The Scouting Effect BioSafety Busting the Virus! - Scouts Victoria
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BioSafety
Busting the Virus!
The Scouting
Effect
Meet the people
of Scouting
Australian Scout August 2020 1
2 August 2020 Australian Scout
BioSaf
Bust et
The Scing the Virus!y
outing
Effect
inside...
Meet th
e pe
Australian
Scout Augus
ople
t 2020
outing of Sc
COVER: 1
Josh from 2nd/6th Hawthorn on
his Adventurer Cord hike in the Grampians
along with his Patrol Alice, Zoe and Ben,
with Jimmy behind the camera.
6
regulars
4 A word from Rod
29 Cub Scouts
30 Let's Look Local
32 Adults in Scouting
35 Windy Valley
22
features
6 Scouts Victoria 2020 Adult Recognition Awards
Congratulations to this year recipients!
10 The Scouting Effect
The results are in! Scouts are more resilient.
12 BioSafety - The Virus Busters of Scouting
Scouts are playing an integral role in fighting the Pandemic.
14 Faces of Scouting
Vanessa from 1st Trafalgar.
16 Families of Scouting
Meet some of the many Scouting families of Victoria.
18 Program Ideas
Some simple activity ideas to do with your Group or family.
20 At Home with Tyler
Find out how Tyler, a Scout with Cerebral Palsy is Scouting at Home.
21 A Scout cares for the environment
23 Ariel brings her passion for the environment to her Scout Troop.
22 Scouting and population - Growing together
Scouts is adapting to Victoria’s constantly growing population.
25 Scouts Zoom across the World!
7th Cheltenham met with 1st Ealing North Scout Group in England.
26 What started as a joke turned into a reality!
Scout Jaz took her Adventurer Cord hike all the way to NSW!
27 Ballan Cubs inspire locals and help charity
Ballan Cubs earn their Messengers of Peace badge.
28 Facing Challenges With Courage: Scouting From Home
Scouts show their resilience and adapt to change.
34 Wilsons Prom with 1st Lang Lang
1st Lang Lang embraced the outdoors with a hike in Wilsons Prom.
Australian Scout August 2020 3
Exciting things to come!
I congratulate every adult in Scouting for your hard work in
supporting your Groups online during the last few months.
Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire were very close
to returning to face to face Scouting before we needed to
return to lockdown. We learnt so much during the first time
a few which tried us and tested our resilience. Our youth need adult
words support more than ever and remember to look after yourselves
too. Reach out to each other and stay connected.
from Our Section councils are
Rod Rod Byrnes
working on some great events
to kick start 2021. Bay Jam
in January and Cuboree
Chief Commissioner
Scouts Victoria
in April to name just two.
While it’s difficult to know
what conditions we’ll be
under in a few months, I’m
really grateful for the careful
planning of the teams to give
us something to look forward
to. We are all looking forward to
seeing some of the great programs
coming up.
There’s still some great things happening
around our state. I’m encouraged that
our young people are finding ways to
complete their peak awards. They’re
doing that through the support of
their youth and adult Leaders, finding
innovative ways to assess them against
the requirements of the award scheme -
even when they can’t physically complete
some of the work. That demonstrates that
Scouting isn’t prescriptive, and that the Scout Method provides
us with a framework that we can adapt to our conditions.
It’s also great to hear about the fantastic activities that our
Groups are conducting online. More than ever, creativity
and innovation power great programs and I’ve seen some
wonderful examples of that while dropping in on a few Section
meetings recently. It really warmed my heart to see the
importance of maintaining the social connections and I learned
a few new things too. 1st Mansfield Cubs taught me how to
dab! I’m sure my kids are mortified.
The Scouting Effect
It will have come to no surprise to anyone involved in Scouting,
but a study has found that young people who participate in
Scouts have an overall better life satisfaction than their peers,
and the longer they stay in Scouts the more resilient they
The Scout
are likely to become. This is among the results of Resilient
Youth Australia’s survey into the impact of Scouting Show I
episode yet,
on the resilience of young Australians. This is exciting ’t caught an
If you haven n e in to T he
news for our Scouting community across the country, en co u ra ge you to tu
strongly Tuesday at
as it reaffirms what we’ve known for over 113 years – Y ou ca n listen live
Scout Sh ow ! can catch up
Scouting and resilience go hand in hand! You can find u th er n FM, or you
3pm on 88 .3 So odcast app,
more information about the study later in this issue. ow in y ou r favourite p
with the sh am
Show”. Our te
r “The Scout
just search fo th e sh ow is
g an am az ing job and
is doin - perhaps you
be proud of
something to uting
rage non-Sco
could encou
ave a lis n?
te
families to h
4 August 2020 Australian Scout
Sharing Scouting
Another example of innovative thinking are the livestreams
conducted by the Victorian Venturer Council. A July broadcast
featured a hard-hitting interview with our Chief Scout Shane
Jacobson. Ben and Lily really grilled Shane about the big issues.
Shane shared a few of his Scouting stories with them and
then he turned the tables and quizzed our intrepid reporters
about their Venturer and leadership experiences. It was a
fun conversation and Shane’s passion for Scouting is genuine
and infectious. You can view the video on the Scouts Victoria
Youtube Channel.
In the same livestream, the VVC tackled some of the key for many more upcoming opportunities to hear, learn and to
issues and questions about our program transition and ask great questions. Diana Swift, ACC Program, has recently
rollout. Because it’s one program, all Sections will benefit conducted webinars on our program that are informative and
from watching this segment, not just the Venturer Section. make the program very easy to understand. Recordings of
I appreciate that many of us are at different stages of these webinars and other great resources are available on the
understanding the new program and we want to take you all Scouts Victoria website. Just follow the “Our Program” link on
on the journey together. I encourage you to keep an eye out the main page.
Scarf Up with Stephen Fontana
I had the enormous pleasure in July of
joining Venturers Steph and Hamish to
Scarf Up Assistant Police Commissioner
Stephen Fontana. Scouts Victoria and
Victoria Police have a long and mutually
beneficial relationship. On an evening
over Zoom, Stephen also spoke to a
large group of various Scouts Victoria
leadership teams. He spoke about his
experiences with leadership and working
in teams, and he proudly wore his scarf
for us all to see. He was such an engaging
speaker and we all appreciated hearing
about Stephen’s experience and yarns. It
was equally valuable for Stephen to learn
more about Scouting and meet some of
our amazing young people.
Rod, Hamish, Stephen, Steph and State Commissioner - Venturers, Duncan McColl.
Order of Australia
We congratulate the following Victorians who were honoured with
the OAM in June for their service to Scouting and their community.
Ray Beebe - former District Commissioner of Strzelecki, and the
founder of Strzelecki Showtime in 1969
Trevor King - Group Leader, 3rd Melton
Chris Reardon - former SL and GL Lynden Park, District Leader-
Scouts in Boroondara, and for many years service to Reach
Others were honoured around Australia, including Ian Langford-
Brown AM, former National chairman and honorary treasurer of
e be Scouts Australia for many years. Ian is also a recipient of World
Be
Ray Scouting’s Bronze Wolf award for service to Asia-Pacific and World
Scouting.
Australian Scout August 2020 5
Scouts Victoria 2020
Adult Recognition Awards
W.F. Waters Rover Jesse Carter, AVL, 1st Upper Kerrie Hall, JSL, 1st Broadford
Beaconsfield Shane Hall, ASL, 5th Ballarat
Service Award Tracey Carter, JSL, Lakeside Pakenham Nicole Hamilton, ASF - WF Waters
Scout Group Lodge Mt Baw Baw
Simon Casey, SC - Risk & Safety, Leanne Handoll, Group Registrar,
Victorian Branch Warrandyte Scout Group
Alyshia Challenger, Adult Helper, 1st Scott Hart, CSL, 3rd Wodonga
Tullapark
Desmond Hedditch, Venturer Leader,
Nathan Challenger, ASL, 1st Tullapark 3rd Wodonga
Clive Chase, ACSL, 7th Ringwood Jonathon Hemphill, Venturer Leader,
Jesse Carter, Rover, Lord Casey Rover Megan Clark, SL, Narre Warren Scout 1st Bennettswood
Crew Group James Henderson, Group Chairman,
Victoria McKinnon, Rover, Cleve Cole Alisha Clarke, District Leader - 2nd Strathmore
Rover Crew Development, Hume District
Phoebe Hicks, ACSL, 1st Trafalgar
Stephanie McNabb, Rover, Berembong Paul Clifford, GL, 7th Cheltenham
Melanie Hipwell, ASL, Sorrento Sea
Rover Crew Audrey Colbert, Group Support Scouts
Nicholas Pike, ASL, 1st Elwood Committee Member, 1st Caroline Springs
Lauren Holcombe, JSL, Port Fairy Scout
Bradley Costello, ASL, 1st Heatherdale Group
Special Service Award Megan Coster, CSL, 1st Drouin Damien Hort, ASL, Heathmont Scout
Alison Cox, CSL, 1st Belmont Group
Kathryn Crisp, AJSL, 4th Williamstown Stewart Hulls, Group Treasurer, 1st
Sea Scouts Maryborough
Vanessa Cutcliffe, ACSL, 1st Greenhills Kathy Hutchins, CSL, 1st Tyabb
Brett Davies, CSL, 1st Diamond Creek Caroline Jackson, Assistant
Gregory Davies, ASL, 1st Wheelers Hill Adventurous Activity Leader - Cycling,
Christopher De Vere, ASL, 1st North Cycling Team
Balwyn Debbie James, AGL, 1st Ranelagh
Stuart Andrew, Adult Helper, Scout Simone Dent, AVL, Warragul Scout Jennifer Jeske, AGL, 1st Caroline
Band Group Springs
James Baker, AVL, 2nd Glen Waverley Paul Dobson, ACSL, 1st Ranelagh Lee Jeske, Group Support Committee
Antony Benson, ACSL, 1st Belmont Rebecca Duck, AJSL, Sale Scout Group Quartermaster, 1st Caroline Springs
Grant Bews, Camp Manager, Eumeralla Guy Elliott, RA, 1st Ivanhoe Sea Scouts Rebecca Jessup, ACSL, 1st Ivanhoe Sea
Scout Camp Brendan Ferguson, ACSL, Dandenong Scouts
Jennifer Bews, Camp Manager, Scout Group Jacqueline Johnston, CSL, 1st
Eumeralla Scout Camp Jason Field, ASL, 1st Rutherglen Queenscliff
Joseph Bonnici, ASL, 1st Caroline Vanessa Fleming-Baillie, GL, Dingley Dimitrios Karagiannis, AGL, 9th
Springs Scout Group Oakleigh
Kloe Brand, JSL, Sale Scout Group Nicholas Friedrich, AVL, 1st Seymour Jacqueline Kay, AJSL, 1st Eaglehawk
Michelle Brown, Adult Helper, Norlane Marita Fry, CSL, Sale Scout Group Melanie Keks, AVL, 1st City Of
West Scout Group Peter Funnell, ASL, 5th Sandringham Camberwell
Allison Burdon, Group Secretary, Radio David Giacomantonio, GL, 1st Iramoo Natalie Kenward, JSL, 1st Cranbourne
& Electronics Team Bryce Gibson, Fellowship, ASF- Delia Kerr, Group Support Committee
Craig Burn, Group Treasurer, 1st Boroondara Fundraising, 1st Cobden
Broadford Astrid Goble, Venturer Leader, 1st Eliza Lancaster, AJSL, 4th Knox
Brett Butler, ASL, 4th Knox Mount Waverley Timothy Lee, SL, 1st Eaglemont
Paul Byrnes, SC - Personnel Support, Warren Greig, ACSL, Aspendale Cassandra Lia, ACSL, 1st Maroondah
Victorian Branch Iman Habboucheh, AGL, 9th Brunswick Philip Makarios, GL, St George
6 August 2020 Australian Scout
Daniel Mar, AJSL, 3rd Doncaster East Darren Rabinov, Adult Helper, 15th Michelle Williams, GL, Williams Scout
Nicole Marinaro, Group Rostered Brighton Group
Parent, 1st Werribee Jarrod Ragg, SL, 1st Vermont Alan Williamson, Group Chairman,
Stacey Maughan, ACSL, 1st Sth Sarah Ramage, CSL, Pakenham Hazel Glen
Frankston Stuart Redman, ASL, 13th Malvern Nigel Woodman, ASL, 1st North
Emily McDonald, Adult Helper, Christopher Reeves, ASL, Warragul Balwyn
Dromana Sea Scouts Helen Riddell, ACSL, 7th Ringwood Vicki Wrangles, Group Secretary, 1st
Jonathon McDonald, District Leader - Tyabb
James Robertson, Adult Helper, Cycling
Cub Scouts, South Western District Team Gordon Young, Trainee State
Melissa McGrath, Group Secretary, Commissioner, Victorian Branch
Karen Rogers, Group Chairman, 2nd
Narre Warren South Scout Group Glen Waverley Melissa Yuan, AJSL, 5th Brunswick
Charlotte McGregor, SL, 3rd Ringwood Jessica Rosewarne, ASL, 1st Ranelagh William Zanon, Rover, 1st Lower Plenty
East Lachlan Ross, Rover, 1st Caroline Springs - Kooranunda Rover Crew
Joanna McIntyre, Cub Scout Rover Crew Kelly Zarb, Group Rostered Parent, 1st
Commissioner - Region, Victorian Debbie Rowbottom, ACSL, 3rd Tullapark
Branch Wodonga Matthew Zimmerle, ACSL, 1st Narre
Julia Mencaraglia, Adult Helper, Kate Rowe, Adult Helper, Moodemere Warren North
Aspendale Gina Zumbo, Honorary Commissioner,
Brett Ryan, RA, 1st Narre Warren
Jason Mepham, ASL, 1st Ranelagh North Victorian Branch
Anthony Millicer, ASL, 1st Ivanhoe Sea Edwin Ryan, Trainee District Leader -
Scouts Development, Banyule District
Meritorious Service
Fiona Mills, Group Rostered Parent, Owen Ryan, ASF - Scout Heritage Award
Sale Scout Group Victoria
Andrew Millsom, TRA, Victorian Jason Shelley, ACSL, 1st Craigieburn
Branch Rover Council
Brett Sleigh, ACSL, 7th Ringwood
Rebecca Moulden, CSL, 1st Maroondah Donna Smith, ASL, Baden Powell Park
Stephen Murphy, AGL, 1st Gisborne Samuel Smith, Trainee AVL, 9th
Peter Murray, ASL, 1st Lower Plenty Brunswick
Maria Nettleton, Group Chairman, 2nd Suzanne Smith, Group Secretary, 1st
Eltham Sea Scouts Lower Plenty
Matthew Nielsen, ACSL, 1st Point Cook Melissa Sterry, Group Treasurer, 1st Cameron Adamson, AVL, 3rd Sunbury
Heather Nugent, ASL, Waverley Valley Lower Plenty Marlo Aisbett, District Leader - Joey
Mary-Ellen O’Sullivan, AJSL, 1st Hannah Stockfeld, Trainee ASL, 4th Scouts, Hume District
Epping Knox Anthony Alsop, Camp Committee
Jeffrey Pace, ASF - Gilweroo Alexander Thomas, Group Rostered Member, Eumeralla Scout Camp
Christopher Padgham, GL, Warrandyte Parent, 2nd Footscray Annie Asquith, SL, Carlton Scout Group
Scout Group Darren Trevaskis, ACSL, 13th Malvern Greg Barkla, Group Treasurer, 1st
Samantha Parfuss, Venturer Scout John Uren, ACSL, 3rd Ringwood East Castlemaine
Commissioner - Region, Melbourne Peter Van Mourik, SL, 13th Malvern Andrew Boak, AGL, 1st Lower Plenty
Region Thomas Vaughan, ASL, 19th Bernard Brown, Venturer Leader, 1st
Lorraine Park, AJSL, 1st Werribee Camberwell Keilor Village
Gregory Parsons, ACSL, 1st Ranelagh Allison Walker, AJSL, 1st/2nd Ocean Robert Chrisfield, AVL, 1st City Of
Shaun Pearsell, ACSL, 1st Barwon Grove Camberwell
Heads Sharon Wallis, ASL, 3rd Sunbury Michael Collins, SL, 1st Point Cook
Joanne Pedler, Group Chairman, 1st James Warren, AJSL, 1st Oak Park Lindsay Cook, ASL, 1st Lower Plenty
Echuca Peter Watkins, RA, 3rd Sunbury Andrew Cox, ASF - State
Jenny Percivall, JSL, 1st Newborough Alexandra Watson, SL, 1st Rowville Quartermaster
Snezana Pezzin, ACSL, 1st Lower Plenty Ryan Watts, AVL, 1st Riddells Creek Zachariah Crombie, ACSL, 1st South
John Pleasants, ACSL, 1st Craigieburn Hugh Wetherill, Rover, Baden Powell Frankston
Lachlan Porteous, ACSL, 3rd Ringwood Park - Bruce Davies Rover Crew Jenna Denley, AVL, 1st Mooroopna
East Warren Whibley, ACSL, 1st Glen Iris Phillip Dodson, SL, Mont Albert North
Nicole Pouw, AVL, 1st Inverloch Glen White, ASL, 1st Lower Plenty Peter English, ASL, 2nd Eltham Sea
Timothy Purdy, GL, 1st Epping Peter Wick, ASL, 2nd Blackburn Scouts
Australian Scout August 2020 7
Sheryl Ford, Group Support Committee Alberto Scelsi, ACSL, 1st Lower Rachel Ross, District Secretary, Geelong
- Fundraising, 1st Maryborough Templestowe Peninsula District
Mark Fox, GL, 8th Knox Karen Searle, ACSL, 2nd Mildura
Katrina Fraser, JSL, 4th Horsham Mark Sells, Venturer Leader, 2nd
Silver Wattle
Kathryn Guy, ASL, 2nd Eltham Sea Eltham Sea Scouts
Scouts Leanne Sheehan, Staff, Victorian
Ross Henderson, AVL, 4th Branch
Williamstown Sea Scouts John Simpson, SL, 2nd Leongatha
Barbara Howarth, RA, 4th Mordialloc Ka Fay Siu, AJSL, 1st Heatherdale
Louise Isted, District Leader - Cub Malia Stephenson, AJSL, 1st Paynesville
Scouts, Werribee Plains District Sea Scouts
Julian Kan, AGL, 1st Mount Waverley Mathew Stephenson, CSL, Bairnsdale
Scout Group Jason Aisbett, GL, 3rd Sunbury
Roy Kaplan, District Commissioner,
Sandra Stone, ASF - Kariwara Kimberley Brooks, JSL, 1st Carrum
Glen Eira Stonnington District
Downs
Helen Karafillis, ACSL, 6th Box Hill David Sumbler, State Leader -
BARCOM, Victorian Branch Wendy Byrnes, District Commissioner,
Michael Kearney, SL, 3rd Melton Nillumbik District
Yucheng Tang, Staff, Victorian Branch
Rolf Kums, ASL, 2nd Wantirna Michelle Dale, ACSL, 3rd Sunbury
Adam Tanti, CSL, Heathmont Scout
Andrew Lanchbery, ACSL, 9th Rachel Edwards, District Leader - Cub
Group
Brunswick Scouts, Mt Baw Baw District
Connie Tuddenham, GL, 1st Coburg
Mandy Ludford-Menting, ACSL, 1st Erica Halliwell, District Leader -
Kylie Uhe, AGL, Sale Scout Group
Lower Templestowe Scouts, Monash District
Fono Vaihu, ASL, 2nd/7th West
Caroline Mann, Camp Committee Stacey Herring, GL, Narre Warren
Waverley
Member, Alpine Scout Centre - Baw Baw South
Ski Club Michael Walker, District Leader -
Dale Horsley, GL, 1st Lower Plenty
Venturers, Sherbrooke Forest District
Gordon Mannings, ASL, 1st Belmont Dylan Hunt, AGL, 1st North Balwyn
Richard Walsh, ACSL, 1st Rowville
Christopher Mar, CSL, 1st Mount Lisa Ireland, JSL, Baden Powell Park
Waverley Martin Ward, CSL, 1st Hurstbridge
Wayne Kerr, SL, 1st Ivanhoe Sea Scouts
Dorothy May, Group Support Catherine White, GL, 5th Footscray
Craig Latrobe, SL, 1st Wendouree
Committee Property Maintenance, Martin Williams, AVL, 2nd/6th
Hawthorn Stephen Leversha, District
South Metro Showtime
Commissioner, Emu District
Duncan Merrillees, ASL, 7th Ringwood Philip Wood, AVL, Lynden Park Scout
Christopher Logan, AJSL, 1st City Of
Group
Hanna Millicer, ASL, 1st Ivanhoe Sea Camberwell
Scouts Nicole Wright, SL, 1st Baranduda
Mathew McKernan, Assistant Chief
Linda Moore, RA, Bogong Rover Chalet Mark Zammit, ASL, 1st Caroline Springs
Commissioner - Personnel, Victorian
Management Group Branch
Maryanne Neill, Group Support
Outstanding Service
Paul McLennan, State Leader - Air
Committee Fundraising, Sale Scout Award Activities, Air Activities Team
Group Kenneth McMahon, SL, 1st
Sharon Noyle, Cub Scout Maryborough
Commissioner - Region, Victorian Antony Nathan, AVL, 1st/14th Brighton
Branch Judith Niven, State Commissioner -
Murray Paternoster, AVL, 1st Lower Joey Scouts, Victorian Branch
Plenty Francis O’Connor, ASL, 4th Ringwood
James Pearson, SL, 1st Lower Peter Owens, District Leader - Cub
Templestowe Scouts, Banyule District
Anita Prossor, Group Rostered Parent, Neil Cotter, ASF - Geelong Peninsula Michael Packer, GL, 2nd Werribee
South Metro Showtime Denise Evans, ASF - Monash Andrew Pollard, ASL, 3rd Wodonga
Tracy Radley, ACSL, Narre Warren Tricia Garner, Group Support Timothy Schurmann, Scout
South Committee Member, 1st Woodend Commissioner - Region, Victorian
Simon Rickard, ACSL, 2nd Strathmore Richard Petrie, Adult Helper, 1st Branch
Gillian Rose, Office Bearer, GWS Edithvale Gregory Shields, Venturer Leader, 1st
Anderson Scout Park Mark Rosenberg, ASF - South Metro Craigieburn
Stuart Scanlin, AVL, 3rd Sunbury Showtime Michael Shipley, SL, 1st Queenscliff
8 August 2020 Australian Scout
Dragi Stojcevski, GL, 10th Footscray Karen Hall, District Leader - Adult National President's
Dale Sutton, Venturer Leader, 2nd Training Support, Djerriwarrh District
Woodend Natarsha Jacobs, District Leader - Joey
Award
Wendy Taylor, District Leader - Scouts, Scouts, Nillumbik District
Mt Baw Baw District Jeffrey Kemp, Scout Commissioner -
Fiona Thomas, AVL, 5th/6th Moorabbin Region, Victorian Branch
Central Desley McKnight, GL, 1st Torquay
Catherine Tritt, ASL, 1st McKinnon Wendy Phelan, District Leader -
Rodney Veugelers, ACSL, 5th Scouts, Wellington District
Sandringham Charles Robertson, ACSL, 1st Chelsea
Dale Weber, District Leader - Scouts, Heights
Upper Murray District Lachlan Shield, Assistant State Alfred Gibson, District Property
Matthew Wightwick, SL, 2nd Commissioner - Adventurous Officer, Monash District
Footscray Activities, Victorian Branch Bryce Hutton, Camp Committee
Lauris Stirling, ACSL, 4th Ringwood Chairman, Eumeralla Scout Camp
Distinguished Service Diana Swift, Assistant Chief Cornelis Klep, ASF - Whitehorse
Award Commissioner - Program, Victorian District
Branch
Henricus Timmermans, ACSL, 1st Silver Kangaroo
Cobden
Lita Tirkkonen, District Leader - Cub
Scouts, Kariwara District
Alexandra Urcola, SL, 3rd Chelsea Air
Scouts
Noel Whitchurch, SL, Delta Scoiut
Group Ross Hall, GL, Delta Scout Group
Lesley Balfe-Shipley, ASF - Geelong
Mark Withers, GL, 1st Inverloch Susan Henley, GL, 1st Bennettswood
Peninsula
Timothy Woollam, AGL, 2nd Werribee Bronwyn Mepstead, District Leader -
Norma Stephenson, Group Secretary,
Leanne Young, GL, 3rd Croydon Joey Scouts, Cardinia District
Wirringga
Michael Taylor, Branch Activity David Rashleigh, SL, 1st Glen Iris
Silver Emu Ian Talbett, GL, 1st Mont Albert
Specialists, Scout Band
Douglas Waldron, District Leader -
Silver Koala Venturers, Monash District
Barbara Allford, District Leader - Cub
Scouts, Monash District
Johann Anderson, District
Anthony Bracken, District Leader
Commissioner, Boroondara District
- Adult Training Support, Kariwara
District Christina Bennett, GL, 1st Tyabb
Kerrie Coghlan, CSL, 2nd Wantirna Janice Black, AGL, 1st City Of
Camberwell
Michelle Davis, SL, 1st West Waverley
Neil Clow, Venturer Leader, 1st
Iain Donaldson, RA, 2nd Footscray
Tullapark
Calum Dyer, Venturer Leader, 1st
Paul Crane, GL, 1st West Waverley
Maroondah
Margaret Eckfeld, AGL, 1st/8th
Joseph Grosz, District Leader - Scouts,
Blackburn
Werribee Plains District
Peter Wotherspoon, State
Jayne Guilmartin, ASF - Macedon
Commissioner - Rover Support,
Ranges
Victorian Branch
Australian Scout August 2020 9
The Scouting Effect
Scouts Australia partnered with
Resilient Youth Australia to conduct the
Scouts Australia Resilience Survey to
investigate the impact of Scouting on
the resilience of its youth members.
A sample of current youth members
aged 8-18 years old across all States and
Territories took part in the survey. Their
results were benchmarked against the
Australian norm dataset of 48,671 young
people aged 8-18 years.
Through this survey, we have found
that Scouts have an overall better life
satisfaction than their non-Scouting
peers, and that the longer they stay in
Scouts, the more resilient they are likely to
Scouts are 9.4% more likely than non-Scouts
become. to hold more hope for a positive future.
You can read more about the results here.
Scouts are 6.3% more likely Scouts are 6.8% more likely Scouts are 13% more likely
than non-Scouts to forgive than non-Scouts to report than non-Scouts to trust
others who are mean to they have adults who set others.
them. good examples for them.
Scouts report have an overall
better life satisfaction than
their peers by 5.2%.
Scouts are 15.4% more likely than
non-Scouts to feel they make a positive Scouts report to have better
social skills than non-Scouts
contribution to their community. by 5.6%.
10 August 2020 Australian ScoutScouts are 12.1% more
likely to be selected to help
with tasks at school.
Scouts are 8.1% more likely to know they
can solve a problem, rather than quit.
Scouts are 5.2% more likely
than non-Scouts to get
along with people who are
Scouts are 6.2% more likely Scouts are 14.1% more different to them.
to enjoy school. likely than non-Scouts to
read for fun.
Scouts report they have a
Scouts report to have a
healthy body 11.6% more
healthier mental state than
than non-Scouts.
Scouts are 6.5% more likely non-Scouts by 13%.
than non-Scouts to feel they
can talk about things that are
upsetting them.
Scouts are 8.1% more likely
than non-Scouts to give time Scouts are 11.8% more likely to feel good
to help others. about themselves.
Australian Scout August 2020 11BioSafety
The Virus Busters of Scouting
By Brett Cole Code-of-Living When hiring a new staff member, the
three C’s are integral to success, that is,
Very few things bring the world The greatest of all Scouting
Competence, Capacity, Commitment and
of Scouting and microbiology Fundamentals is the Scout Law and
Culture. When hiring a Scouter, these
together except a meal gone wrong Promise. The Law and Promise underpins
three C’s are largely in place and when
at a Backwoods cooking camp or an everything that we do in Scouting and
the foundations of your business are
unfortunate gastro outbreak at a major life, the esprit de corps of Scouting if
based on a shared code-of-living like
event. However, there is nothing like a you will. In biological decontamination,
Scouting, success is only a matter of time.
Pandemic to galvanise these two worlds this commitment to the Scout Law
Therefore, many organisations prefer
together. Through the community need and Promise is critical to providing
Scouters as team members as the training
to disinfect the built environment, scientifically proven methods, consulting
and culture is inculcated in their DNA.
BioSafety has been providing this and outcomes that can be validated. If
The armed forces, emergency services
service to the Controlled Environment we do not do our job properly, people
and first responders come to mind.
Community since being founded in 2012 can get hurt, become sick or even die
BioSafety is no different in providing
with clients including CSIRO, The Peter consequently. Not to mention breaches
essential services to the community and
Doherty Centre, Federal Department to the biosecurity of the country
critical government infrastructure.
of Agriculture, various universities, and the general population. We rely
healthcare and pharmaceutical/food heavily on a culture of mutual respect, Patrol System/Teamwork
production. During the COVID-19 Crisis consideration, trust, loyalty and courage,
The Patrol System is one of the key
it finds itself at the forefront of public all key components of the Scout Law
structures in Scouting as it promotes
awareness. and Promise. A commitment to these
and supports great teamwork. The basis
fundamentals is critical to BioSafety’s
It is not uncommon for businesses to
ability to create safe and healthy work
develop a culture based on similar or a
environments through science (Our
collective set of values and beliefs and
Vision Statement).
Scouting is no different to this paradigm.
Many companies employ Scouters (both BioSafety’s Value System is built
present and ex-Scouters) based on a on a similar code of living, that
set of values that were learnt from the is, intelligence, innovation,
people’s time in Scouting, often developed intention and integrity.
from a young age. These values that All four values are based
underpin the Scouting method in on the Scout Law and
front-line Scouting are transferable Promise. Additionally,
to the world of business. BioSafety is our commitment to the
one of these companies that has its environment, using
history and culture firmly based on and resources wisely and being
built around the Scouting method and friendly and considerate
values. However, it is in the day-to-day which go without saying in the
machinations of the business where workplace.
Scouting skills come into their own,
where the rubber meets the road.
BioSafety and its Scouting employees
take great pride in the work with the
community to provide the highest level
of knowledge and safety. Our Scouting
employees currently range from
Venturers and Rovers to Leaders with
over 75% of the company employees
participating in the Scouting movement.
With most of our staff Scouters
participating in the Scouting community
since the Joey and Cub Scouts level. It is
this Scouting DNA that attract companies
like BioSafety to employ Scouters. Some
of these values, beliefs and skills are
highlighted here.
12 August 2020 Australian Scoutof the Patrol system is small groups
of people working towards a common
goal and is the basis of BioSafety team
management, providing a structure of
using Patrol Leaders and participants.
Supervisors and team members
contributing their unique skills to
adhere to each project and by sharing
of responsibilities of each project to
achieve a collective outcome. Character
development, confidence and problem
solving skills in the workplace are
implemented to our junior staff over time
and with the guidance of the senior staff
members. Daily, we are working in small
task-oriented groups and more-often- in of sales, graphic design, marketing,
than not, are unable to communicate occupational hygiene, project
verbally as we are gowned in HazMat management and operations has been
Suits and respirators. This is where the a key component to BioSafety’s success.
Patrol System is used and relied upon Progression of many staff has been from
absolutely. Having confidence and trust casual holiday labour to now second in
in your teammate is critical to the safety charge, much like the progression of
and wellbeing of staff and community. youth to Leader in Scouting.
Achievement, Progression and Program Personal Growth, Resilience and Be
Plan-do-review Prepared
Achievement, progress and constantly Scouting is about education for life and
reviewing programs and procedures developing driven, well-rounded youth to
are skills used daily in Scouting. graduate from the Scouting community,
At BioSafety, we are constantly to pursue any career to fit their interests.
implementing processes and procedures This provides positivity to our workplace,
to remediate, teach and train our allowing us to make a more profound
community on the effects of good connection and memories with our work our business operates at the highest
hygiene control and decontamination. colleagues. The development of personal performance to serve our community
BioSafety provides decontamination and skills is key to achievement for our in times of crisis. By embracing the
hygiene consultation services to critical employees. Responsibility for your own challenges, we face in daily work life
environments and infrastructure so development is the key to a successful and the pursuit of career and personal
reviewing current legislation, regulatory personal, business, and Scouting career. development. Overall, Scouting has
requirements and programs is critical for To continually move forward with goals given our employees the knowledge,
successful outcomes. regardless of the obstacles we face and life skills and an understanding of
developing resilience at a young age,
Scouting has successfully helped our personal, physical and spiritual health.
meanwhile improving the hard skill and
employees develop and achieve the Maintaining an inner state of freedom,
tools we use in our day to day work life.
soft and practical skills needed for the equilibrium, and emotional maturity
While consciously acting with mental
appropriate behaviour and thought to develop into community leaders.
agility in the most diverse and often
processes required in the biological Most importantly, the friendships and
hazardous situations and developing the
industry. Helping individuals to connections we have made in Scouting
capacity for logical thought, innovation,
accomplish in their preferred careers and business will last a lifetime.
and adventure. Being prepared is key
to successful “Once a Scout, always a Scout.”
outcomes and
- Lord Baden Powell
when you are in
the front line of Brett Cole is Region Commissioner -
biological hazards, Mount Dandenong.
one must be
Biosafety team members include: Brett Cole (RC
prepared always. – Mount Dandenong, ScoutHike), Leanne Cole
(AVL, 1st Ferntree Gully, Scouthike), Cameron
Every person
Welch (Rover, Taloh Rover Crew, AJSL – 1st
has their unique
Wantirna South), Michael Francis (PGL, 1st
strengths to Ferntree Gully, Gangshow), Verity Cox (QS,
contribute to Rover, Taloh Rover Crew), Ben Heyn (QS, Taloh
every project Rover Crew), Jake Geddes (QS, 1st Craigieburn),
and workplace. Dr. Glen Davidson (QS, former SL – 1st Mount
With diversity Evelyn), Taylah Cole (former Rover, 4th Knox),
Jolon D’Amore (Rover – 1st Shepparton), Jordyn
and inclusivity of
Cole (Venturer – 1st Ferntree Gully) and Ashleigh
different people, Cole (former Venturer, 4th Knox).
Australian Scout August 2020 13Faces of Scouting
Vanessa from 1st Trafalgar
By Phoebe Hicks and a kids holiday program, Vanessa
Vanessa from Trafalgar Scout Group, rapidly felt at home in her Troop, being
in just over two years in Scouting has chosen to be Patrol Leader within a
certainly made her mark. After her few weeks of putting on a uniform.
younger brothers joined Cubs and Scouts Vanessa’s Section Leader said
early in 2018, she remembers being in she stood out immediately as
tears because she thought that at 13, she a natural leader, eager to help
was too old to become a Scout. and intuitive to her Patrol
She went along to watch her brothers member needs. A few older
march in the Anzac Day parade in her Scouts moved onto Venturers
small town, and said out loud that she around the time she started
wished she could be a Scout, but that she and she slotted into the Troop
was too old. making friends quickly.
“One of the Leaders put a scarf on me Vanessa heard about Jamboree
and said ‘you’re not too old; come march and was highly motivated to
with us’ and I happily joined in” says qualify to attend. She spent her first
Vanessa. night under canvas and so began the
race to achieve her red cord.
A few weeks later she was invested into
the Scout Troop. “I remember reading A four-night Pioneer camp stood out as
Kirrily explains, “watching my daughter,
the Promise and Law and being blown the turning point to realise Scouting held
who’s struggled with anxiety become a
away that a Group existed that lived by much more than fun. “On the camp I met
Scout who will give anything a go makes
the values I already thought were the a Scout Leader from Traralgon called
me a very proud mum. Seeing her push
basis for being a good human being” she Goat. He talked about his experience
herself to face her fear of heights on
explains. achieving his ASM and the opportunities
the abseiling tower one camp and then
with Venturers. I thought I’d started too
Having been involved in a number of not blink at the flying fox the following
late, I was almost 14. He let me know it
non-Scouting leadership roles for The demonstrates the resilience she’s found
could still be done, it wouldn’t be easy but
Tournament of the Minds, Drama Camps through Scouting.”
that I should go for it.” And go for it she
did. Vanessa was awarded her A highlight of the journey so far for
Australian Scout Medallion in Vanessa was the Scouts Amazing Race in
November 2019. 2019. Her Patrol started the day with the
goal of having the most fun by doing the
It wasn’t just Vanessa and her
most activities, and that they did. When
siblings who joined Scouting,
it was time to return to where they’d
their mum Kirrily is now Cub
sleep they were on Parliament Station
Scout Leader who will soon
platform with about thirty other Scouts
receive her Wood Beads.
to catch a train. An announcement came
over the speaker that the train they
needed to catch was cancelled.
“Another Patrol Leader and I chatted
about our options and we looked
around us at a bunch of Scouts
looking lost and knew we could
help them. Being tall helps so I
just got their attention and told
them what we needed to do.”
Vanessa and her brother at AJ 2019.
14 August 2020 Australian ScoutArriving then at Flinders Street Station Vanessa is a keen photographer. She
and the size of Scouts looking bewildered enjoys painting with watercolour,
doubled. Again, Vanessa stood tall and acrylics as well as creating digital art.
shouted out to all the Scouts which way The She plays ukulele and enjoys singing
they could go with a train due in four Patrol cover songs as well as writing her own
minutes on another platform. They raced thought they’d songs. Vanessa also loves working on
over and made it on time. done well and hoped they’d be in the some custom designs using her artwork
top 30. “As the countdown got closer to to put on t-shirts and jackets.
“I didn’t care much about winning. We’d the end I thought maybe we’d been 32
had so much fun. And making sure we or something just outside the 30’s. We’d Vanessa used her artistic skills to create
didn’t leave any Scouts behind in the kind of tuned out and started unpacking the design that she entered into the
train platform hiccup made me proud our bags to set up our sleeping gear. Victorian Contingent t-shirt design
of the confidence I’d gained in problem Then they announced that Team 7 competition for the Oz Venture 2021
solving and team work; I couldn’t imagine from Trafalgar was the winning team. national Venturer event. Her design was
doing that a year earlier.” Everyone from Trafalgar from the other chosen to be the winning t-shirt, and
Patrols were screaming and we then soon enough she started seeing a bunch
realised it was us who had won.” of people wearing her shirt to state
events like Vic Gathering and Anything
There’s always some things that have Goes.
stood out as more challenging, “the Green
cord overnight hike was really hard. Vanessa attended AJ2019 and says the
I’m not un-athletic but it was harder motto of the event ‘friends for life’ is true
than 10 days of dust at Jamboree. My in Scouting.
gear got soaked through, I was really “Standing in line at the ASM awards
uncomfortable, but I did it.” Says Vanessa. event everyone was standing nervously
and very quiet and I just started talking
to the person behind me and shortly
after a whole group of us were talking
and introducing ourselves. I remember a
similar thing happening when standing
around waiting for a bus at Jamboree.
Our Patrol would start singing a song and
then everyone around started singing.
Really quickly we’d be laughing. Making
new friends for life is legit.” Says Vanessa.
Phoebe Hicks is an Assistant Cub Scout
Leader at 1st Trafalgar and writes the
blog Faces of Gippsland.
Do you know someone who could
feature in ‘Faces of Scouting’, nominate
them or put your own hand up to be
featured, email editor@australianscout.
com.au
Vanessa receiving her Australian Scout Medallion Modeling her winning t-shirt design for Oz
with her Scout Leader Ben ‘Goat’ Hamilton. Venture.
Australian Scout August 2020 15Families of Scouting
By Phoebe Hicks
Commonly in a Scout Group you’ll
encounter several siblings and family
members who enjoy Scouting together.
Here are some of their stories.
The Blackshaw Family
1st Ballam Park
Meet Mario and Luigi, otherwise known as Martin and
Greg Blackshaw. These brothers are Scout Leaders from
1st Ballam Park and have been involved in Scouting since
joining as Cub Scouts in the late 80’s. Their dad spent time
in uniform in South Australia and remains in fellowship
there. Mario’s wife Rachel spent years on the production team
for South Metro Showtime and there’s no doubt their young
daughter will be invested once she reaches Joey age.
The Kost &
Dyason Family
Warragul
Warragul Joey Leader Fiona Kost met her husband
Damien as a Rover. Their four children are the
third generation to be in uniform. Fiona grew up
in Scouting, both of her parents were involved and
held many roles at Group and Region level. She
was able to achieve her Queen’s Scout and feels her
family have left a positive legacy of Scouting. Her
niece Eliza also achieved her Queen Scout and is a
Rover in Warragul.
Three generations of Scouts - Eliza Dyason, Kate Dyason, Jeanette Dyason, Fiona Kost,
Colin Dyason. Front - Morgan, Lily, Ava and Neve.
The Flack Family
1st Trafalgar
Joy Flack and her two sons took their Scouting
adventure overseas to the New Zealand Jamboree
in 2019. The family have a dedicated Scouting wall
in their home with their certificates and photos
of their Scouting life together. Kyan and Lincoln
started their Scouting journey in Joey Scouts
and Joy was their Joey Leader. They have moved
through the Sections together, with Joy now an
Assistant Scout Leader at 1st Trafalgar.
Kyan, Lincoln and Joy at the
airport before heading off for the
New Zealand Jamboree.
16 August 2020 Australian ScoutThe Hicks Family
1st Trafalgar
Brett Hicks joined his children in Scouting as a Joey
Scout Leader taking the nickname ‘Drop Bear’.
Soon after his wife Phoebe followed taking up the
position of Cub Scout Leader. Their youngest is
about to be invested and this will mean all six are in
uniform at 1st Trafalgar Scout Group in Gippsland
and Brett is the District Joey Leader for the Baw Baw
District.
The Tops Family
1st Newborough
Lisa Tops and her brother Andrew
are both Rovers at 1st Newborough’s
Capstaff Rover Crew. Their parents
met at the Adelaide Jamboree in 1989
where they were both Leaders.
The Kemp Family
1st Trafalgar
Carol and Jeff Kemp’s families both have a long
history of Scouting. Carol’s parents were part of the
National Training Team and husband Jeff’s parents
were Leaders. Carol is District Leader - Adult Training
Support and currently on the Australian Jamboree 2022
team as finance director, while Jeff is currently a Region
Scout Commissioner. Their now grown up children went
Ca
right through until Rovers continuing
ro
an
l
dJ their Scouting legacy. A highlight was
eff the whole family going to the 2010
.
Australian Jamboree in Sydney.
Is your family in Scouting together?
Share your families Scouting journey
Carol being presented her Adult Training Wood Badge by along with a photo to editor@
Rick Bradley DC Baw Baw. australianscout.com.au
Australian Scout August 2020 17Healthy kebabs
Discover the best sources of energy and cook up some
tasty kebabs on the barbecue.
Suitable for: Joeys | Cubs
Time needed: 45 minutes
Did
Energy keeps us alive, Low energy foods
you know? keeps us warm and • fruit
se,
Oily fish, chee active and helps us to
d • vegetables
nuts, seeds an grow. Food provides
high in • low-fat soup
avocados are us with that energy,
e they
energy becaus but not all foods are • lean protein
ier
contain health equal. For example, • fibre-rich foods
type s of fat. fat contains more
than twice the amount High energy foods
of energy as protein and • chocolate
protein has slightly more energy than • cakes
carbohydrate. • biscuits
• When we say fat, we mean oils, • deep-fried foods
meat, dairy, oily fish, nuts, seeds
2
and avocado. Pick the fruit or vegetables you
• When we say carbohydrate, we want to try, then get your parent
mean bread, rice, potatoes, pasta or guardian to help peel and chop the
and breakfast cereals. It can also be food into bite-sized chunks, using knives
found in fruit, vegetables and milk. safely.
3
• When we say protein, we mean Load with the fruit or vegetables
meat, fish, eggs, dairy, bread, soya, onto skewers.
nuts and pulses (like lentils or
chickpeas).
To give an idea of how energy works, it
4 Get your parent or guardian to
help you roast the kebabs on the
barbecue. The vegetables will cook, while
is measured in kilojoules or kj, which is
the fruit will caramelise slightly on the
what you’ll see on food packaging. For
outside.
example, an apple has 140kj per 100g
and will give you enough energy for Ideas for vegetable kebabs
a 10-minute walk. Potato chips have
• capsicum
2,240kj per 100g and will give you
enough energy for a 160-minute walk (a • mushroom
Outcome
typical pack of chips is about 25g). • cherry tomato
This is a great way to find out about
• zuchinni energy in foods and discover which foods
Instructions
contain the most energy. It will also give
1
• broccoli
Different types of foods give us
• cauliflower you the opportunity to try different kinds
different levels of energy, the
of fruit and vegetables you may not have
following are examples of low and high • onion
tried before.
energy foods. • eggplant
Taking it further
Ideas for fruit kebabs
Talk to your parent or guardian about
• orange
the foods you would choose to help you
• banana achieve a balanced diet and what you
• peach would choose to make sure you have
• plum enough energy to see you through the
day. Talk about the fact that while certain
• mango
food groups outweigh others in terms of
• pineapple the energy they give, other food groups
• apple provide far greater health benefits.
• blackberry
Reference: Scouts UK, Make. Do. Share. Autumn 2018 https://members.scouts.org.uk/supportresources/
18 August 2020 Australian ScoutTower Building
Discover the secrets behind some of the world’s amazing feats of
engineering and build your own – out of spaghetti and marshmallows!
Suitable for: Joeys | Cubs | Scouts | Venturers
Time needed: 40 minutes
You will need Eiffel Tower
• Paper and pencil Built in 1889, over 5,300 drawings were
• Spaghetti made of this 324-metre-high tower in
Paris. Gustave Eiffel deliberately designed
• Mini marshmallows
the legs of the tower at 54-degree angle
• 4 large marshmallows (optional) for maximum wind resistance and to
Instructions create perpendicular thrust for additional
1
strength.
First, plan you towers by drawing
sketches. A well-planned tower will
look better and be stronger than one that
isn’t sketched out first. A good tip is to
use a combination of triangle The Great Pyramid
and square shapes, this will Of Giza
help you to build a tall tower
The oldest and largest of the
that is strong too.
pyramids in Egypt, this 2580 BC
2 Referring to your sketches,
cut spaghetti pieces to the
sizes you need, making sure
construct is also the oldest of the
Seven Wonders of the World.
Pyramids have a wide base and a
you cut shorter pieces exactly narrow top, creating an extremely
– failure to use pieces of equal sturdy and rigid shape.
length will cause your tower to
twist and topple.
3 When it comes to using
the marshmallow pieces,
decide when it is best to pass the
spaghetti all the way through or partially The Golden Gate Bridge
through. The strength of the joints is Opened in 1937, this suspension
dependent on it. To make the tower bridge over San Francisco Bay has
building easier, you can use the four large a span of 1,300 metres and cost $35
marshmallow pieces for the base of the million to make. Suspension bridges
tower. work by transferring the weight
of the bridge deck and vehicles up
through the suspender rods to the
main suspension cable, which then
transfers the weight to the bridge
towers and anchor rods.
Outcomes
Think about which shapes make a strong
structure and about compression and tension
– how the individual parts of a structure are
always pushing and pulling on each other.
Look up three of the strongest man-made
structures on Earth (see above) to see what
makes a structure strong.
Reference: Scouts UK https://www.scouts.org.uk/supporters/rollsroyce/ - Make Do Share Tower building activity
Australian Scout August 2020 19At Home
with Tyler
At the 2018 Scouts Vicotria ARAP, the keen to help us out around the
wider Scouting community got to meet house, doing lots of chores and
Tyler, a Scout from 1st West Waverley painting our fence. He also sanded
who has cerebral palsy. Back in 2018 we a chopping board for his friends
heard about Agroonoree and his plans mum and had a lot of fun baking bread,
for AJ2019, and so now in 2020, we will kneading and punching was his favorite
catch up again with Tyler to see how he part!
has been Scouting from Home. He earned his World Scouting badge
By Ashleigh Parfuss with his Troop online and helped me tie
a friendship knot. He enjoyed seeing a
Tyler is a Hemiplegia Cerebral Palsy
Venturer talk about his World Jamboree
hero, he has mild absent epilepsy which
time and had a lot of fun doing a quiz on
fries his brain and affects his short
logos, he got a few right too!
term memory. He also has poor motor
planning and oral tone. So in short, Last year Tyler participated in a skiing
he doesn’t use his right hand if he can competition at Mount Buller where he
help it, he speaks but sometimes it takes won a gold medal in his division. For his
longer for him to get the words out and Sports badge he created a poster about it
he forgets what we just taught him. Tyler with the help of his support worker.
needs some assistance for his Scouting
Tyler attended 1st West’s ISO-Straddy.
and he relies on his Leaders, mum, dad
and support workers. We held Zoom meetings over two
weekends and then did a Covid-Safe
Tyler has really been enjoying the practical session at the Scout hall garage.
Groups Scouting at Home program. For The Scouts set up a kitchen and built
Anzac Day, Tyler earnt his ‘Their Service their construction projects. Afterwards,
our Heritage’ badge by making Anzac Tyler and I built a washing stand and
cookies, researching and reading a book laundry line with dowel sticks and string.
with our help and making lanterns It is hard for him to tie knots as he can
and paper poppies for our driveway. only use one hand properly while the
We got up early on Anzac Day for the other hand supports. Have you ever tried
Dawn Service, put on our uniforms and to tie a reef knot with one hand?
went down our driveway. We met our
neighbours and listened to the War Tyler has really enjoyed Scouting at
Memorial service with our candles Home, but can’t wait to go back into the
burning. (Tyler lit all of them!) hall!
During lockdown Tyler’s good deeds Ashleigh Parfuss is Tyler’s mum and
were to help our neighbour take her bins an Assistant Scout Leader at 1st West
out and bring them back in. Tyler was Waverley.
20 August 2020 Australian ScoutA Scout
cares for the
environment
By Ariel Liu letters, two got sent to Prime Minister
My passion for the Scott Morrison, I even got a response! But
environment was always in yet again, it was negative. I didn’t tell my
me somewhere. It was only at Troop that I was doing this, until I knew
the start of 2018 when I brought that I wasn’t getting anywhere, but that
my passion into Scouts and my Troop didn’t stop me!
at 1st Nunawading. I started thinking I decided to tell my Troop what I was
about ways I could, firstly; help the trying to do, to see if I could get their
environment and my community more help. We decided the best thing to do was
and secondly, try to get my Troop, and start a petition. I got heaps of signatures
possibly others involved. from the Troop, my friends and the
We volunteered at Blackburn Lake Leaders. I also went around my school
Sanctuary, by weeding areas of the and family and ended up with a grand
sanctuary and we participated at a tree total of 151 signatures (weird number,
planting day. We did a few tours and had but hey... it passed!). My Leaders had
a talk at Yarran Dheran Nature Reserve organised a visit to Parliament House,
and we got someone to talk to us via prior to me finishing my petition, because
Zoom about Calperum Station, in South of this, I was able to personally hand in
Australia. the petition to my local member, Dustin
Halse MP.
Since late 2017 I’d had an idea for a
project in the back of my mind, but I After some nerve-wracking months I
didn’t know how to pull it off, until still didn’t have any response. So I wrote
early 2018. follow-up letters, because I knew with
these sorts of things, you have to be
My idea was to try and get a persistent. I was very excited to hear on
Container Deposit Scheme February 2 2020, Parliament announced
introduced in Victoria. So I that Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme
decided to start writing letters is coming in 2023!
to politicians. I wrote eleven
Ariel Liu is a Scout at 1st Nunawading.
Australian Scout July 2020 21Scouting and population
Growing together
By Richard Simpson any new Groups in the growth areas that across the political spectrum…
Modern Scouting brings together people emerged from the mid 1990’s. Partnerships are key!
of all backgrounds globally, as it does That’s right – Even though Melbourne • Common hall signage has been
locally. enjoyed massive new growth for 20 adopted to help the wider community
years we didn’t build any new halls! with brand image.
Government predictions for Victoria
and Melbourne on population growth • Scouts Victoria have invested in new
And why? – because at the simplest
and immigration demands show that by hall designs with councils, private
level both rising property values and
2050 Melbourne alone will approach a developers and schools through the
ever-increasing building costs meeting
population predicted to be around 8.5 Victorian School Building Authority to
modern energy and town planning
million (compared to five million today), set a precedent for future growth.
levels exceeded any attempted local
with Victoria as a whole currently at 6.5 • Scouts Victoria have adopted a
fund-raising efforts! The days of selling
million growing to well over 10 million. strategic plan to seek funding and
sausages and lamingtons to raise funds,
Much of the growth of Scouting and working bees of parents who were partnerships to support growth in
will naturally occur in Melbourne’s handy with tools have long since passed both membership - and in new and
newest suburbs planned for the local in terms of risk, OH&S, finances needed, refurbished facilities.
government areas to the west in planning, building regulation and council • New staffing models at our State
Wyndham and Melton, to the north requirements, etc. offices have been put in place
Hume, Whittlesea and Mitchell, and in
the south-east Casey and Cardinia.
Greater Melbourne alone will cover
over 10,000 square kilometres! That’s
a huge area to service, let alone an
enormous growth area that’s presently
still green fields yet to be developed, and
where future Scout Groups need to be
strategically placed to get a foothold!
To know more of where the State
Government and Planning Department
are heading visit planning.vic.gov.au.
Four years ago, Scouting commissioned
a full property study of existing facilities For most newer Groups that have
recognising that new facilities are
known as the “Ludus Report”. It identified appeared in growth areas they have
outside the scope and time available of
that in many suburbs we have Scout relied on using community spaces. The
halls in close proximity – and a number many of our local leadership…
demand for local council Community
of those are either vacant or used as Centres often exceeds available booking What have we learnt in our first builds
storage. It noted that a number of our times – and for Groups that could grow Scouts Victoria invested $1.5M to build
halls were in poor condition and major by adding a Scout Troop or Venturer a new facility at Hazel Glen College in
refurbishment was needed to maintain Unit there is often no additional times 2016. This project opened the doors to a
good council relationships. Poor halls available (let alone no storage). Sharing relationship with the VSBA (Victorian
didn’t attract new members and give us a facilities at common times with other School Building Authority) who build all
bad image. Groups also raises issues of child safety new state schools in Victoria. Just last
We have hopefully moved on from and protection. year we opened a jointly funded (State
anyone thinking that any old facility is and council grants and Scouts Victoria
So what’s happened recently? loan) new Scout facility on Carranballac
“good enough for Scouts”?
• Scouts Victoria have enjoyed over 13 College school land in Point Cook. The
Why shouldn’t our Scouts and adults in years of membership growth. massive growth suburb of Caroline
Scouting enjoy modern contemporary Springs (after many years lobbying)
• The resilience survey has provided
or refurbished facilities equal to today’s opened their new hall a year ago on
empirical proof of the benefits of
community expectations. council land with shared funding across
Scouting.
State and Local Government, plus a loan
In fact, how can we make our facilities
• Scouts at both State and local Group from Scouts Victoria. Partnerships are
“work” for us as an organisation?
level have become way more savvy one of the keys to successful projects!
It was also noted in the Ludus Report at gaining funding and grants from These three new builds were for large
that for many years when Scouting was Federal, State and Local Government’s multi-purpose/multi operational facilities
in membership decline we barely started - and building positive relationships and are truly magnificent!
22 August 2020 Australian ScoutWe have now appropriately undertaken We are currently building a new hall refurbish specific sites from a list Scouts
a review and redesigned our new halls in Alexandra which will be available to Victoria provided. However to access
that will meet our needs, but come in book from 2021 as an overnight base that money Scouts Victoria have to
at, or under $1M each. Remember - our for a range of adventurous activities in match it dollar for dollar on each project.
aim is to catch up on 20 years of growth Murrindindi Shire. This project brought Before the last State election a State run
where there are no facilities, and plan for together State, Federal and Scout funds grant program was offered called Pick
up to 67 new facilities as per the Ludus and loans as well as council gifting the My Project. Across four projects Scouts
Report, across Melbourne’s expected new Group an acre of land. Real partnerships
obtained over half a million dollars from
suburbs over the next 30 years (that’s in action! We are also currently exploring
the pool of $27M. At the last Federal
around two to three new halls per year). options in rural townships such as
election a number of Victorian Scout
Every dollar counts! Myrtleford and Strathfieldsaye near
formations lobbied for funding at local
Bendigo.
We also are aiming to build all new Group and District level and around
contemporary halls to a repeatable How can we fund new builds? $2.6M was obtained. Local municipal
pattern (where possible) to assist elections are coming up in October so
First, it’s not easy at the Group Level
community branding and recognition (a now is a very good time to start lobbying
and often a long game plan is needed.
bit like McDonalds - we want people to your ward councillors!
Bringing various partners together for
say “look mum - there’s another Scout
a common outcome takes time. Getting
hall!”). This also has substantial cost Scout halls must serve the wider
local councils on board, locating suitable
saving benefits, and our ability to use one community!
sites, working out when the next State
new build to gain financial support for
and Federal elections are coming up for As identified above Scout Halls must
the next new build.
offers of finance, selling the idea that serve the wider community if you want
So what’s on the program at present? a Scout hall can be a community hall to obtain a grant.
during the daytime (around 15 sessions
We are presently preparing plans and No-one is going to grant a million dollars
a week just in morning, afternoon and
Joint User Agreements on school sites for a facility used three nights a week
after-school blocks), looking at the
at Lakeside Pakenham (south-east) and and occasionally on weekends, but a
rounds of Federal and State Community
Edgars Creek (northern suburbs) for ‘Scout & Community Centre’ owned, run
Infrastructure Grants that are coming
new halls to accommodate existing Scout and managed by Scouts for the benefit of
on line, identifying other suitable user
Groups presently operating without their the wider local community will.
groups who have no where to meet to
own home base.
write letters of support, etc. This means developing a local business
We are expecting to receive a town
Most of all identifying a local champion case, looking for suitable daytime users
planning permit later this year for
to manage the process who is prepared to (who are also community and not-
a new hall in Ballan - a rural town
“hang in there” even with the inevitable for-profits), and taking into account
with easy commuting to Melbourne.
knock-backs along the way! Raising some other things like employing a cleaner.
We have bought a parcel from land
funds of your own is still possible and But – a hall ‘activated’ in this way can
developers Mirvac in Rockbank where
creating your own development fund is earn money (even at community rates)
a whole new western suburb is under
a worthy activity - Scouts Victoria often to pay back the loan, raise funds for
construction, and expect to lodge a
looks to match Groups dollar for dollar in Group needs, pay for a cleaner and the
planning application with council shortly.
this area. Loans from Scouts Victoria are additional utility costs. It’s also been
We have just received planning approval
possible, but do need to be paid back over
in the south-east for Narree Warren shown that a great facility can attract
a 10 year program so that the money can
South where council have granted us a new members, and with others using
then be reloaned to other Groups in need.
leasehold on a Reserve and are putting the hall those people end up spruiking
in local money together with a Federal In the last State election Scouts Victoria the Group which can positively affect
donation from their local member. received a $5.5M grant to build and membership.
Activating new and existing Scout
Halls can absolutely be to our mutual
advantage as we provide much needed
community space keenly sought by
a wide range of community groups.
Yes – this will likely need some type of
management committee, but the benefits
to the Group financially to raise money
(for both activities and an ongoing
sinking fund for maintenance and
improvement), to raise your community
profile generally, and with your local
council, and to grow membership are all
proven outcomes for successful groups
who have gone down this path.
Richard Simpson is a member of the
Branch Executive Committee.
Australian Scout August 2020 23You can also read
