What We’ve Been Up To
Butterfly 2024
On the weekend of 16 – 17 March 2024, 433 Scouts and 95 Adult Leaders attended the 34th Butterfly. The activity was held at the Baden-Powell Park Campsite, Samford Village. With this year’s SPY HARD theme, we turned the clock back to the start of the Cold War: 1947, a time when intelligence gathering activities were rife between the Western allies and the Eastern Bloc. As Spies, the Scouts mission was to infiltrate enemy territory, find, observe and report on a number of suspected military locations.
Butterfly is a Scout Section patrol-based activity. Its main purpose is to present an activity that challenges the Scout’s basic Scout skills, teamwork and initiative.
At the start of the activity, Scout Patrols were allocated to one of three ‘Safe Houses’ where they set up camp and the Safe Houses were named Moscow, Langley and Pine Gap. Using bearing and distances provided to them over 2 way radio communication, Scout Patrols were deployed on their mission to locate nine suspected enemy ‘Targets’ (Activity Bases) where they ‘Spied’ their hardest. After each deployment, Patrols reported their findings by 2 way radio and received further instructions to their next deployment. The use of two radios proved to be a hit with the Scouts.
Many thanks to Ron Wallace for his inspiration and to the Butterfly Team who worked hard on the meticulous planning and organising for the twelve months in advance of the event.
Special note goes to Stafford Rover Scout Jarred Palk and Gryffin Palk and Birkdale Rover Scout Callum Prineas for running their Activity Bases. This was a first for Butterfly where youth members were included in the Butterfly Team. Happy to say the Rover Scout involvement was most successful and we encourage more youth member involvement in planning, organising and participating in large events moving forward.
Adult Leaders attending the event benefit in a number of ways by challenging themselves to think of novel ways to present an activity; social interaction with other Leaders and the exchange of great program ideas to pass on to their Scouts Units.
Kiwi Woggle
Unpredictable weather and muddy grounds at Aldershot Scout Camp near Maryborough didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of over 250 Scouts at an annual Competition Camp known as Kiwi Woggle. Approximately 94 Adults were also on site to assist in the running of the camp. What began in Gympie in 1946 has become a tradition amongst Southern Queensland Scouts as they spend their Easter camping outdoors and making incredible memories alongside like-minded youth and adults. The Scouts are judged on how they set up and make their camp home for the weekend as they erect their campsite with ropes, wooden poles and plenty of knots. Tents, dining and cooking areas, campsite entry gates and even hand and dishwashing stations are put together by these 11-15 year olds.
So what is a Kiwi Woggle? Kiwi was the name David Thain Weir was known by in Scouting Circles. He was a Queensland Scout who dedicated over 20 years to being a leader. The Trophy (and the replicas which the winning patrol get to keep) is modelled on his “woggle” which is the round holder to keep a Scouts Scarf secured around the neck.
This year’s winners were:
Overall Winner – Millbank (Bundaberg) “Penguin Patrol”
Runners Up – Moore Park Beach “Bluebottle Patrol”
Campfire Skit Winner – Millbank (Bundaberg) “Penguin Patrol
Proserpine Cub Scouts awarded their Grey Wolf
To achieve the Grey Wolf award, Cub Scouts are required to reach Stage 3 in Bushwalking, Bushcraft and Camping. Some of the tasks or skills required include compass work, first aid knowledge, read different maps, attend a 6 hour bushwalk, help cook a meal on a camp fire and a gas stove, and camp a minimum 5 nights with Scouts. They also need to complete 6 different special interest projects and each project is to take a minimum of 4 hours each. These special interest projects are completed outside of our usual night meetings. To top it off, each Cub Scout needs to plan and attend an adventurous activity like bushwalking that goes for 4 hours.
Ryan walked 32km over 9 bushwalks, camped 20 nights with Scouts over 11 camps and has been with Proserpine Scout Group for 3 years.
Savi walked 23km over 6 bushwalks, camped 15 nights over 8 camps and has been with Proserpine Scout Group for 2.5 years.
Benji walked 28km over 8 bushwalks, camped 10 nights over 6 camps and has been with Proserpine Scout Group for 2.5 years.
Jaxon walked 33km over 9 bushwalks, camped 19 nights over 10 camps and has been with Proserpine Scout Group for 3 years.
To celebrate the occasion, we held a group camp at Discovery Holiday Park, Airlie Beach. We had an award ceremony where friends and family of the youth members were invited to attend and be a part of this special award ceremony. Ryan, Savi, Benji and Jaxon have been working hard over the past 2-3 years in the Cub Scout Section to get this prestige award. They all loved receiving their certificate, trophy and woggle for their Scarf.
Victor Scouts Snowy Expedition
After 7 months of planning and 300 pages of documentation, the Snowy Expedition is finally underway (see Victor Scouts on the top of Australia). After 2 long days on the bus, our expedition arrived at the Scouts Alpine Centre in Jindabyne and were treated (unexpectedly) to a welcome to country and the amazing hospitality of sharing of traditional foods with the Ngarigo people and learning how to prepare native flora and fauna for eating and learning more about our country’s culture.
The next day was devoted to packing for the 3 Adventurous journeys into the Snowy high country, with food prep, safety briefings and equipment checks, with a few running to the Jindabyne outdoor stores to replace a forgotten item or two.
A weather alert came through for high winds (120km/hr) on the peaks and while it was back to sleeping bags for most, the leaders and hike leaders Samuel, Jaymi and Matthew had an extra Unit Council to decide what to do and work through the logistics of the travel plans and leader availability. A sleep-in was the order of the day and putting into place the backup plans developed back in Brisbane. All the risk assessments, procedures and journey planning are actually useful!
Big thanks to expedition leader Jungle Jim and his team of guides Malcolm (Kaa) and Echidna (Lynda) and support leaders Chil, Baloo, Badger, Catfish, Achilles. and T. for all your efforts…you guys rock!.
Kenmore Venturer Scouts depart for Indonesia
Mareeba Joey Scouts – Journey towards their Peak Awards!
Three very determined Mareeba Joey Scouts set themselves a challenging Peak Award Journey. When they couldn’t pick just one activity, they decided on three. Started with a 9.2km bike ride, a short break to drop bikes at the checkpoint then a 2km hike to where their custom-built rafts were waiting for them to get wet rafting on the Barron River. They each built their own raft using recycled milk bottles, onion bags, fishing line and corflute signs. Great craftsmanship saw the rafts survive the rapids and ensured lots of laughter at the end of a tough journey. Smiles all round at the presentation night. A huge congratulations to Harrison (Harry), Levon and Christiaan!