How did this activity begin

Towards the end of 1999 the moe Old Gipps town would host a Saturday where the young children would take there teddy bear to a Teddy Bears Picnic. Most of the Guides in Churchill did not have transport to attend. Public transport finished through Churchill by 1pm on a Saturday afternoon. So if the Leaders could get the Guides there there was not transport back.

Rather than not be included the Guides were encouraged to think of ways to be included. The older Guides helping in the younger units suggested holding their own Teddy Bear Picnic at the Hazelwood South Hall during the meeting time. Some of these older guides had attended the Teddy Bear overnight stay at the hall a few years before.

Weeks before the chosen meeting time 'things' were created to include the others to participate. The activty usually netted some interest from girls outside the Unit. Guides that had moved from this Unit wanted to be included too. The meeting was opened to the sisters of the younger Guides. Over the years they brought friends --usually from the otlder unit!

The day then became a Saturday activity. Open to all Guides, family and friends.
Then the leaders became so externally busy that the weekends for the Teddy Bears Picnic evaporated. By the end of 2008 the Units had planned to have a Teddy Bears Picnic included in with the Rac Wac in first term 2009. The fires that are now named 'Black Saturday' threw all planning out of the window.

So by the end of 2009 fouth term the planning for 2010 teddy bears picnic had already begun.. Several changes have occured. people have offered to assist. These same people are interested in getting the Guides active, with more people knowing just what Guides actually is involved with. Now the Hazelwood and Churchill Guide District team are now organising the event. A Gipp's Guide is overseeing the Teddy Bears Picnic. As part of Clean up Australia the Teddy Bears will be assisting in Cleaning up the Glendonald Park. Since Clean Up Australia in Glendonald Park is a family and friend event everyone is invited. Activities and games will be included.as part of the 'entertainment factors' for the youngest children. Games in the Park will be aimed at the older ones. The District catering team is resonsible for the BBQ.

Basket ball in the park

At the end of first term 2009 when the Guides were planning out their program a few wanted ball activities.  Others wanted to have a BBQ, while others wanted just to be outside later than normal.


We ended up going to the Glendonald park ion Churchill.  Here there is a net ball and basket ball court.  Well half the court is net ball, the other half is basket ball.

After all the glass was swept away we were able to go on with trying to get a leader to throw the basket ball  into the hoop.  After a while she actually did it.  Much to her surprise.  But the Guides won the count.  Even Debbies 2 year old grandchild helped.  We put her on our shoulders then helped her throw the ball into the hoop.  We stood under the hoop.  She did better than the leaders.

The leaders might need practice gettintg the ball into the hoop but they can still pass the ball with force behind it!

 

During the Black Saturday aftermarth these brave Teddies

During the 2009 Black Saturday Fire aftermath these brave teddies came out to play. The Guide unit had planned a Teddy Bears picnic to be occuring during the Fire time. No one could make it there on the day.

We photographed the bears coming, planned the food, sorted out the activites, worked out a root to take the teddy bears on and all this fell in a heap as others things were sorted out.

But the good news is that not one teddy was lost to the Fires.