From the Chief Commissioner
Hi everyone, hope you are having a great month!
Welcome to 2025 and Happy New Year!
In case you were not aware Scouts Queensland has just finished hosting the 26th Australian Scout Jamboree in Maryborough.
WOW! What a wonderful experience for 10,000 participants and almost 5000 visitors over 3 days in the middle of the Jamboree.
We have had incredibly positive feedback from across Australian Contingents and our International Contingents on what a great time all their members experienced. Plan Do Review now starts its final phase over the coming weeks/months.
Over 4 years of planning, close to 10 months of doing, and now time for reviewing.
I must take this opportunity to express my thanks and that of all Scouts Queensland to Ryan Sodziak, Chief Director, and the Jamboree Executive Committee on a providing a wonderful and memorable Jamboree. BRAVO and well done.
I now look forward to the review, so that we can pass onto the next host branch our learnings and successes, to ensure Scouting continues to provide great experiences for our youth and adult members.
We have some activities across the Branch planned for 2025, including:
- LEAP Southern/Northern (Kennedy Region)
- Brisbane Gang Show and Scout Revues
- Kiwi Woggle (Northern Moreton Bay Region)
- Agoonoree
- Nighthawk (Darling Downs Region)
- RAW Weekends (Far North Region)
- Scoutfest (Central Coast Region)
- Founders Day Services/Celebrations
- Banana Bash
- Urban Challenge
This is just to name a few! So, stay tuned as you hear more about these plus the activities that happen every week in our Units/Groups.
Our membership fees for 2025/26 have been approved by Branch Executive Committee. This year following a review of our fee structure we have made some changes that we think will again make life easier for Groups and families. But we do need to acknowledge the continuing increases we are seeing in our cost base.
Further we have taken the opportunity to include the Public Liability Insurance cost within the Membership Fee. That will save Groups on charging this cost or reduce the fundraising requirements to meet this cost in May yearly.
All groups received a memo distributed at the end of last year that outlines our fees which are effective from 1 April 2025.
In summary: –
We are removing the Joining fee – this has been a challenge particularly for new members who have indicated they see the current joining fee as a monthly cost of Scouting. Accordingly, it has been removed.
It will be replaced by a pro rata membership fee of $22.50 per month through to either April/October, when the half yearly invoice will be issued.
- Youth Member Fees for 2025/26 will be $270 per annum invoiced half yearly @$135.00.
- Leader Fees for 2025/26 will be $90 per annum invoiced half yearly @$45.00.
- Adult Member Fees for 2025/26 will be $60 per annum invoiced half yearly @ $30.00.
Once again welcome to 2025!
Have a great month and good Scouting!