Operation Nighthawk 2016 was staged in the Goombungee area on Saturday 13 August to Sunday 14 August 2016.
The event consisted of two-night navigation courses of approximately 12 kilometres’ duration. Scouts participate on one course and Venturer Scouts participate on the other course.
During the event participants took part in activity bases and each team was scored on how well they completed the activity. Activities included initiative, leadership, first aid, construction, mapping and compass and observation.
Operation Nighthawk is one of the largest scouting activities in Queensland and Australia apart from a Scout Jamboree. Approximately 2200 Scouts, Venturer Scouts and Leaders attended the 35th Operation Nighthawk.
Scouts and Venturer Scouts came from an area including northern New South Wales north to Bundaberg in Queensland. There were 160 Scout and 80 Venturer Scout teams that entered in record numbers again this year.
Winners of the Scout Course, Clifton Scout Troop
Communications support was provided by Defence Force units from Borneo Barracks, Cabarlah. The Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Police also assisted at the activity.
Operation Nighthawk continues to experience growth and popularity by providing an adventurous and challenging activity for many years. Despite the generally cold environment for this time of year the young people continue to return each year to face a new challenge and improve their leadership skills.
The success of Operation Nighthawk, which originally started in 1982 for a small group of Scouts from the Rangeville Scout Group at Picnic Point in Toowoomba, has now seen the concept copied in Western Australia with 600 Scouts, also North Queensland and plans are being made for a similar activity in Victoria.
Winners of Venturer Scout Course, 2nd Toowoomba Venturer Scout Unit
BARRY KELEHER
ASSISTANT REGION COMMISSIONER
& CHAIRMAN OPERATION NIGHTHAWK COMMITTEE