Scouting in Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

, 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 a 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 South Australia, a member organisation of Girl Guides Australia.

History

Scouting began in Western Australia in 1908 when eighteen year old Frank Roche from Spearwood

Spearwood, Western Australia

Spearwood is a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Cockburn. It was named by colonial settlers who noticed the native tea trees, scientific name Melaleuca lanceolata Chipolata, being used for spears by the Yugul Aboriginal people.-History:Settlement appears to...

 established the first Scout Patrol. By the end of 1909 there were 416 members in 16 Groups. In 1912, the Founder, Robert Baden-Powell visited Perth

Perth, Western Australia

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

.
Girl Guides started in Western Australia in 1915 in a very formal way when the Women’s Service Guild staged a public meeting, under Vice Regal patronage, in the Perth

Perth, Western Australia

Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....

 Town Hall on 28 June 1915. The Governor moved, “That a Girl Guide Association be formed in this State and that we apply to the Girl Guide Association of Great Britain for a warrant”.

Scouts Australia in Western Australia

The Branch is organised around Districts:

Perth Metropolitan Districts

• Perth CBD
• Northern suburbs
• Inner Northern suburbs
• Eastern suburbs
• Inner Western suburbs
• Other Western suburbs
• Coastal Strip
• Fremantle
• South Perth suburbs
• Inner Southern suburbs
• Southern Suburbs

Regional Districts

• Kimberley
• Pilbara
• Gascoyne
• Mid West
• Goldfields
• Heartlands
• Peel
• Lones WA
• South West
• Central Great Southern
• Esperance

A Scout Gang Show

Gang 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...

 started in Perth in 1962. Two Australian Scout Jamboree

Australian Scout Jamboree

The Australian Scout Jamboree is a jamboree which is held every three years by Scouts Australia. The Jamboree is traditionally held in early January and typically runs for 10 nights....

s have been held in Western Australia in 1979/80 and 1994/95.

Sea Scout

Sea Scout

Sea Scouts are members of the international Scouting movement, with a particular emphasis on water-based activities, such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and rowing. Depending on the country and the available water these activities are on lakes, rivers or sea in small or large ships. Sea Scouting...

s in Western Australia are active. The premier Sea Scout

Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

 Competition in WA is the Master Mariners competition. The Junior Shield is currently held by Bayswater Sea Scouts, the Senior Shield by Canning Venturer Sea Scouts and the Rover Oar by Pelican Point Rover Crew. There are currently 10 Sea Scout Groups in WA.

There is a Scout Water Activity center located in Como

Como, Western Australia

Como is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of South Perth. The suburb has a population of 12,423. Canning Highway divides the suburb.-History:...

 that land based groups can use. An annual regatta is held there.

Air Scouting is currently represented by the 1st Bullsbrook Air scouts. Air Scouts

Air Scouts

Air Scouts are members of the international Scouting movement, of their respective Scouting organisations as a branch, similar to Sea Scout branches, with a particular emphasis on an aviation themed programme and/or flying-based activities...

 do a wide range of air activities.

Facilities

• Eaton Campsite. On the banks of the Collie River
  Collie River
  The Collie River is a river in the South West region of Western Australia.The river was named after Dr Alexander Collie who, along with Lt. William Preston, was the first European explorer to find the river in 1829....
  
   at Eaton
  Eaton, Western Australia
  Eaton is a northeastern suburb of Bunbury, Western Australia, located 7 km from the centre of Bunbury on the south shore of the Collie River. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Dardanup, and the offices for the Shire are located within the suburb....
  
   in the Shire of Dardanup
  Dardanup, Western Australia
  Dardanup is a small town in the South West region of Western Australia. The town is located in the fertile Ferguson valley and is close to the Ferguson River.The area was first settled in 1852 by Thomas Little who named his property Dardanup Park...
  
  , just 8 km from Bunbury
  Bunbury, Western Australia
  The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
  
  .
• Gilcreek Campsite. On the bank of the King River
  King River, Western Australia
  King River is a small town in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. It is located 406 km south east of Perth and the closest populated town is Albany....
  
  , 12 km from Albany
  Albany, Western Australia
  Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
  
  
• Manjedal Campsite. Near Byford
  Byford, Western Australia
  Byford is a suburb on the southeastern edge of Perth, Australia, originally founded as the townsite of Beenup in 1906.Beenup took its name from the railway siding there, a corruption of the Aboriginal name of nearby Beenyup Brook...
  
   about one hours drive from Perth
  Perth, Western Australia
  Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
  
   is the Branch's major Camp Site and Training Centre, established in 1967.
• Toowacka Campsite. Bay of Isles, Esperance
  Esperance, Western Australia
  Esperance is a large town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, located on the Southern Ocean coastline approximately east-southeast of the state capital, Perth. The shire of Esperance is home to 9,536 people as of the 2006 census, its major industries are tourism, agriculture,...
  
  .
• Vasse Campsite. 280 km south west of Perth near Busselton
  Busselton, Western Australia
  -Growth and development:According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the Shire had a permanent resident population of 25,950 in 2004 with the town of Busselton accounting for 67% or 17,400 of the total. The Shire's permanent population is expected to continue to increase significantly to...
  
  .
• Scout Water Activity Centre in Como
  Como
  Como is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy.It is the administrative capital of the Province of Como....
  
  , Near Canning Bridge
  Canning Bridge
  Canning Bridge is a traffic bridge which is the most downstream crossing of the Canning River in the city of Perth, Western Australia. The bridge is a part of Canning Highway, and it connects the suburbs of Como and Applecross. The Canning River is approximately 100 metres wide at the crossing,...
  
   in Perth.

Major branch events

• Unearth Perth: An event to mark 100 years of Scouting in Western Australia. It is a competition around the Perth suburbs that was held from 31 May to 3 June 2008.
• Trek-about: Held annually around the Swan River
  Swan River (Western Australia)
  The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
  
  .
• Branch Scout Council held every second month at Baden-Powell House
• Branch Venturer Council held every second month at Baden-Powell House
• Rottnest Invasion: Held at Rottnest Island
  Rottnest Island
  Rottnest Island is located off the coast of Western Australia, near Fremantle. It is called Wadjemup by the Noongar people, meaning "place across the water". The island is long, and at its widest point with a total land area of . It is classified as an A Class Reserve and is managed by the...
  
   where Scouts do community service
• Youth Awards: Australian Scout Medallion, Queen Scout and Baden-Powell award recipients are presented their certificate by the Governor of Western Australia. Held every February.
• Camp West: Held every three years, Camp West is a small scale Jamboree for Western Australians. It is held in between Australian Jamborees.

The following are the major competitions that are held in Western Australia.

Scouts

• Cargeeg Challenge Shield (Scouts) - the Premier Camping competition in Western Australia for Scouts at Manjedal Scout Centre, is currently held by Donny Brook Scouts Troop.
• Master Mariners Junior Shield (Scouts) - the Premier Boating competition in Western Australia for Scouts, is currently held by Bayswater Sea Scouts.
• Swan Tiki - a Bi-annual Rafting event for Scout section, the overall trophy is currently held by Bibra Lake Scouts.
• Orienteering - held annually at a National park in Perth. There are many categories in which teams compete to collect the most points.

Venturers

• V4V - A state Venturer camp run by Venturers for Venturers including many activities and service
• Master Mariners Senior Shield - premier boating competition in Western Australia for venturers, currently held by Canning Venturer Sea Scouts.
• Mission Impossible - currently held by Subiaco Ventures.
• Vencarna is a car event similar to the Rover Baja Car Rally.

Rovers

• Master Mariner Rover Oar, a premier boating competition in Western Australia for rovers, is currently held by Pelican Point Rover Sea Scouts.
• Mission Impossible.
• Rover Motor Sports. The Rover Baja Car Rally.

Water Activities/Sea Scouts (involving more than one section)

• Swan-A-Bout, the 30 hours sailing Marathon for the Scout section and above. The overall Trophy is currently held by Canning Sea Scouts. Waylen Bay Sea Scouts holds the dinghy and the seaboat class while Canning Sea Scouts holds the catamaran and keelboat class.
• Pelican Point Regatta is held bi-annually with other Sea Scout troops holding the regatta every second year. The last regatta was held as Waylen Bay Regatta in 2006. The shield is currently held by the Waylen Bay Sea Scouts.
• Como Regatta: The annual regatta is held at Scout Water Activity Center at Como. The trophy is currently held by Waylen Bay Sea Scouts.
• Rowing Record: There is rowing challenge open to all Scouts and Venturers. It is between Nedlands and Applecross jetty. The current holders are the Waylen Bay Ventures, setting the record in 1984 in the sea boat Lyn Ward.

Girl Guiding Western Australia

Girl Guides WA has 2,600 members.

It operates two accommodation sites, "Our Barn" in York

York, Western Australia

York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated 97 km east of Perth in the Avon Valley near Northam, and is the seat of the Shire of York...

 and May Yates Campsite, between Busselton

Busselton, Western Australia

-Growth and development:According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics the Shire had a permanent resident population of 25,950 in 2004 with the town of Busselton accounting for 67% or 17,400 of the total. The Shire's permanent population is expected to continue to increase significantly to...

 and Dunsborough

Dunsborough, Western Australia

Dunsborough is a coastal town in the South West of Western Australia, south of Perth on the shores of Geographe Bay.Dunsborough is a popular tourist destination for Western Australians; in 1999 it was voted the state's best tourist destination. During the last decade the town has grown quickly and...

.