What we’ve been up to!
Grovely-Mitchelton Cub Scouts
Over the School holidays Grovely-Mitchelton Cub Scouts – along with a few extra youth members from outside the section – jumped at the chance to join in at the Redcliffe Air Activities Day, hosted by the amazing Branch Air Activities Team.
Our first activity was the flight experience. All but one of our Cub Scouts gave it a go – and in the spirit of “challenge by choice,” it is totally okay to opt out! The Cub Scouts still participated in everything else, including getting weighed and having her name added to the flight form. By the end of the day, she was proud of the decisions she made – and we were too! She may even reconsider should we return.
The Cub Scouts also had a blast trying out drone and flight simulators. Some even got the chance to chat with Australian Defence Force recruiters about careers in the forces – and of course, took full advantage of the free water bottles and hats on offer!
There was also a fun craft station where the Cub Scouts made wooden planes out of pegs, paddle pops and flying planes using balsa wood. A few of our older Cub Scouts were so inspired, they have started planning to teach the rest of the Unit how to build peg planes at a future weekly meeting!
We had heard great things about the Air Activities Day and we are happy to report that it lived up to the hype. One of the Cub Scouts specifically thanked his Leader for organising “the most awesome day in his entire life”.
Big River White Water Weekend
Thanks to all involved with helping Stanthorpe Venturer Scouts make it to this weekends activity.
We can report the experience was excellent. Safe, welcoming, excellent coaches, gear and location. It won’t be our last trip down!
Kiwi Woggle gallops away in horseback
At Kiwi Woggle 2025, held at the picturesque Woodford Showgrounds and hosted by D’Aguilar Range District, the District provided the first major horse-riding opportunity for Scouts Queensland youth to participate in horse trail riding. Nash Horse Trekking from Coominya in the Brisbane Valley collaborated with Stephen Amos (Branch Leader – Horse Trail riding) to run a base which saw 150 Scouts over 2 days be introduced to horses and horse trail riding.
Many of the Scouts had never interacted with horses before, for the few who didn’t want to ride they were able to interact with the horses by grooming or feeding the horses some apples. Those who rode, some a little apprehensive at the task ahead lived up to their Scout promise “To do their Best”. Enjoying the safety of the arena where they learnt and then demonstrated their ability to steer and stop a horse. Once they had completed this the Scouts enjoyed a short Trail ride around the Showground.
Assistant District Commissioner – Adventurous Activities, D’Aguilar Range District’s Stephen Amos organiser of the horse base said, “by the end of the weekend his horse Barney and his horsey mates were the talk of Camp. Many conversations amongst the Scouting Youth on camp where about when they could next fit another horse-riding experience into their program after their participation on the Horse trail Riding Base. It has been several years in the making to have horse riding a part of Scouting Youth Activities on camp as it is not easy to provide so many horses to cater for the large number of participants. This would not have been possible without Carolyn, her team and Horses from Nash Horse Trekking at Coominya. We are very grateful for Carolyn’s willingness to take on the huge task.
Moreton Bay City Council also play a big role in this by providing a grant for most of the funding required. Overall, the base was a huge succeed and I now believe Horse trail riding will become a more regular part of Scouting adventurous activities”.
ANZAC Day – Bundaberg Scout Group
After 110 years since the Anzac landing at Gallipoli and World War I veterans long since
gone; Bundaberg’s youth have continued to honour their service and sacrifice and remember
all those that served their country since.
Throughout the region, Scouts have been part of this as they too remember and pay tribute to
those who served and their families.
In Childers, the RSL estimated over 400 people attended the Dawn Service with Scouts as young as 6 laying wreaths before returning to march in the Civil Service. Joey Scout Leader, Amanda Nicholson, was full of praise for their local RSL Sub-branch. “We were invited to run a BBQ after the morning parade and raised $690 for our Scout Group”.
In Bundaberg, Venturer Scouts from Millbank and Kepnock participated in their traditions of attending the dawn service in the CBD before heading to the Lawn Cemetery to participate in the poppy laying ceremony in the Returned Services section. “Temperatures were cooler this year and our visit to the cemetery felt a bit eery with the thick fog surrounding us” Millbank Leader in Charge, Carolyn Orpin commented.
For the third year in a row, Kepnock Scout Group hosted an all-section sleepover at their Scout Den before running their own Anzac Service in the East Side Memorial Park on Princess Street. The small monument in this park pays tribute to many East Bundaberg residents who served in World War II; with most not returning. Among the attendees were Bundaberg Regional Councillors Tracey McPhee and May Mitchell.
Local Solicitor Warren Highland was the guest speaker and he was impressed not only with
the concept of an Anzac Service, but with the respect and interest shown by the youth.
“I was invited to meet the Scouts, the night before Anzac Day and shared with them a little of
my family story. My uncle Charlie is one of the names on this monument and he died when
the Japanese POW Transport ship he was on was torpedoed by an American Submarine. The
youth listened to my stories and asked some insightful questions.”
Mr Highland, himself a Vietnam Veteran, was also full of praise for the concept of an Anzac
Day service led by the youth. “This is something that I think is very unique. I have never seen
this sort of Anzac Day commemoration before and I am truly impressed and grateful for their
invitation to be part of it.”.
Numbers of local residents pausing to the remember Anzac Day were also increased in the
Bundaberg CBD for the Civil Service with local Scouts joining the Girl Guides to represent
their movements in the morning parade.
Gin Gin RSL Sub Branch led a silent parade through Mulgrave Street for their civil service as
Police paused traffic on the highway.
Once again, school children and members of the Gin Gin Emergency Service Cadets were
strongly represented alongside veterans with the cadets being given the privilege of forming a
Catafalque party at the monument
Florence Bay Rover Scouts Show Scouting Spirit
