NORTHERN ZONE
AQUATASTICS
The Joey Scout Section was victorious in winning the ‘Golden Snorkel Award’ at the recent Scouting Aquatastics Carnival at the Victoria Park School Pool in Mackay. It is a Team Spirit Award so they were very vocal in supporting their team members.
QUEEN’S SCOUT AWARD PRESENTATION
Banksia Venturer Scout Maddison Hazell achieved the requirements of the Queen’s Scout Award (QSA) and was presented with her badge at a Special ceremony to celebrate this significant achievement on Saturday 19th November 2016. Member for Mackay, Mrs Julieanne Gilbert, Mayor of Mackay Mr Greg Williamson and Region Commissioner Mr Dougal McWhinney were special guests at the ceremony.
Maddison firstly completed the requirements of the Venturer Scout Award and then completed a minimum of 30 hours each in four areas to achieve the Queen’s Scout Award. In the Outdoor Activities, Maddison chose the Expedition and helped organise and took part in a four day Hinchinbrook Island Hike Camp. For Community Involvement, she took part in the Driver Reviver activities as a part of her community service. In Leadership Development attended at Leadership Course and was then required to take a position on the Unit Council for at least a period of six months. For the Personal Growth section she completed a Level 1 and Level 2 Kayaking Course that has VET qualifications.
Maddison has not progressed to the Rover Scout Section at this stage but has not ruled out that she may do so at some time in the future.
CENTRAL COAST VENTURE
Venturer Scouts from Mackay, Moranbah and Townsville were at Kinchant Dam for their Annual CCV, where they invite older scouts to try out Venturer Scout Activiti
es.
It is a great weekend for the Venturers and scouts to have fun and chill out after their school exams are over and now it is time to relax and have fun. Thanks to the Rover Scouts as they are a great asset to the leaders helping with the catering and rostering of activities so all members get the most out of the weekend’s activities.
M Wallace, Region Leader Community Relations, Central and Coast Region
CENTRAL ZONE – JOTA JOTI
JOTA this year was a huge success. There were approximately 150 Youth members between the Girl Guides and the Scouts. In addition to that there was about 30 adults keeping things sane! There were very little if any discipline issues given the number of youth members.
We had 2 sets of duplicated bases so that given the numbers everyone got to have a go at everything. We had a JOTI base, a JOTA base, a games base, signals and codebreaking base and GPS Orienteering.
There was a CFA Fire truck and its Emergency Communications base truck there as well assisting with the JOTA base. We even managed to Skype the Gladstone group at lunch time!
The Scouts camped from Friday night, Cub Scouts and Guides camped Saturday night only. The Joey Scouts and Junior Guides stayed for the day’s activity rotations.
After the younger members left for the day we had an afternoon of water activities and water slides. Following dinner, we had a group campfire. Still buzzing with energy, we had a wide game that put them all to sleep!
Scouts own and a hike was held on Sunday morning. Everyone received the JOTA badges and had a great weekend from all reports.
I will run this camp as a Central Zone again to all the Scouts and Guides.
Scott Neill, Group Leader, Gracemere Scout Group