TRADITIONS AND UNIT

TRADITIONS AND UNITY
All World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts members share the symbols of unity. These are:
WORLD THINKING DAY
World Thinking Day is a time for Girl Guides to think about their peers in other parts of the world. It also gives a chance to put those thoughts into action by raising funds for the World Thinking Day fund, which is used by WAGGGS to develop the Movement in places where it does not currently exist.

In 1926 ‘Thinking Day’ was established when Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world would remember each other. February 22 was chosen to celebrate the joint birthday of Robert Baden-Powell and his wife, Olave. In 1928 the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) was established to regulate the growing numbers of Girl Guide/Girl Scout Movements across the world and Thinking Day was designated as a fundraising day for WAGGGS. ‘A penny with your thoughts’ becomes the first fundraising theme for Thinking Day. Thinking Day is re-named as World Thinking Day in 1999- 2011 will focus on the environment
THE GOOD TURN
The Good Turn symbolises the service given by all members of the Movement to the community. A Good Turn is a service given voluntarily by one or more Guides without expectation of acknowledgement or reward. Younger Guides think of ways in which they can do a Good Turn every day. Older Guides and adult members develop this further into service projects at local, national and international levels
THE LEFT HANDSHAKE
The Left Handshake was introduced by the Founder as a means of easily recognising other members of the Movement
THE MOTTO
The Motto, Be Prepared, shares the Founder’s initials and is a practical reminder of the educational purposes of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting.
THE SIGN
In giving the sign Girl Guides and Girl Scouts raise three fingers of the right hand as a reminder of the three-fold Promise.
The Guide Sign may be used on the following occasions by all members who have made the Promise:
• at a Promise ceremony, an Award ceremony or Promise renewal;
• during the playing or singing of the National Anthem when in uniform at a Guide or Scout event except if the event is in a church; or
• when colours are brought on, taken off, broken or lowered with ceremony at a Guide or Scout function.
The Guide Sign is not used in a church service even for a Guide or Scout event.
THE WORLD TREFOIL
The three leaves represent the three-fold Promise as originally laid down by the Founder.
The flame represents the flame of the love of humanity.
The vein pointing upwards represents the compass needle pointing the way.
The two stars represent the Promise and the Law.
The outer circle represents our worldwide Association.
The golden yellow Trefoil represents the sun shining over the children of the world.

THE WORLD BADGE
The World Badge is the World Trefoil on a bright blue background. It may be worn by all members who have made the Guide Promise. It may be worn in or out of uniform.
THE WORLD FLAG
The World Flag consists of the World Trefoil in the upper left hand corner on a bright blue background. The white blaze in the lower right-hand corner represents the commitment of the World Association to peace. This is crowned by three golden squares symbolising the three-fold Promise.
THE WORLD SONG
The World Song was adopted at the 13th World Conference in 1950. The World Song
Our way is clear as we march on
And see! Our flag on high
Is never furled throughout the world
For hope shall never die!
We must unite for what is right
In friendship true and strong
Until the earth
In its rebirth
Shall sing our song! Shall sing our song!
CEREMONIES
PROMISE CEREMONIES AND AWARD CEREMONIES
A girl decides in consultation with her Leader when she will make or renew her Promise. An adult who has made her Promise as a youth member is encouraged to renew it at an appropriate time. Any adult member of a State Guide organisation who has made the Guide Promise may conduct a Promise ceremony or Award ceremony.
GUIDES’ OWN
A Guides’ Own is a time of reflection acceptable to all faiths. It is planned and conducted by Guides of any age. A Guides Own is a time of sharing, of reflection, of spiritual refreshment and worship. It can be thought provoking and inspirational. Chat with your Leader about it if you would like to know more.
Planning the Guides' Own
• Who will attend? - Your patrol, Unit, District, Families
• Where? - Beside water, up a mountain, in a dry creek bed, under the stars or a tree
• When? - Dusk or dawn, at camp, in the Unit meeting - anytime, it is up to you and your friends
• What? - This takes the longest to decide - what to put in, what to leave out
You can include songs, dance, poetry, prayers, readings, drama, puppets, sign language, music; it is up to your imagination.
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING DAY
The Governor-General and the Australian Government encourage us all to set aside Saturday 14 May as our National Day of Thanksgiving. What a great way to acknowledge all the great things that have a positive impact on our lives.
Holding a special Guides' Own would be a great way to mark this event in your Unit. Create something memorable with your Patrol or small group. Need some ideas? Need a plan? Need to know what a Guides Own really is? Here are some starters.
For this Guides Own with its theme of Thanksgiving, some of the following ideas might get you started.

Music
For a Guides Own at sunrise:
• Play a CD of Morning from Peer Gynt.
• Sing Thank you for giving me the morning
• Create an interpretive dance/movement to Cat Stevens version of Morning has Broken
Songs
• I came from the dreamtime
• I still Call Australia Home
• Here in this God-given land of ours Australia (to the tune of waltzing Matilda)
Prayers / Readings / Stories
• Write prayers of thanks. For example: for the gift of sight - to be able to see the beauty of nature, to see a smile, tears of joy or sadness, familiar faces.
• Find readings by Helen Steiner Rice or in your Holy Book or from Sharing or Searching.
• Hold up cards of the individual letters of the word THANKSGIVING as thoughts are shared for each letter. That is:
T is for togetherness and time spent with friends and family and at Guides.
H is for happiness, harmony and honesty.
A is for ••••..
Stories of the heart:
• of people who experienced adversity and were still thankful, such as Helen Keller,
• of those who tried to make life better for others, like Mother Theresa or Dr John Flynn of the Inland (Royal Flying Doctor Service)
• Stories of the Dreamtime
Special effects
• At night, candles or fairy lights are pretty.
• Coloured streamers remind us of the rainbow and the Bible story of Noah and the Ark. Give thanks to God for rain, for sun, for promises kept, for our safe havens we call home.
• Wait-a-while flowers can be made beforehand. Trace around a ten cent coin for the centre of the flower and add some petals in the same way. Colour and cut around each segment keeping the whole flower in tact. Fold each petal over onto the centre. Float flowers on bowl of water and watch them open.
• Plant some sunflower seeds or an Australian native tree or shrub.
Whatever you include, hopefully, your Guides Own will touch each participant in a special way. Our pride in being Australian will help us be grateful for what this country offers us: liberty, freedom, opportunity (to name a few).