Scouting in New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Scouting in New South Wales
, a State of Australia
, is predominantly represented by the branch of Scouts Australia
and Girl Guides NSW & ACT, a member organisation of Girl Guides Australia.
There are 10 main Scouts Australia Regions in New South Wales. These are North West, Golden West, Greater Western Sydney, Hume, Riverina, South Coast and Tablelands, North Coast, Sydney North, South Metropolitan and Hunter and Coastal. The "country" Regions have a larger area in general. Within these 10 Regions, there are a total of 66 Districts and 464 Groups. New South Wales has all Australian youth Scouting sections, from Joeys
to Rovers
.
The Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia in NSW in 2004, Graeme Fordham, discussed the future for Australian Scouting on radio.
Scouts Australia is open to young people from all religious faiths. The wording in the Scout Promise
of "do my best to do my duty to my God" allows flexibility and the movement is open to all who can make this promise. Those unwilling to make this promise would be excluded from membership. In NSW atheists are actively excluded from Leadership, as 'Scouts Australia NSW' "insists that leaders have a faith, a belief in God.", with God being defined as "One who is; a Supreme Being – a Creator – a Ruler of the Universe".
, 65 km south-west of Sydney and has 3 Cessna 172's and a Super Dimona Motor glider. The centre provides flying experiences, gliding and a flying school for pilot training.
, 457 km south-west of Sydney and consists of the Tony Balthasar Lodge and the Kanangra & Bluegum cottages. During the winter it is the centre for all snow related activities. It remains open during summer for all outdoor activities.
adjoining Lane Cove National Park. Much of the early development work was done by the unemployed, who camped there during the Depression. There are extensive accommodation and training facilities.
71 km south-west of Sydney and was given to the Scout Association by The Government of New South Wales in 1978. It has hosted 3 Australian Jamborees and the 16th World Scout Jamboree
in 1987. It can provide camping, bunk accommodation, and activities such as water slides, ropes courses, hiking, orienteering and an obstacle course.
. It is responsible for the display and preservation of Scouting heritage.
in 1973. It runs General Days, to allow members to experience canoeing, sailing and power boating and qualification courses for canoeing, sailing and power boating. The centre is is qualifed to run courses for NSW Boat Licenses.
Several centres are also run by the Regions, such as Camp Ku-Ring-Gai Activity Centre, Ingleside Scout Camp, Camp Kurrajong, Camps Coutts, J. Harold Kaye Training Centre and Bundilla Scout Training Centre.
, wife of the Governor of NSW, called a special meeting of prominent women in Sydney, to try to interest them in starting Guiding in the State. It was decided that Guides was not for them as girls already had sufficient opportunities to be outdoors. Nella Levy
read about this meeting in a newspaper and wrote to the newspaper contradicting this feeling. Levy was subsequently was invited to tea at Government House by Davidson. Davidson told her "Queen Mary
would like to see Girl Guides in New South Wales, and I want you to start it." Levy took the challenge. She travelled widely, recruiting volunteers, forming Companies and enrolling Guides.
There are 11 Girl Guide Regions in NSW&ACT which include Northern Sydney, Greater Rivers, Cumberland Plains and Southern Sydney Rivers (the 4 regions of Sydney) and North Pacific Coast, Twin Rivers, South Coast and Highlands, Coastal Valleys, Central West, North West Inland and ACT&South East Region.
. The site is popular for winter sports activities.
. It comprises 34 hectares of bushland with established gardens and cleared areas.
, kayaking
, rafting, rowing
and sailing.
will be sold to the Roads and Traffic Authority
to be 'compensatory habitat' managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service
.
The Olave Centre is the largest in house accommodation area at Tara. The house sleeps 27 in dormitory style bedrooms. The Olave Centre also has a large commercial kitchen, a common dining and lounge area, and a large bathroom, including one for disabled use. The internal courtyard is used for inside activities and outside dining.
The Brownie Cottage sleeps 25 in bunk bed dormitory style accommodation. There is a bathroom, fully equipped kitchen and a large dining/lounge area. There is also an open fire-place. The back veranda is an excellent spot for looking at the stars. The Northern Room adjoins Brownie Cottage. It is a fully self-contained studio which sleeps 4. The Northern Room can be accessed through Brownie Cottage as additional accommodation or rented separately for smaller groups. The Northern Room was originally a garage. Tolhurst Cottage is quaint cottage style building with terracotta roofing and an open fire place.
Girl Guides NSW & ACT acquired the property in 1971. Prior to this, Tara was originally a cattle property of over 101 acre (0.40873286 km²), with a fairly large house, a small caretaker's cottage (which started its life as a workman's cottage at Warragamba Dam
), a new set of cattle yards and holding yards, and a large equipment shed, with various fowl yards. The property was fenced into four paddocks - complete with a dam and a semi-dry creek - which bordered a permanent creek that flowed into the Nepean River
at Bent's Basin
. Tara was the name of the original owner's daughter and it seemed fitting to keep some history in the name of the property.
After the site was acquired by the Guides, the stock holding paddock was turned into a sportsfield and carpark, and the equipment shed was fitted out with shelves for camping equipment. Paddocks were divided into camping areas, enclosed fireplaces were built and water was piped to all sites. In October 1971 "Tara" was opened officially by the State President Lady Cutler, in the presence of the State Commissioner, Lady Wyndham. Shortly afterwards, 2000 trees were planted on a tree planting day.
In 1972, the Nella Levy Chapel was built, to commemorate Girl Guides NSW first Guider.
is a Scout variety show.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, a State of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, is predominantly represented by the branch of Scouts Australia
Scouts Australia
Scouts Australia is an organisation for children and young adults from 6 to 26 years of age. Scouts Australia is part of the global Scouting movement and has been a national member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement since 1953...
and Girl Guides NSW & ACT, a member organisation of Girl Guides Australia.
Scouts Australia in New South Wales
Scouting started in New South Wales in 1908, shortly after its founding in the United Kingdom. The 2010 Scout Census indicated that there were 19,673 uniformed members of Scouts Australia in NSW, 15,313 of whom were youth members. There is also representation by the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association. There are ethnic Scouting organisations including the Polish Scouting Association.There are 10 main Scouts Australia Regions in New South Wales. These are North West, Golden West, Greater Western Sydney, Hume, Riverina, South Coast and Tablelands, North Coast, Sydney North, South Metropolitan and Hunter and Coastal. The "country" Regions have a larger area in general. Within these 10 Regions, there are a total of 66 Districts and 464 Groups. New South Wales has all Australian youth Scouting sections, from Joeys
Joey Scouts (Australia)
Joey Scouts is the section of Scouts Australia for the youngest age group in Scouting. The section is named after a Joey which is a baby Kangaroo. Boys and girls aged 6 - 8 can join. They join what is called a Mob, made up of no more than 20 children. The word "Mob" is used because a group of...
to Rovers
Rovers (Australia)
Rovers, formerly Rover Scouts, is the fifth and final section of Scouts Australia, and began in 1918. Rovers are aged between 17 and 26 years of age and are organised into local Crews, which can be associated with a Scout Group or operate as a stand-alone Crew. Crews accept anyone interested in...
.
The Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia in NSW in 2004, Graeme Fordham, discussed the future for Australian Scouting on radio.
Scouts Australia is open to young people from all religious faiths. The wording in the Scout Promise
Scout Promise
Since the publication of Scouting for Boys in 1908, all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and subscribed to a Scout Law. The wording of the Scout Promise and Scout Law have varied slightly over time and from country to...
of "do my best to do my duty to my God" allows flexibility and the movement is open to all who can make this promise. Those unwilling to make this promise would be excluded from membership. In NSW atheists are actively excluded from Leadership, as 'Scouts Australia NSW' "insists that leaders have a faith, a belief in God.", with God being defined as "One who is; a Supreme Being – a Creator – a Ruler of the Universe".
Air Activity Centre
Opened in 1971, the Air Activity Centre is located at CamdenCamden, New South Wales
-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
, 65 km south-west of Sydney and has 3 Cessna 172's and a Super Dimona Motor glider. The centre provides flying experiences, gliding and a flying school for pilot training.
Alpine Activity Centre
The Alpine Activity Centre is located at JindabyneJindabyne, New South Wales
Jindabyne is a town in south-east New South Wales, Australia that overlooks Lake Jindabyne near the Snowy Mountains, in Snowy River Shire. It is a popular holiday destination, especially in winter, due to its proximity to several ski resorts throughout the Kosciuszko National Park, including...
, 457 km south-west of Sydney and consists of the Tony Balthasar Lodge and the Kanangra & Bluegum cottages. During the winter it is the centre for all snow related activities. It remains open during summer for all outdoor activities.
Baden-Powell Scout Centre
The Baden-Powell Scout Centre was officially opened in February 1929 and was visited by Lord & Lady Baden-Powell in 1931. It is a 36 hectare site located in Pennant HillsPennant Hills, New South Wales
Pennant Hills is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Pennant Hills is located 25 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
adjoining Lane Cove National Park. Much of the early development work was done by the unemployed, who camped there during the Depression. There are extensive accommodation and training facilities.
Cataract Scout Park
This 160 hectare park is located near AppinAppin, New South Wales
Appin is a town in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, Australia in Wollondilly Shire. It is situated about 16 kilometres south of Campbelltown and 35 kilometres north west of Wollongong.-Early history:...
71 km south-west of Sydney and was given to the Scout Association by The Government of New South Wales in 1978. It has hosted 3 Australian Jamborees and the 16th World Scout Jamboree
16th World Scout Jamboree
The 16th World Scout Jamboree was held 30 December 1987 to 7 January 1988, the first World Scout Jamboree held in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first to change the date from the traditional August to January to coincide with summer...
in 1987. It can provide camping, bunk accommodation, and activities such as water slides, ropes courses, hiking, orienteering and an obstacle course.
Memorabilia Centre
The Scout Heritage Centre Workshop is located at BelfieldBelfield, New South Wales
Belfield is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Belfield is located 14 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canterbury and partly in the Municipality of Strathfield.-Location:Belfield has...
. It is responsible for the display and preservation of Scouting heritage.
Water Activities Centre
The Water Activities Centre was opened in WoolwichWoolwich, New South Wales
Woolwich is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Woolwich is located 11 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Hunter's Hill....
in 1973. It runs General Days, to allow members to experience canoeing, sailing and power boating and qualification courses for canoeing, sailing and power boating. The centre is is qualifed to run courses for NSW Boat Licenses.
Several centres are also run by the Regions, such as Camp Ku-Ring-Gai Activity Centre, Ingleside Scout Camp, Camp Kurrajong, Camps Coutts, J. Harold Kaye Training Centre and Bundilla Scout Training Centre.
Girl Guides NSW & ACT
In 1920 Dame Margaret DavidsonMargaret Davidson
Dame Margaret Davidson DBE was the British wife of the Colonial Governor of New South Wales, Sir Walter Edward Davidson...
, wife of the Governor of NSW, called a special meeting of prominent women in Sydney, to try to interest them in starting Guiding in the State. It was decided that Guides was not for them as girls already had sufficient opportunities to be outdoors. Nella Levy
Nella Levy
Nella Levy, nicknamed the Lev, was a pioneer of Girl Guiding in Australia. She was the first Guider in New South Wales. She had "a firm belief in the principles of Guiding, was young, keen, a dynamic personality, had a great sense of humour and fun, but was also a disciplinarian".Nella Levy became...
read about this meeting in a newspaper and wrote to the newspaper contradicting this feeling. Levy was subsequently was invited to tea at Government House by Davidson. Davidson told her "Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
would like to see Girl Guides in New South Wales, and I want you to start it." Levy took the challenge. She travelled widely, recruiting volunteers, forming Companies and enrolling Guides.
There are 11 Girl Guide Regions in NSW&ACT which include Northern Sydney, Greater Rivers, Cumberland Plains and Southern Sydney Rivers (the 4 regions of Sydney) and North Pacific Coast, Twin Rivers, South Coast and Highlands, Coastal Valleys, Central West, North West Inland and ACT&South East Region.
Araluen
Aruluen is located near JindabyneJindabyne, New South Wales
Jindabyne is a town in south-east New South Wales, Australia that overlooks Lake Jindabyne near the Snowy Mountains, in Snowy River Shire. It is a popular holiday destination, especially in winter, due to its proximity to several ski resorts throughout the Kosciuszko National Park, including...
. The site is popular for winter sports activities.
Glengarry
Glengarry is situated on the edge of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National ParkKu-ring-gai Chase National Park
Ku-ring-gai Chase is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 25 km north of Sydney located largely within the Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby, Warringah and Pittwater municipal areas. Ku-ring-gai Chase is also officially classed as a suburb by the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales...
. It comprises 34 hectares of bushland with established gardens and cleared areas.
RTS Tingira
RTS Tingira is located in Carabita. It is a watersports centre and offers activities such as canoeingCanoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, rafting, rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
and sailing.
Tara
It was announced in March 2009 that Tara, the Guides' campside in SilverdaleSilverdale, New South Wales
Silverdale is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in Wollondilly Shire. Approximately 30 minutes from the city of Penrith, Silverdale is a rural township close to the Warragamba Dam. The town's development increased with the construction of the dam...
will be sold to the Roads and Traffic Authority
Roads and Traffic Authority
The Roads and Traffic Authority is a former New South Wales government agency that was responsible for major road infrastructure, licensing of drivers, and registration of motor vehicles. The RTA directly managed State roads and provided funding to local councils for regional and local roads...
to be 'compensatory habitat' managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service
National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales)
The National Parks and Wildlife Service is part of the Office of Environment and Heritage - the main government conservation agency in New South Wales, Australia....
.
The Olave Centre is the largest in house accommodation area at Tara. The house sleeps 27 in dormitory style bedrooms. The Olave Centre also has a large commercial kitchen, a common dining and lounge area, and a large bathroom, including one for disabled use. The internal courtyard is used for inside activities and outside dining.
The Brownie Cottage sleeps 25 in bunk bed dormitory style accommodation. There is a bathroom, fully equipped kitchen and a large dining/lounge area. There is also an open fire-place. The back veranda is an excellent spot for looking at the stars. The Northern Room adjoins Brownie Cottage. It is a fully self-contained studio which sleeps 4. The Northern Room can be accessed through Brownie Cottage as additional accommodation or rented separately for smaller groups. The Northern Room was originally a garage. Tolhurst Cottage is quaint cottage style building with terracotta roofing and an open fire place.
Girl Guides NSW & ACT acquired the property in 1971. Prior to this, Tara was originally a cattle property of over 101 acre (0.40873286 km²), with a fairly large house, a small caretaker's cottage (which started its life as a workman's cottage at Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam is the primary water source for the Australian city of Sydney. It is approximately to the west of Sydney on the Warragamba River, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River, and impounds Lake Burragorang.- Overview :...
), a new set of cattle yards and holding yards, and a large equipment shed, with various fowl yards. The property was fenced into four paddocks - complete with a dam and a semi-dry creek - which bordered a permanent creek that flowed into the Nepean River
Nepean River
The Nepean River is a river in the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia.The headwaters of the Nepean River rise near Robertson, about 100 kilometres south of Sydney and about 15 kilometres from the coast. The river flows north in an unpopulated water catchment area into Nepean Dam, which...
at Bent's Basin
Bent's Basin
Bents Basin is a State Conservation Area near Wallacia, New South Wales, Australia within the Sydney basin geographical region. The site of a natural lake formed in an erosion basin banked by sandstone outcrops, Bents Basin SCA is a popular swimming location with a camping area and an education...
. Tara was the name of the original owner's daughter and it seemed fitting to keep some history in the name of the property.
After the site was acquired by the Guides, the stock holding paddock was turned into a sportsfield and carpark, and the equipment shed was fitted out with shelves for camping equipment. Paddocks were divided into camping areas, enclosed fireplaces were built and water was piped to all sites. In October 1971 "Tara" was opened officially by the State President Lady Cutler, in the presence of the State Commissioner, Lady Wyndham. Shortly afterwards, 2000 trees were planted on a tree planting day.
In 1972, the Nella Levy Chapel was built, to commemorate Girl Guides NSW first Guider.
Gang Shows and other theatrical experiences
There are a number of Gang Shows put on in NSW. A Gang ShowGang Show
A Gang Show is a theatrical performance with a cast of youth members of Scouts and sometimes Guides too, by invitation. Adult leaders and parents help out behind the scenes. The aim of the shows is to give young people in Scouting and Guiding the opportunity to develop performance skills and...
is a Scout variety show.
- Kirrawee Gang Show - started in 1959, located in Southern Sydney.
- Albury Gang Show - Started in 1965, in Albury, New South WalesAlbury, New South WalesAlbury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
. - Cumberland Gang Show - started in 1970, located in the Greater Western Sydney Region.
- Hornsby Gang Show - started in 1974, located in the Hornsby District, north of Sydney.
- Korimul Gang Show - started in 1975, located in Wollongong.
- Central Coast Gang Show - Started in 1986. Located at North Gosford about 1 hour north of Sydney.