for a pay rise!

To me, from a parent’s point of view, every day is Youth Day. It is a pity that there can’t be a Struggling Housewives’ Day. When there is a pay rise, the cost invariably is met by an increase in the cost of food, transport and other essential items, which has to be met by those poor people connected with providing them for the family. As a result, the poor housekeeper, who rarely benefits from those pay increases, has to scrape up enough money to cover the rising food costs. It’s like being on some kind of crazy merry-go-round. So how about a Poor Housewives’ Day, when for 24 hours the cost of all essential food items is cut dramatically?

I have to acknowledge that our youth are our country’s future, but do we really need a special day to remind us of this?

Cheers,
Margaret Barton,
Guildmaster.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE

A Centenary of Australian Scouting Thanksgiving Service will be held at St.Anne’s Church, Top Ryde, at 10am on Sunday, September 21, followed by morning tea at the church.

St.George’s Guilds will then host a barbeque lunch, afternoon activity and campfire at Addington, where the Scout Memorabilia Display will be featured, and the Addington House Museum launched.

I N V I T A T I O N

To the 25th World Conference of ISGF
21st – 26th August 2008
Conference Venue: University of Vienna.

Conference fee without accommodation: 435 Euros. Accommodation available at 4-, 3-, & 2-star hotels with easy public transport to the University. Prices for conference with accommodation, according to star rating & options, range between E610 & E910 (approx. A$989 to A$1475 on current exchange rates), all meals included.

6 & 4 Day Post Conference tours are available. Full details available from John Booth or Phyllis Berger.

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