Brownies and Girl Guides

[Melanie Jonker]

I am hoping I've attached a page from the May 1967 Oranjemund Newsletter which shows the opening of the new Guide Hall on 22 March 1967. I am in the photo although it's hard to describe where I'm standing (the back row, to the right of the second adult, looking up with my mouth open - I'm the short one in between the two girls in the front row - I bet you're totally confused).

Can you recognise yourself in this photo? If the photo doesn't attach properly I'll send it to Michael to put on my photo page.

Cheers, Melanie Jonker

[Michael Alexander]

This is interesting, so was the original children's library in the Scout hall building?

[Teel]

The only thing I ever remember about Brownies is that Mum never let me join!!!  I felt seriously deprived.....

[Michael Alexander]

I WAS never really into Scouts/cubs.... went a couple of times, but preferred spending my friday afternoons down in the dumps behind town garage playing on those big tyres....

[Melanie Jonker]

Looks like the Children's Library was originally in the Guide Hall. I can vaguely remember it. What I do remember is every time I went to Brownies I would religiously polish my tie clip until it gleamed. I can also remember polishing the coin I took along at each visit (was it a penny or a cent???). I still have the tie clip and fabric badges as well as a small folding cardboard record book. I'll have to dig it out and scan it for all to see.

On the 28th of this month it will be 40 years our family has been in Australia. I am trying to dredge up all the memories from my childhood in Oranjemund.

[Teel]

Don't dredge too many Mel........... it's making me feel old!

[georg ruf jr.]

Looks like the Children's Library was originally in the Guide Hall. I can vaguely remember it. What I do remember is every time I went to Brownies I would religiously polish my tie clip until it gleamed. I can also remember polishing the coin I took along at each visit (was it a penny or a cent???). I still have the tie clip and fabric badges as well as a small folding cardboard record book. I'll have to dig it out and scan it for all to see.

On the 28th of this month it will be 40 years our family has been in Australia. I am trying to dredge up all the memories from my childhood in Oranjemund.

The childrens library used to be in the same building with the camera club and the scouts having it's door toward the street. They moved to the adults library about 74 or 75.

[Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard)]

Brownies was actually a lot of fun. Susan who was "brown owl" in our day? I remember Alistair Ewart's wife Bev used to take brownies, cant remember the other ladies.

[Susan Kintscher (Lineker)]

My brain is in overdrive, can only remember a blonde headed lady.
My little one goes to Pfadfinders (German Scouts/Girl Guides) and she loves it.

[georg ruf jr.]

Hey Susan. Pfadfinder? Lebst du in Deutschland??

[georg ruf jr.]

sorry Susan. stupid me. You live in Swakopmund. forgot.

[Susan Kintscher (Lineker)]

Wish i did live in Germany, my brother-in-law lives in Tegernsee.  We tried once for work but never again, got the passport to do it.  Morgen ist Tagesausflug in die Wüste .....
Can speak the language but to write it is another thing but i'm getting there what with the youngest in mother-tongue at school.

[georg ruf jr.]

So this means everything was planed and everybody ready to go? Or were you here?
Tegernsee is very nice. But I think there'a lot of high society there.

[Yvette Kroukamp (Biccard)]

My youngest is moving up from Guides into Rangers. Working hard at discoverers and chiefs challenges. Must say its a good way to keep kids grounded nowadays.

[georg ruf jr.]

It's always been a good way to ground kids.