Scouting and Guiding in Western Australia
Scouting in Western Australia, a State of Australia, is predominantly represented by a branch of Scouts Australia 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 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. 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 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”.[1]
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 started in Perth in 1962. Two Australian Scout Jamborees have been held in Western Australia in 1979/80 and 1994/95.
Sea Scouts in Western Australia are active. The premier Sea Scout 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 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 do a wide range of air activities.
Facilities
- Eaton Campsite. On the banks of the Collie River at Eaton in the Shire of Dardanup, just 8 km from Bunbury.
- Gilcreek Campsite. On the bank of the King River, 12 km from Albany
- Manjedal Campsite. Near Byford about one hours drive from Perth is the Branch's major Camp Site and Training Centre, established in 1967.
- Toowacka Campsite. Bay of Isles, Esperance.
- Vasse Campsite. 280 km south west of Perth near Busselton.
- Scout Water Activity Centre in Como, Near Canning Bridge 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.
- 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 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[3]
- 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.[4]
- 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.[5]
- 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.[6]
It operates two accommodation sites, "Our Barn" in York and May Yates Campsite, between Busselton and Dunsborough.[7]
See also
References
External links
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| Scouts Australia Sections |
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| States and Territories |
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