From the Chief Commissioner
Hi everyone, hope you are having a great month!
Welcome to another great month of Scouting!
By the time you read this, we will have run 2 major Scout Camps over the School Holidays – LEAP North and LEAP South. Across these 2 camps we had over 475 youth members in attendance and close to 100 adult leaders/volunteers.
Activities at both locations were both onsite and offsite, including paddleboarding with gear supplied from AJ2025, climbing, abseiling, pioneering, Market Day, archery, hatchet throwing, Brisbane Gang Show visit, STEM activities as well as forming new friendships that will last a lifetime. Can I take the chance to express my thanks to all Adult Volunteers who have planned and supported these events – BRAVO!
Also, the Brisbane Gang Show hit the stage this month for their 74th consecutive season – so well done to all the Gang for what has been another memorable show.
Scouts Australia released a New Code of Conduct in February 2025. This code needs to be completed by all adult members by 1 August 2025. It will become a mandatory module going forward. You can jump into your training record and login to complete. Please make time to complete that if required by 1 August 2025.
Our youth membership continues to grow now at 7% since 1 April 2025 at 8677 so there is still a desire from families to engage in Scouting.
Our Specialised Activity Centres continue to gather momentum as we finalise processes and administrative matters.
I took the opportunity over the last month to remind all Units to allocate time in their program to review their Unit Code. These codes are developed by our youth members and provide a guide on the expected and agreed behaviour within the Unit. Reviewing these codes at least annually provides the opportunity to discuss components of your Unit Code, make new members aware of the code and take time to remind all members of the importance of compliance with the code.
Queensland Branch hosted the National Operations Committee Meeting and Chief Commissioner ‘s Council during June. It would be fair to say that there was some great collaboration across branches to move forward on several initiatives. Excitingly I can confirm the next Australian Scout Jamboree will be hosted by Scouts Victoria from 28 December 2027 – 8 January 2028.
I have also been sharing quotes from our Founder Robert Baden Powell and aligning the relevance of those quotes with Scouting in today’s world. One example is below:
“It is the Patrol System that makes the Troop and all Scouting for that matter, a real co-operative matter.”
How relevant does this quote remain today. Although we have a “Unit” rather than a Troop, our whole program remains focussed and delivered through the Patrol System. The concept of working in small teams, learning by doing and learning together as a team.
If we think of our Leadership Through Adventure? (LTAF) adventurous journeys – they are Patrol based.
If we think of our Performing Arts shows – all based around the Patrol System.
If we think about our activities – Kiwi Woggle/Operation Nighthawk/LEAP and many others all based around our Patrol System.
This concept is now 117 years old in Australia and still delivering leadership and experiences in a cooperative manner for our members.
Finally, from me if your young person is still wearing their AJ2025 event badge it now needs to be removed from their uniform, please.
Have a great month and good Scouting!