The World Centenary of Scouting has been an exciting year with many wonderful activities happening across Australia and around the world, including Scouting’s Sunrise and hundredth birthday of the Movement on 1 August. At 8am local time, all around the world, Scouts reaffirmed their Scout Promise. The momentum also carries us into our Australian Scouting Centenary in 2008, which has been designated by the Australian Government as The Year of the Scout.

In this exciting edition we discuss: Scouting’s Sunrise and the World Jamboree; 2008 advertising campaign; Scouts helping sick children by fundraising for McHappy Day; Scout Environment Weeks; publicity for Scouting at the local level; Telstra Bigpond deals for our members and employees; Scouts Search Engine Toolbar to download; and much more! So please read on and enjoy what we have to share with you.

John Ravenhall AM
Chief Commissioner - Scouts Australia

2008 – The Year of the Scout Advertising Campaign

2008 is the Centenary of Australian Scouting and has been declared The Year of the Scout by the Australian Government. In line with this and the success of our 2006 and 2004 advertising campaigns, Scouts Australia has embarked on another communications campaign to which various media organisations have lent their support. Scouts Australia also greatly appreciates the significant assistance of the Australian Government through its financial support and encouragement of Scouting in Australia.

This campaign consists of television and cinema commercials, bus side and press filler advertisements, and posters.

To download these exciting advertisements on the National Website www.scouts.com.au click on the link on the home page, or go to the Media menu on the left side of the screen after home page or click here.

McHappy Day – Get Your Group or Crew Involved!
Help Raise Money for Seriously Ill Children and Win Your Group or Crew $300!

Scouts Australia Groups and Rover Crews are helping fundraise for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) from 1 October until McHappy Day on 17 November. Ronald McDonald House Charities help seriously ill children and their families in the form of five great programs. This is the inaugural year of this exciting partnership between Scouts Australia and Ronald McDonald House Charities

Last year $1.8 million was raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities. McDonalds pay all the operating costs for RMHC so all money raised such as funds raised by Scouts will go directly to those unhealthy children in need of serious medical help. McDonalds has also been exceptionally generous in producing a tray mat promoting Scouting that appeared in all of their restaurants during August valued at over $130,000!

$300 Cash Prize for Groups and a Crew
We have great new incentive prizes for Scout Groups and Rover Crews to fundraise for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). There will be a $300 cash prize for the highest fundraising Group in each Branch! There will also be a $300 cash prize for the Rover Crew across Australia that fundraises the highest amount!  Rover Crews attached to a Group may choose to fundraise independently for the Rover Crew prize instead of their Branch’s Group prize. The official Scout McHappy Day fundraising period is 1 October to 17 November (McHappy Day itself). All participants will also receive a special badge for participating. For the essential details and to register as soon as possible, click here.

Local Publicity

With terrific activities such as: “Scarf Up for Scouting”; National and Branch advertising on buses, trams, in cinemas, on TV, in magazines and local newspapers; we have seen the benefits of promoting Scouting to communities resulting in increased awareness of what we are doing for young people, with celebratory coins, stamps, water conservation grants and even National and State funding for some of our projects. The excellent activities at all levels in August were brilliant public relations exercises, second only to providing very valuable experiences for our Scout members of all ages!

There were simply excellent Local Activities in August. While our best possible advertising is the running of challenging, educational and fun activities for our Scouts, local PR is invaluable to complement this. Let people know what we are delivering for the development of young people LOCALLY.

District and Region Scout Shows, generally always improving, are an avenue of demonstrated co-ordinate effort, team work and fun in the community.

Some Group and District websites are tops, both for internal information and “letting others know”.

Local media are always on the look out for material – short action-based stories and pictures.

Every District needs a Public Relations/Publicity person, to act as a focus and co-ordinator. Every Group can provide at least one good photograph and caption, if not a short story, once a month, but it needs an “urger” or catalyst to remind us to do so. This is not a “uniformed” role. There is sure to be one person who supports Scouting in each municipality that would take on this role for around a year! Fifty weeks per year, ten Groups, that is at least five photos per year – surely not too much to promote your Group and the Movement to the community, local Council, schools, churches, temples, mosques – everyone who has children!

Click here for more.

John Ravenhall AM
Chief Commissioner - Scouts Australia

Telstra Bigpond Offers for Scout Members and Staff

Telstra Bigpond is providing discounted services for Scouts Australia members, supporters and staff.

• For non BIGPOND subscribers, subsidised instalment and modem costs, free access for the first 3 months of the contract and 20% discount for the remainder of the 24 month term.
• For current subscribers, a 20% discount on monthly subscription fees ($39.95 per month and over).

To find out more click here or go to the national website www.scouts.com.au and click on “I’m a Scouts Australia Leader” or “I am a Scouting Youth Member” and then click on the menu on the left side of the screen called “Special Offers”.

Download the Scouts Search Engine Toolbar Now!

Enhance your web searches and browser features by downloading Scouts Australia’s Search Engine Toolbar. It’s compact, streamlined, and a great idea to promote Scouting whilst helping you get the search results you want.

It’s simple to download and Yahoo-based.  Also, every time you click on a sponsored link in your search results, Scouts Australia receives a small donation.  So not only are you searching the internet, you can also help raise money for Scouts!

The toolbar only works on Microsoft Internet Explorer and not on Macintosh computers.

When installed, the toolbar should look like the following on your web browser:

So download yours now and start searching, by clicking here or go to the national website www.scouts.com.au and click on “I’m a Scouts Australia Leader” or “I am a Scouting Youth Member” and then click on the menu on the left side of the screen called “Special Offers”.

Scouting's Sunrise

The 1 August was the actual anniversary of the original “experimental” camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour in UK. Re-enactments occurred on Brownsea Island and around Australia. Western Australian Scouts camped on Heirrison (“Brownsea”) Island, in the Swan River, right in Perth city! Scouts around Australia and the world reaffirmed their Scout Promise.

Organised by NSW Branch and ACT Branch respectively, thousands of Scouts at the Sydney Opera House and hundreds at Government House in Canberra, participated in national ceremonies and breakfasts, marking the Century of Scouting and a commitment for the future, hence the “Sunrise” of the Movement. With a Kudu horn sounding from the Sydney Opera House!

Our World Jamboree Contingent was in the thick of the action at Hylands Park, England. Two young Australians, with others from every Scout country in the world, were on Brownsea Island itself, now a Nature Park and an icon in the eyes of Scouts and Guides. Guides celebrate their World Centenary in 2010 and have commenced preparations.

Scouting breakfasts were devoured around the country. Tasmanians gathered on the lawn at Parliament House in Hobart to have their Sunrise Celebration and reaffirmation of their Promise, with a barbecue breakfast at the Regatta grounds provided by the Rover Section. Victorians ate breakfast at Government House in Melbourne and had live radio crosses to the World Jamboree in UK and to Rovers at Mt Bogong.

Scout Flags and banners were flying in several capital cities. The latest Scout advertisements also hit cinemas and television in August.

Click here for more

World Jamboree – History in the Making

The 21st World Scout Jamboree in the UK from 27 July-8 August was an historic gathering of Scouts from around the world, that was 12 days of adventurous activities, memorable events, and the making of international friendships in a campsite big enough to accommodate tens of thousands of young people. An Aussie Contingent of 170 attended and were part of history in the making.

The theme of the 21st World Scout Jamboree in 2007 was “One World, One Promise” – which captured the aspirations and hopes of young people for the future.

40,000 young people camped, lived and worked alongside each other. They came from a wide variety of cultures, backgrounds, and religions. Together they celebrated what unites them, and learnt what they can do together to help build a better world.

One of the highlights of the Jamboree was the Sunrise Ceremony on the 1 August. It was a very emotional experience for everyone to reaffirm their promise with 40,000+ other Scouting people whilst celebrating the Centenary.

After the Jamboree the Contingent traveled to Ireland and was hosted by Scouting Ireland. Terry Brooke, Deputy Australian Contingent Leader, said “Our time in Ireland only added to the International experience. The Irish Scouting families were fantastic in showing us plenty of hospitality and seeing the sights. We were also treated to a special ceile (pronounced kay-lee) where we celebrated a wonderful night of music and dancing.

“The Australian participants had a fantastic time on the trip. They all came home with four weeks of wonderful memories and a lot of new international friendships that will last many years to come”.

Many of the participants are now already planning to head to Sweden for the next World Jamboree in 2011.

Download Scouts Corporate Identity Manual

Download the updated Scouts Australia Corporate Identity Manual.

Leaving a Scouting Legacy

I had the opportunity recently to visit and meet with Scouting friends at what are regarded as the ‘birthplace of Scouting’ – Brownsea Island, and the ‘birthplace of Training’ – Gilwell Park, outside London. Now while these places in their own right are historically significant, they have become over the past 100 years much more to Scouting. Places and locations are just that, places and locations, but it’s what happened at both of these places that has transformed, changed and developed many people, both young and old over the years. Consider the man behind the transformation and the legacy of his vision. Ask yourself, does the work that I do for Scouting, no matter how much, continue to transform, develop and leave a legacy for good for the future? Only you know the answer.

Recent changes to the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF 2007) from 1 July, 2007, mean that the Scouts Australia Institute of Training (SAIT) has to comply with a different set of standards. 12 standards have now been replaced with 3. The three standards relate to training and assessment, client services and management systems. Some of the principles underpinning the changes include:

• Reducing the regulatory burden required of RTOs
• Streamlining and standardising processes for national consistency
• Ensuring stakeholder confidence in quality skills outcomes
• Continuous improvement of training & assessment

SAIT will be focussed on ensuring compliance with all facets of AQTF2007, with the delivery of quality training and appropriate assessment continuing to receive special attention.

Paul Parkinson
National Commissioner - Adult Training and Development

JAMBO! – Hello from the World Jamboree

“Jambo - Hello" was the word of the 21st World Scout Jamboree in UK.  In a world where we live in the shadow of violence and misunderstanding between nations, the “hellos” always came with a smile, and all barriers ceased to exist. All members of the Australian Contingent were fortunate to participate in such a truly amazing event all with their own unique story and new friends from all over the world.  Participants had all sorts of opportunities including meeting HRH Prince William, learning that we use enough plastic bags around the world to carpet the planet every 6 months, and to participate in a closing ceremony with 40,000 other Scouts from around the world.
 
International Scouting offers opportunities to youth members and leaders that are once in a lifetime. Regular visits to the International pages on the Scouts Australia website will give people important information on the opportunities available.

Leader to 2008 NZ Moot Wanted
We are looking for someone to lead the Aussie Contingent to the 2008 NZ Moot from 20-24 March 2008. To apply, please send me a Scouting resume with a letter outlining why you should be appointed to the position. Your letter must be endorsed by your Branch. To find out more click here.

Become a Development Officer in Vanuatu
To apply for a Scout Development Officer position in Vanuatu through the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development scheme click here.

Emma Barker
International Commissioner – Scouts Australia

Scouting's Sunrise and World Jamboree

Scouting Sunrise has come and gone – and what a fantastic event it was for all. I attended Scouting Sunrise in Canberra – on a very crisp morning when thermal underwear would have been better to wear than my Scout skirt and short sleeved shirt! The function was held in the grounds of Government House and Act Chief Commissioner Neville Tomkins and I had the honour of escorting the Governor General and his wife to the event.

NEC Chairman Ian Langford-Brown and his wife Jeannie and I were there early and spent about an hour prior to the sunrise wandering around, catching up with ACT Leaders and Scouts and drinking coffee to keep warm. We were entertained by members of the ACT Scout band - and what a terrific job they did! Unfortunately strong winds prevented the hot air balloon being launched.

Just on 8am the kudu horn was blown and the Sunrise event proceeded. For me – and those in attendance – the most moving part was the re-affirmation of the Scout Promise. What a wonderful celebration and, as I said when I spoke, one that all those present will remember for years to come.

I’ve heard reports from some of the other Branches that all around Australia Scouting that Sunrise proved to be better than we could have hoped for. The news reports from Queensland Branch were excellent, and seeing the Scout flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge was quite an achievement! I hope you all had as memorable a day as I did.

Click here for more.

Julie Creed
National Commissioner Youth Program

Are You Involved in Scout Environment Weeks this September?

In a cage in Hobart zoo on the 7 September 1936 the last known Tasmanian Tiger passed away.   The 7 September now marks Threatened Species Day, as part of Biodiversity Month in September, when people are encouraged to help out our environment and the plants and animals that depend on it.  Do you know which threatened species live near you?  Is there anything you and your Scout Group could do to help your local wildlife and native plants?  Perhaps the local community have places that could do with a clean up, checking on the water quality or helping to rehabilitate an area for native wildlife?  Are there environmental issues that you can help make the community more aware of with pictures and presentations?

September is also Scout Environment Weeks, where we can all show that a Scout cares for the environment!  There are lots of awards and badges that Scouts of all ages can do that are related to the environment. So what better time than September to do this?  There is also a colourful Certificate of Appreciation available for Scout Groups involved in Scout Environment Weeks.  All you need to do is help your local environment including these three criteria:

• Must be conducted within the month of September.
• All participants must complete a minimum total of 4 hours which will contain education or training and a practical work component.
• All activities should be conducted within a 50km radius of your formation's regular place of meeting.

Looking for more ideas of what you can do?  Try contacting your local council or local environmental organisations such as LandCare or “Friends Of” Groups.  The WWF have a list of events around Australia that may be of interest.  For more information on Biodiversity Month visit the Australian Government Department of Environment & Water Resources website.

Don't forget to fill in the Registration Form and send it in to your Branch HQ so you can receive the certificate and we can all share the great work Scouts across Australia are doing for the environment!  For more examples of Scout Environment Projects and more information on Scout Environment Weeks, visit the Environment section of the Scouts Australia website.

We are always keen to hear your stories and receive photos of Scout environment projects to share throughout Australia.  Please email them to environment@scouts.com.au

Rod Abson
National Adviser for Environment

Don’t Wait Till “The River Runs Dry”

As we now move back into spring, our gaze turns once more to the outdoors as the (hopefully) warmer weather provides many opportunities to “get out there and get amongst it”. As we prepare to venture outside, maybe we can spend some time reflecting on the state of our big brown land after 10 years of drought. Global climate changes have had a noticeable impact on Australia - this current drought has been recorded as “worst yet” for many areas.

The food bowl of Australia - the Murray Darling basin - is confronting the major challenges of dry land salinity and water shortages, strangling many of our farmers out of production; worsening drought is bad news for us all. Our native ecosystems also suffer from these impacts, with governments working now to identify what changes are going to have to be made to our state and federal park systems as climate changes shrink and move habitats. Climate change has a major impact on rainfall - obviously less rainfall means less water for people and the environment.

Remarkably, although we are the driest inhabited continent, we are the third biggest users of water per person. While our society and industries have started to make changes over the last decade to reduce their water consumption (with household use dropping by around almost 10% over the last five years), we can always make more changes to improve water efficiency. What can you and your household do to use water more wisely?

With all the current talk of drought, climate change, water and the environment, I challenge you and your Crew to reflect on these topics this September for Scout Environment Weeks. This is the chance for your Crew to get out there and see how your world is changing; meet with your local Friends of/Landcare group, investigate ways that greywater can be put to use at your local campsite, or help the sections in your Scout Group to complete the World Conservation Badge. The only way to preserve our natural heritage for future generations is through the positive actions of each one of us. Be the difference that you want to see in others.

Patrick McCormick
Chairman – National Rover Council

Help Shape Scouting’s Future

Scouting Sunrise was a very special experience for me, and something I will always remember.  I was fortunate enough to be able to celebrate and re-new my promise, both at the Sydney Opera House on Wednesday 1st August, and then again on Saturday 4th August at South Bank Parklands in Brisbane.  It was a glorious Sydney morning on the Wednesday and a great way to start the day watching the sun shine down on the harbour, and looking up at the Sydney Harbour Bridge seeing the Scout Flag flying strongly on top.

I was also able to share my thoughts on Scouting during this ceremony. On the Saturday back home in Queensland, I joined 6,000 other Scouts in a parade through the streets of Brisbane. I felt great pride marching alongside fellow Scouts, and looking back seeing a sea of Scouts was a great view. The day included activities at South Bank, renewing my Scout promise, and the Combined Gangshow performance that evening was terrific. I think Scouts all around Australia certainly have a lot to celebrate after successful events for Scouting Sunrise.

SCOUTS to me means: Service, Challenge, Opportunity, Unity, Teamwork, which all lead to Success.

I look forward to the great events planned to help celebrate 100 years of Scouting in Australia next year, during the Year of the Scout! We all have the chance to lay foundations for Scouting’s future.

Nikketah McGrath
Chair - National Youth Council

Scout Wins JOTA-JOTI Badge Design Comp

With 2007 being the Centenary of World Scouting and the 50th JOTA, National JOTA-JOTI Coordinator Bob Bristow came up with the brilliant idea of a design competition for the 2007 JOTA-JOTI Badge. Some leaders were so enthusiastic that they made the badge design competition part of their program.

Importantly, the contest was based on people’s ideas no matter how rough their drawing, not based on their artistic ability and professional design skills. This meant that just about anyone could enter as long as they could sketch the basics of their idea.

148 people entered with some submitting multiple designs. Bob and David Lockhart, a leader and graphic designer, tackled the daunting task of sorting and judging the entries. They used a conference room in WA Branch, laying all the entries out on a table, with them each choosing a handful of entries without discussion. They ended up with two entirely different handfuls! David, being a graphic designer, went for the colour, style, how it would pan out as a complete design etc. Bob being the technocrat, looked for correct detail no matter how the colours clashed.

Eventually they settled on a design that required little reworking to make it suitable for a badge. The winning design was by SA female Scout Flynn Jeffery of Flagstaff Hill Scouts. Flynn is 13, and submitted several designs. She was recently awarded her prize at a South Australian Scout function. Flynn’s design will now be used for the 2007 JOTA-JOTI Badge!

Four major prizes were kindly donated by Scouts South Australia. These were Ipod Shuffles, and went to the four designs considered to be the best. One went to Flynn, and the others to: Ash Clark, 16, 4th Horsham Venturers in VIC; Elissa Donegan, 13, of 1st Boulder Scouts in WA; and Teresa Cox, of Bounty Castle Hill Guides in NSW. The four winning entries are posted on the website www.scouts.com.au

All the other entrants received a thank you letter and a small memento. Congratulations to: Flynn and the other three winners; Bob; and all of the 144 other people that took the time and effort to enter. Well done!!

JOTA-JOTI - 50 Hours of Fun

This year, to mark the 50th anniversary of JOTA, the JOTA-JOTI activity will run for 50 hours instead of the usual 48.

JOTA-JOTI provides Scouts with an annual activity that is global in scope and scale. An estimated 500,000 Scouts and Guides from over 100 countries participate in the event. An estimated 11,000 of these were from Australia.

A JOTA-JOTI activity can run for all or part of the weekend, depending on facilities and leader availability. JOTI can also be done at home as a patrol or individual activity. Please be aware of internet safety and ensure there is adult supervision at all times.

Information about JOTA-JOTI is posted at www.scouts.com.au . JOTA and Radio Scouting information is at http://home.tiscali.nl/worldscout/ and JOTI information at www.joti.org.

Registration. There is a global registration service for JOTA and JOTI participants. Registration at this site gives you a temporary email address for the event, and the ability to create your own JOTA-JOTI BLOG. A DVD of the BLOGS is made after the activity, and will be available for purchase. More details will be posted on www.scouts.com.au as it comes to hand. You will need to check this website frequently for updated information.

JOTA-JOTI is only as good as you make it. With a bit of imagination and preparation, Scouts can participate in a weekend that is fun and enables them to contact Scouts in many other countries.

The leader, if this is you, don’t have to know anything about computers or amateur radio to organise a JOTA-JOTI activity. You are the facilitator, and your job is to find people with the skills to help you.

I wish you good luck and good fun. Let’s see if you can go around the world in 50 hours!

Bob Bristow
National JOTA-JOTI Coordinator

Scouts Rise to Prominence

Former Scouts have risen to prominence in all walks of life with many crediting their time in Scouting as giving them values and skills that benefit them for the rest of their lives.

To read all about former Scouts: Coca Cola Amatil Pty Ltd Managing Director Warwick White; Federal Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs The Hon Nigel Scullion; and former QLD Premier Peter Beattie; please click here.

Jungle Book’s 40th Anniversary

The Jungle Book 40th Anniversary Platinum Edition is coming out of the Disney Vault for a very limited time only. The theme of the Jungle Book is used as the background to Cub Scouting and was utilised by Lord Baden-Powell when writing the Wolf Cub’s Handbook.

Everyone’s favourite jungle adventure comes alive in the exciting 40th Anniversary Platinum Edition of The Jungle Book available on two-Disc Disney DVD from 17 October. This was the last film to receive Walt Disney’s personal touch and is a song-filled celebration about friendship, fun and the adventures of Mowgli the mancub.

The whole family will enjoy the timeless tale’s cheerful and fun-loving characters and are able to sing-a-long to original Walt Disney classics including The Bare Necessities and I Wan’na Be Like You.

The Jungle Book 40th Anniversary Platinum Edition DVD includes great bonus features only available on the DVD including: Baloo’s virtual Swingin’ Jungle Cruise; and Rocky, the Rhino – The Lost Character, and more!

Remember, the title will only be available for a very limited time so join in the vine-swinging fun of The Jungle Book from October 17.

WASP Reloaded CD (code: SCP50166)

This CD-ROM for the Scout Section is a dynamic resource and a must for any Troop. It enables leaders to complete the many activities that make up the fun and learning of Scouting.

2007 National Annual Report

Have a look at the 2007 National Annual Report for the year between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007. This discusses all the major developments in Australian Scouting during that period of time. It is a concise and succinct report that shows 21st century Australian Scouting.

To have a look click here.

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The E-Newsletter is produced by the Scouts Australia National Office – Communications and Publishing Team and Jason Govan.