Western Australian Branch
'Baden-Powell House'
581 Murray Street
WEST PERTH
PO Box 467
WEST PERTH 6872
+61 8 9480 4200
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Relinquishing the Role of Chief Commissioner By now you should be aware of my decision not to serve out my full term. In reaching my decision, I have reflected on the time demands of the role (and indeed of those performed by many of our volunteer Leaders). I have raised my concerns about the sustainability of our current structure and operations with the Board and I seem to have struck a chord. I believe that the Board’s decision to pause, reflect and consider options before proceeding with filling the position is a constructive response. Over the coming months I will be working with the Board, along with numerous other experienced Scouters, to assist the Branch to determine how best to proceed. |
Future Direction There was an excellent discussion around the Chief Commissioner’s role and the implications for the structure and management of the Branch at the 25 August Chief Commissioner’s Council. The discussion ran for over an hour and explored issues at various levels. There does seem to be support for the proposition that we might adopt a devolved management structure based on three Regions that would operate with greater end-of-line responsibility for program operations at Regional Commissioner level. The idea that District Commissioners might play a more active role in mentoring Group Leaders was also canvassed and received tacit support. The proposition that our current structure and management model limit our capacity to grow generated support. There was acceptance that the Chief should not be expected to turn up at as many events as has been the case in recent past years. Andy Outten, District Commissioner, Kalamunda and Acting District Commissioner, Avon/Bilgoman, Bill Biggins, District Commissioner, Coastal Plains, Bob Parry, District Commissioner, Wanneroo, and Ayden Mackenzie, Chairman, WA Rover Council, agreed to work together to generate ideas and put them forward for circulation to Council members. |
Thumbstick Travels The atmosphere at Manjedal during the AJ2010 Leaders briefing weekend held on 29 30 August 2009 was most positive with around 200 Leaders attending an intensive weekend of briefing, instruction and presentations. Peter Oliver, AJ2010 Communications and Marketing Director (from New South Wales Branch) provided Leaders with a comprehensive and informative overview of the preparations and what can be expected. Vern Casey, Branch Commissioner, Scouts is doing an outstanding job in leading the AJ2010 endeavour and a great team of people ably supports him. Our youth members are going to have a wonderful experience and it is to be hoped that the Leaders do take Peter Oliver’s advice to take their allotted time off during the Jamboree to relax and enjoy Sydney. I was delighted to learn that we are several months’ ahead of schedule with the distribution this weekend of bags, Western Australian contingent shirts and backpacks as well as the loading of the first container two weeks prior. |
Around the Branch Karratha Scout Group On 1 August 2009 the 3rd Karratha Scout Group celebrated their FeNaClNG Festival (pronounced fee-nac-ling). The name, FeNaClNG comes from the chemical symbols of the three main production and export commodities in Wickham, Karratha and Dampier: Iron Ore-Fe, Salt-NaCl and Natural Gas-NG (not strictly correct but it makes the name work). The 'Safety'-themed float of the Karratha Cub and Scout Group won second place overall, thanks to Baloo who was the inspiration behind the float’s theme. The float was manned by Group Leader Deb Adoms, Scout Leaders Baloo, Gwardar, and Quoll and their Scouts as well as Cub Scout Leaders Chil and Kaa and their Cub Scout pack. Thanks go to the Cub Scouts, Scouts and parents for their participation and hard work. A special thanks to the Karratha SES for donating time at 7.00 a.m. on a Saturday for “Mulage” on 10 Cub Scouts. We had our ‘unsafe’ Cub Scouts with broken bones, exposed wounds, gravel rashes & grazes on arms and legs.  3rd Karratha Scout Group |
Advanced Training Course A non-residential Advanced training course was held at Branch Headquarters over the weekend of 1 and 2 August. It was an opportunity for Leaders to undertake training in the WOSM-prescribed mandatory units, to give thought to their projects and to undertake skills recognition assessment. The course was well attended with 28 metropolitan and four country Leaders participating. It is envisaged that this approach will complement the residential program and give Leaders an additional pathway to completing their Wood Badge. The intention is to deliver units in modular form to provide greater flexibility and, where appropriate, training will occur in the Leaders’ Scout ‘workplace’. |
Nighthawk Neil Macpherson, Deputy Chief Commissioner, Field Operations, represented me at the very popular Nighthawk which was held in Pinjarra over the weekend of 8 and 9 August. About 70 teams of Scout Patrols comprising over 440 Scouts from metropolitan and country areas attended. Scouts hiked at night using landmarks and compasses as a guide, attending six bases – Alpha to Golf - at which activities were undertaken related to the Scout Award Scheme. The hike, around and through Pinjarra, included the surrounding (damp) rural environment and adjacent industrial area and started and finished at the Sir Ross McLarty Park headquarters where camping facilities and all event support services were based. The Waylen Bay Patrol Group “Alberquerque” comprised of Patrol Leader Flynn Jagoe, Assistant Patrol Leader Jasmine Clarke, Andriy Pyrozhenko and Ryan Ingham won the 2009 Nighthawk. Well done and congratulations to the team and Waylen Bay - obviously just as skilled when on land! They were presented with the Perpetual Shield by the Murray Shire President Noel Nancarrow and Neil Macpherson both of whom also thanked the sponsors and organisers. Special thanks go to Nighthawk organiser, Greg Ricket and his assistants Lee Bowey, Ian Darwen, Derek Young, and Jo Norton.  Noel Nancarrow, Flynn Jagoe, Ryan Ingram , Bill Southall, Andriy Pyrozhenko |
Essentials The fourth one-day format Essentials training course for the year was held on Saturday, 15 August 2009. Peta Crane, Deputy Chief Commissioner, Adult Programs, represented me at the course and presented each of the 8 trainees with a copy of the Fieldbook for Australian Scouting. |
Girl Guides Youth and Adults Awards 2009 Chris Denny, Assistant Chief Commissioner, Secretariat, represented me at the Girl Guides Western Australia Youth and Adults Awards 2009 on 16 August 2009 held at the Government House Ballroom. The Governor, His Excellency Dr Ken Michael, AC presented three Life Members with the Girl Guide Association Life Membership lapel badges and four Queen’s Guide Awards. Mrs Michael, as State President Girl Guides Western Australia, presented six Baden Powell Awards (equivalent to the Australian Scout Medallion) and 20 Adult long service awards. At the completion of the Awards, State Commissioner Liz Butson introduced guest speaker Dr Natasha Hendrick, Assistant Chief Commissioner, Girl Guides Australia, who related the experiences she has enjoyed as a member of the Girl Guide Association. |
Scout Heritage Centre “New Beginnings” Morning Tea The Scout Heritage Centre signalled its “New Beginnings” on 18 August 2009 with a morning tea. Heritage Centre custodians and guests celebrated 30 years of developing the collection into an engaging insight into Scouting life. Assistant Chief Commissioner Secretariat Chris Denny welcomed previous Chief Commissioners Max Evans MBE, Gordon Cargeeg OBE and Martin Thomas as well as guests Sarah Murphy, National Trust, Richard Offen, City of Perth, Clare-Francis Craig, Museums Australia and Michelle Beer, Lotterywest. In securing Lotterywest funding, “New Beginnings” heralds the way forward as Dr Brian Shepherd assists the Scout Heritage Centre in planning for its future. Richard Offen, Executive Director, Heritage Perth Inc. was heard two days later speaking on Curtin fm radio about how he had “discovered” our “fabulous” collection after being invited to the morning tea. Richard was telling radio listeners that we had an excellent collection of Western Australian Scout History and how the team works very hard to keep up the collection.  Heritage Centre Representative |
Zoo Day A great turnout of 1,200 Joey and Cub Scouts at Zoo Day on Sunday, 30 August 2009 received some very welcome publicity in The West Australian newspaper on Monday, 31 August 2009. It appears that the Joeys and Cubs moved in en masse and made quite an impact on the day. The newspaper article appears below. |
2010 Queen Scout and Baden-Powell Awardees I am pleased to advise that we anticipate a substantial increase in the number of Baden Powell Awardees at next year’s awards’ presentation. In February 2009, three Venturers received their Queen Scout Award and one Rover received his Baden Powell Award. It is anticipated that three Venturers will receive their Queen Scout Award and four Rovers will receive their Baden-Powell Award at the Founder’s Day Service and Youth Awards in February 2010. Perhaps there are more to come? |
Reader Survey I would like to get some feedback on what you think of the newsletter and how we may improve it. The survey is very brief and I would be very grateful for your input. Peter Walton Please complete my short survey. |
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Heritage Centre – Oral Histories Congratulations to Fiona Graham, Branch Development Officer, who has won for the use of the Heritage Centre a recordable MP3 player. A recordable device such as an MP3 player was a major resource that had been lacking in the Heritage Centre and its acquisition means that oral histories can now be recorded. Bill Heel OAM and Doug Dowdell are first on the list. The donators of the prize, Collections Australia Network (CAN), have asked Fiona to upload to YouTube historical Scout photographs with explanatory voiceovers using the MP3 player. She will notify us of her success in due course. |
From the Premier I received a letter dated 24 August 2009 from Colin Barnett MLA, Premier of Western Australia, thanking me for forwarding a copy of the 2008-2009 Annual Report. An extract of the letter reads:
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Adventurous Activities The advent of warmer weather sees more Adventurous Activities action. Now is a great time for the tunnel system with lots of water and mud as the Fremantle Cub Scout Pack (and their Leaders) can attest to. They took advantage of this activity several weekends ago and emerged from the tunnels tired, filthy and happy. The Manjedal activities are well used thanks to the many operators who give their time to visiting Groups. While not an Adventurous Activity, Groups should try ‘Frisbee golf’ at Manjedal? We have a 9-hole course with the same rules as golf and it is free if you bring your own Frisbees. On request, Mick will send the course map and score sheet to any Groups. Abseiling is as popular as ever and the small but strong team will run 18 activity days in total this year. There are six remaining days this year with openings for smaller groups to join in. Please send enquiries to Bruce Arnel at barnel@westnet.com.au |
Membership Growth The official membership growth in Western Australia for this year was 7.6%. While this figure might not be as dramatic as the previous year, I believe it to be solid and creditable given the financial turmoil of the past twelve months, and is certainly sustainable throughout 2009/2010. |
Branch Computer Training Room We have received notification that the Lotterywest Grant for the Branch Computer Training Room has been approved. Executive Manager Marty Thomas, Office Manager Nicci Kerr, Branch Commissioner, Communications and Technology, Bob Bristow, and Assistant Branch Commissioner, Communications and Technology, Mark Gaynor are developing a plan to have the training room operational in time for the Group Leader skills training in September. |
Scout Uniform At last month’s Field Operations Portfolio meeting, this issue of uniforms was raised. If any clarification is needed on the Scout uniform then the National Policy and Rules is the definitive guide. |
Badges and Scarves Please have any new badge or scarf designs approved by the Chief Commissioner before it goes into production. We check to avoid duplication as well as keep an eye on appropriate designs. Designs can either be emailed to me at chief@scoutswa.com.au or dropped in to my Assistant, Robyn, in the Chief’s office. |
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Eyes Up by Megan Argo During September the days continue to get longer. By the 30th, the Sun rises at 5.56am and sets at 6.18pm. The Moon is full on the 5th and new on the 19th. Jupiter continues to be the most obvious of the planets, rising before dark and clearly visible all evening, setting in the early hours of the morning. During the first half of the month Mercury is visible in the western sky for an hour or so after sunset; it will be faint so look carefully! Venus continues to be a morning object, visible in the east before sunrise. A rare event happens this month: for a short time, the rings of Saturn will apparently disappear! The rings are 280,000km across but only 20km in thickness and are not solid but are made up of lumps of ice and rock. While they might appear to vanish, the rings do still exist, but they are so thin that when they are viewed exactly edge-on from Earth they cannot be seen. Imagine how hard it would be to see a CD held edge-on from several kilometres away! This phenomenon happens roughly every 14 or 15 years and only lasts a short time. If you have access to a telescope, try and take a look at Saturn - you can find it low in the western sky in the early evening. The rings will disappear on September 4th, and reappear on the 5th. August saw one of the best meteor showers in the Northern hemisphere, the Perseids. The next good shower visible from the Southern hemisphere is known as the Orionids, so-named because they appear to travel outwards from the constellation of Orion. This shower peaks in October, but begins at the very end of September, so keep your eyes peeled for shooting stars if you are camping towards the end of the month. Don't forget that free International Year of Astronomy planispheres are still available for your Group. Just send an email to megan.argo@gmail.com with your Group name, how many Scouts you've got and an address where they can be posted. |
Something to Think About It occurs to me that, rather than “The Year of the Group” we might be thinking “The Decade of the Group”. I think the challenges to build a strong organisation from its very foundation – the Group – and to be able to offer Scouting to an ever-growing population in Western Australia warrant our long term focus on where Scouting really happens. |
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