2011 Stories

These stories appear by month in which they were put onto the website, starting at the most recent month at the top of the page.

October 2011

Living Legends Project - Sat 1 October

An awesome day was had at the Manawatu Gorge, planting 5,000 trees!  A big Thank You to all the Leaders, girls and their families who participated in this wonderful occasion. Well done!

August 2011

Manawatu's Gang Show

What a year it has been for this year’s Gang Show crew! The director, choreographer and musical director saw all their hard work come to fruition this past July on the Regent stage. With a new script and enthusiastic cast and production team, rehearsals began in February with all of us getting to know each other or reaffirming old friendships, as about two thirds of the cast had done a show before.

2011 was Manawatu’s 25th show and 50th year since Gang Show began here. Near the end of the show, the memories from past shows were shared with a DVD of old and new photos, accompanied by Ralph Reader songs including some from the first shows.

In this year’s show we had everything from zombies to cavemen to old folks. The show consisted of 19 items including When Knights Were Bold, an Alice in Wonderland remake, Gang Shows Got Talent and a Glee-style number.

Manawatu Gang Show was well supported by friends and family of the cast and also members of the Guiding and Scouting groups with many attending from other Gansghows.

Well I know this year I can say the cast was “amazing, amazing! That was some talent!” (you’ll know what I mean if you saw the show!).

Brenda Palenski
Rangiora-Manawatu District

June 2011

The Ultimate Challenge at Camp Rutherford

We arrived at Camp Rutherford which was organised by Theresa Kendrick from Arawhai Guides as part of her Camp Permit. First was putting up the tents with the usual fun and games, trying to work out what went where.

Theresa welcomed everyone and then it was time to eat the food everyone had brought to share.

In the Creativity Challenge each patrol decorated bandanas. Soon the tables were covered with brightly coloured bandanas, beads were flying everywhere, as was glue and fabric paint!

Patrols then started their Brain Challenge with the first questions easily solved ... but they got harder!

We were up early for the Colour Party and the first Food Challenge with the patrols cooking breakfast and presenting it to the leaders for points with french toast for all.

Next was the Gadget Challenge where we designed and built a camp gadget which showed off our lashing skills. Again points were awarded.

Game Challenge followed with a round robin of different activities and games/challenges to work out and decipher. By this time everyone was really hungry, so it was just as well that Food Challenge 2 appeared. Yummy!

A real treat followed with laser tag! With both girls and leaders running around with guns trying to shoot each other, it was great fun and made the best use of the gorgeous weather.

Everyone was raring to have Food Challenge 3! Each patrol chose from a variety of ingredients and then picked a recipe. Again plates were presented to the leaders for points.

After dinner, we lowered the flag and sang taps before the campfire and smores! It was lovely sitting in the night air, looking up at the stars, watching the flames, singing old songs and new. Each patrol also did a sketch.

On Sunday morning the Colour party was followed by Guides Own “in” the wonderful outdoor chapel, with a simple wooden cross and rows of wooden benches overlooking the beach.

Breakfast Food Challenge meant the leaders again ate the girls’ pancakes with many more points awarded. One patrol made a pancake in the shape of a trefoil! Down to the beach for more fun and games then back up the bush trails, dodging wasps, to take the tents down before lunch.

We then all said a happy goodbye, having met new people and made new friends.

Claire
Tamariki Guides

Rainbow Revels

Hi, my name is Kaiya Pfeffer. I am a Brownie and I went to Rainbow Revels… I’m just telling you that rainbow revels was a WOW!!!

We went to Bulls for Rainbow Revels this year and I had so much fun. We made mouth-watering traffic light cookies plus delicious drooling chocolates. We also made rainbowrific bracelets that included all the colours of the rainbow. We lined up for some pampering; I had my nails painted as well as my face. It wouldn’t be Brownie Revels without lots of fun games! Most of the games involved team work which I loved.

When it was time to go, I said in my mind “I really don’t want to go” because I had so much fun, but I had to. I’m now looking forward to the next Brownie Revels!

Kaiya Pfetter,
All Saints’ Brownies, Palmerston North,
As part of her Challenge 9 Badge

March 2011

Awesome adventure for Hokowhitu Guides

Climber ready. Belayer ready. Climbing. Two handholds, one foot hold, push. Hey, I can do this!(3 metres up) Oh no, I can’t reach! It’s harder than I thought. Arms stretched to the max. Still can’t make it.

That’s it, I can’t go any higher. “Let me down.” Encouragement: “Keep trying. Think options.” He’s right. I really do want to make it to the top.

Cautious agreement. “O.K.” It’s just out of reach but if I leap … Knees bent, ready, jump. Got it. Moving like a monkey now.

Footpeg’s spinning. SCARRRREY. Handhold just out of reach. Not a problem, 1, 2 ,3, leap. Just missed. Try again. Got it. Almost there. Hand, foot, foot, hand. The top, 12 metres up. I’ve made it. Exhilaration!

Hannah, Lauren, Kaitlin, Amelia & Morgan with MSC instructor, Warren

Palmerston North East District
Manawatu Region