What a busy and exciting Term for one and all! Australia Day was our first big event of 2018 with the Open Day at the den.
What a turn out! The weather was perfect (except for the downpour during setup) and everyone had a great time with damper making, science experiments, chariot races, low rope course and rope bridge.
Our parent volunteers cooked up a storm with a sausage sizzle and slushie machine.
Banksia Joeys – Care & Share
It has been a very busy start to our new year our Joeys have begun with their Care & Share Badge for this term.
With guests visiting us from Australia Wildlife Animal Rescue, they brought along the Joeys they are caring for.
We had a visit from the Northern Beaches Vet Surgery to talk to us about care for our pets, this gave a chance for our Joeys to bring along their pets to visit the den.
There has been lots of fun and games along the way welcoming in some new Joeys and seeing off some of our older Joeys into Cubs.
Some of our biggest highlights this term includes visiting the residents of Carlyle Gardens Retirement Village.
The Joeys had a ball playing board games with some of the residents and it was so much fun, the parents joined in as well. Another was our Ceremony acknowledging some of the hard work done by our Joeys and other Scouts & Leaders too.
Our Joeys celebrated Chloe Kentwell receiving her Promise Challenge Badge, the linking of 3 Joeys – Chloe, Lachlan & Ryan to Cubs as well 2 investitures Cooper & Dwayne.
Now to step forward to our next term with some Adventure in the planning.
Banksia Cooinda Cub Pack
Cooinda Cub Pack has had a great start to 2018.
We have made welcome to five new cub-scouts, mainly wanting to join from participating in our open day held earlier this year.
Also, we had a presentation of a Grey Wolf to Liam Broadbent. Congratulations Liam and good luck on your future scouting adventures.
Cooinda Cubs have been busy working on boomerang activities.
Most popular so far is our self-expression program, which saw the cub-scouts writing poems, preparing skits/plays and making clay figurines.
Banksia Venturer Scouts
On the 2nd of February, Venturers from across the region flocked to Yeppoon for the annual Region Venturer Camp.
Despite the rather damp forecast, youth members took part in a gruelling Amazing Race, which put problem solving and physical stamina to the test.
After trekking halfway across town, the first Region Venturer Council for 2018 was held, in which new executive council members were elected.
These elected members are Angus Nicol (Chairman), Kaylah Pattel (Vice Chairman), Claire Richter (Secretary) and Jarod Roberts (Vice Secretary).
The weekend concluded with a scavenger hunt through the local shopping centre, which left us with an array of photos that are sure resurface at some Queen Scout presentations.
Overall, despite the dreadful weather, the camp was a success and left everyone with high hopes for the next region camp, the Survivor Camp on the May Day long weekend.
Queen Scout Presentation
It was a pleasure to present Tristan Gardner with his Queens Scout award at Banksia Scout Den on the 24th of February.
In attendance were Jason Costigan MP, Julieanne Gilbert MP, and Councillor Justin Englert along with Region Commissioner Dougal McWhinney.
It was a lovely afternoon hosted by our Venturers and we were regaled with stories of the activities that Tristan completed to obtain his Award.
Tristan undertook a wide and varied list of endeavours to achieve his award including Open water Dive qualifications, Canoeing, Service to the Community and to Scouting, Hiking in the Credition State Forest, Caving, Abseiling, Kayaking along with attending Queensland Venture and Australian Venture. It was mentioned that Tristan has become a valued member of the Unit and is always willing to assist where ever needed and is deserving of the award.
Tristan thanked everyone who assisted him to achieve his award, his mother Sandy presented him with his cloth Badge.
Tristan is looking forward to progressing to Rovers later in the Year.
Banksia Scout Group Celebration
What a day! Six years ago, when I joined this group as group leader, Banksia had 32 youth members and 6 leaders.
After our Celebration I am proud to report that we now have 124 youth members and 12 leaders. Banksia Scout Group is the largest group in not just our district, but also our region, something that I hope you are all as proud of as I am.
With a group of this size, we thought it important to share our celebration with the whole group.
It was a full schedule with the presentation of some youth and leader awards, before linking some Joey Scouts to Cub Scouts, investing some new Cub Scouts, linking some Cub Scouts to Scouts and also investing some new scouts.
To start, Hanna “Echidna” presented Chloe Kentwell with her Promise Challenge Badge.
The Promise Challenge is an individual badge designed for our older Joey Scouts. It is the major Challenge for the Joey Scout Section and has individual elements as well as activities to do with the Mob.
Next, Jolene “Hathi” introduced Liam Broadbent and outlined the work involved in achieving the Grey Wolf Award.
Jolene presented Liam with his Cub Scout Record Book and Jodie (Mum) presented Liam with his Grey Wolf Award in recognition of the support given by her to Liam in helping him achieve this award.
For the last of our youth member awards, Joanne “Rikki” introduced Markus Ackerman and Will McVeigh for their Australian Scout Medallions.
Each youth member was asked who they wanted to present their awards. They chose people who were significant within their lives and who have helped them on their journeys through Scouting and more importantly in achieving their Australian Scout Medallion. Rikki presented Markus with his badge and Jaco (Dad) presented his Medallion. Wantibirri presented Will with his badge and Terence (Dad) presented his MedallionIt was then the Leaders’ turn.
I had the honour of investing Leaders Jolene Mackle and Geoff Kitchin into the 1st Gilwell Troop with their Gilwell Scarves.
Jolene’s husband Graeme and Geoff’s wife Joanne presented their Woodbeads.
And finally, I presented Rowan “Kipara” with his Personal Leader Adviser badge and Joanne “Rikki” with her Guide badge for both canoeing and kayaking.
With these leader awards we have a greater ability to offer activities to our youth members.Each of these awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in the respective sections, they represent a significant effort made by the individual youth member. Not everyone achieves these awards which go to show how hard each of these youth members and Leaders have worked to achieve their awards.
We finished the day off with linking and investing new youth members, a wonderful BBQ thanks to Peter & Raquel Kentwell and cake (got to love anything that ends with cake).
Below are some photos from the presentation.
