From the Chief Commissioner
Hi everyone, hope you are having a great month!
The Australian Jamboree is now only 5 months away so can I highlight “Future Scout Day” at the Jamboree – scheduled for Saturday 11 January 2025. This day is dedicated to our Cub Scouts and Joey Scouts who wish to visit the Jamboree and take part in the many on-site activities. The Scouts attending the Jamboree on that day will be participating in other activities – which means our Cub Scouts and Joey Scouts will have access to lots of on-site activities. It is a great opportunity particularly for Cub Scouts to get a real feel of the “Scout Section” and lets them see the size and enormity of a Jamboree.
I encourage you to work with your group and mark 11 January 2025 in your diary to head to Maryborough for what will be a wonderful day out for Joey Scouts and Cub Scouts.
Since the introduction of our Visitor Registration requirement, we have had over 1000 visitors register their attendance at Scout Meetings/Events and Activities. Please keep up this good work so that we can ensure the ongoing and continuing safety of young people.
Simply Scan the QR code, record your details, wear a lanyard and return it at the end of the event/activity/unit meeting.
This month we are finalising our Jump into Joeys program, where we have had 20 youth members give Joey Scouts a try. We will now be contacting those families to see if their young person is ready to become a Joey Scout following the 4-week trial.
We continue to see a need to remind all members about the way we engage with each other, be that the language we use, the tone of our voice, the emails we send. I appreciate and understand there are times when things do not go as planned for a variety of reasons. It is how we react or respond to those times, which can unfortunately escalate them or resolve them.
Can I again ask please you consider your approach to issues as they arise and remind all of us of our Scout Promise and Law:-
On my honour I PROMISE TO DO MY BEST and to LIVE BY THE SCOUT LAW (which is)
BE RESPECTFUL
- Be friendly and considerate.
- Care for others and the environment.
DO WHAT IS RIGHT
- Be trustworthy honest and fair.
- Use resources wisely.
BELIEVE IN MYSELF.
- Learn from my experiences.
- Face challenges with courage.
Let us all make sure we are living by these values every day.
Last month, Scouts Queensland was represented at the Brisbane Ekka and participated in the Youth Agricultural Display. Another great example of Scouting engaging with our community.
I had the pleasure of presenting the Australian Scout Awards, Adult Recognition Awards, Queen Scout Awards, Baden Powell Scout Awards during the last month with a wonderful weekend of celebrations to recognise both young people and adults.
A reminder to all that we are getting close to the State Election due in October 2024 and as such we may see more interest from politicians and candidates. Whilst we welcome this level of engagement it is important to remember how we can be politically engaged but remain non-partisan.
The link provide some guidelines in this regard is here.
I had the pleasure of celebrating with Caboolture Scout Group there 100th Anniversary 1924-2024. It was a wonderful day and I had the opportunity to participate in several events during the morning. BRAVO to all involved in organising the day and all who attended.
Then it was a quick trip up the highway to the Peak Award Ceremony for Joey Scout Alice at Nashville Scout Group in Gympie.
We are coming into the Scout Revue Season, with Redlands Revue, Limestone Revue and Wonargo Revue all hitting the stage over the next 2 months.
We have seen a few situations recently where parents of members/or Families are seeking legal actions to resolve differences within their own family or with families of other members. While committed to the delivery of a Child Safe environment, to protect the privacy of all members, Scouts Queensland does not become involved in individual legal disputes unless required to do so by the Police or the Courts. This includes the sharing of Scout records and documents. These are sensitive issues and we need to respect that they are managed appropriately.
The World Scout Conference was held in Egypt, with Australia being represented through virtual attendance across our Branches. In Queensland we were represented by Peter Blatch AM, Kirsty Brown AM, Paul Parkinson OAM, Nikketah Cuneo and Ross Tutin – all who enjoyed very late nights and early mornings due to the time difference between here and Egypt. Great to see Queenslanders playing a role here.
Have a great month and good Scouting!