written by “Kamber” of 1st Hartwell Guides

It was a cold evening on June 19, but that did not deter more than 100 guides from East Metro Region (including nine 1st Hartwell guides and 4 leaders) and their families from coming together at Macleay Park in Balwyn to share a very special campfire. As part of the Centenary of Guiding celebrations guides all over Australia were also sharing the excitement of campfires on this night, as each region conducted their own campfire.
Campfires and campfire singing have been an important part of Guiding for 100 years. Although there have been many changes in the world during that time the spirit of the campfire remains the same. This is a special time to make music, to sing, to dance, to tell stories, to share, to relax and to laugh.
The East Metro 2010 campfire was no exception. Lead by our very own Bilby, we sang lustily and loudly as the specially built fire, a Council Fire, burned brightly. All the old favourites were sung and we also learned a new song written specifically for the event, The Centenary Campfire Song, “One Hundred Years of Promises”. We were able to sing other songs in unison and in rounds while action songs such as “Alice the Camel”, Love Grows Under” and “Edelweiss” helped to keep us warm.
A moving conclusion to the evening was the singing of the closing farewell songs for each age range of girls, “The Ranger Song”, “Brownie Bells” and “Taps”. Then there was time for silent contemplation of the campfire; the leaping flames, crackling and popping sounds, its warmth as well as smelling the smoke, before it was time to go home.
Each girl who attended the event received a Campfire song book and commemorative badge as a reminder of a unique night.
And now for a little bit of History…
We have a special tradition in Guiding which enables us to share the wonderful memories from one campfire to another. Ashes are taken from a campfire and sprinkled into the flames of the next campfire. The following morning when the ashes are cold, they are collected and each Guide takes some home for her next campfire. The dates and places of each campfire are recorded and passed on.
These words can be shared as the ashes are sprinkled on to the rising flames: “We carry our friendship with us in these ashes from other campfires with our Guiding sisters. May the joining of previous campfires with these leaping flames symbolise once more the unbroken chain that binds Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world and may the spirit and memories of those campfires join in the fun and laughter that will be created tonight.”
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