Rovering in Victoria

Scouts Australia Victorian Branch Rover Section
Age range	17–26
Headquarters	Victorian Rover Centre
Location	Melbourne
Country	Australia
Chief Scout of Victoria	Alex Chernov
Chief Commissioner of Victoria	Bob Taylor
Branch Commissioner for Rovers	Craig Whan
Affiliation	Scouts Australia - Victoria Branch
Previous Venturers
Website http://www.vicrovers.com
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Rovering in Victoria is part of Scouting in Victoria and is predominantly the Rover section of Scouts Australia in Victoria, Australia, which is run by the Victorian Branch Rover Council. At the 2008 Census, there were 950 registered Rovers in Victoria, in roughly 100 Rover Crews.

Rovers, is the fifth and final section of Scouts Australia, and began in 1918. Rovers are aged between 17 (usually 18) 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 taking up Rovering, whether or not they have been in Scouts before. The section is based on Baden-Powell's book Rovering to Success and the theme of knighthood. Rovers are actively encouraged to become better citizens through taking part in Scouts Australia's nationally accredited training programs, developing leadership skills, participating in outdoor activities, attending, both as participants and staff, at national and international events, providing service to the community and generally building their life skills.

Rovers are distinguished from other scouts and leaders by a red panel on the blue uniform shirt across the arms and shoulders, with green "epaulette" badges on each shoulder, and the 'shoulder knot' of five ribbons (tan for Joeys, yellow for Cubs, green for Scouts, maroon for Venturers and red for Rovers) on the left shoulder, symbolising the role of the Rover Section in helping and protecting their younger brothers and sisters.

An interesting fact is that the Victorian Rovers kick-started recreational skiing's popularity in Australia, at a time where they would often have to hike up the mountains after making their own skis.^{[citation needed]}

Branch Organisation

There are seven Region Rover Councils operating in Victoria and these Councils are used to run events, help with marketing, and otherwise support local Rover Crews. They report to the statewide Branch Rover Council. Numerous sub committees of the Branch Rover council also manage some of the Rover property and events.

Rover Scout Motorsport

Rover Scout Motorsport (RSM) is a subcommittee of the Branch Rover Council and oversees all Rover Motorsport events in Victoria, ensuring that they follow the strict speed, safety, alcohol and racing policies of the Confederation of Australian Motorsport. Rover Motorsport was briefly stopped for three years in the early 2000s when insurance was lost. It is the continued affiliation with CAMS that allows Rovers to continue racing. They were congratulated by the then Minister for Sport and Recreation, James Merlino, for their road safety programme targeted to scouts at the Australian Scout Jamboree ^[1] in 2007.

Rover Assets

Mafeking Rover Park

Mafeking Rover Park
Owner	Victorian Branch Rover Council
Location	Caveat, Victoria
Country	Australia
Founded	1991
Founder	Victorian Branch Rover Council
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Mafeking Rover Park is a campground which is fully owned and operated by the Victorian Branch Rover Council and was originally anticipated as a home for Victorian Rover Scout Motorsport. Located 32 km from Yea, it is a 130 Hectares mix of open land and scrub.^[2]

Although it is called a Rover Park, its use is open to all sections of the Scouting Movement, and any others who wish to hire it.

Mafeking was named after the South African town of Mafeking, which was besieged for 219 days during the Second Boer War. The Garrison was commanded by Scouting Founder Lt General Lord Sir Robert Baden-Powell of Gilwell, who with 2,000 British soldiers held off 8,000 Boer Soldiers until relieved, catapulting Baden-Powell to the status of a national hero.^[2]

Mafeking's facilities include a 4-cargo-container-tall abseiling tower, commando, orienteering and 9-hole golf courses. Lake Surfmoot provides an area for canoeing, and there are numerous walking tracks. Accommodation is offered in the Troop Hall, Bunkhouses and on standard campsites. Mafeking also has numerous motorsport related facilities with well maintained tracks that are set up in compliance with the requirements of the Confederation of Australian Motorsport.^[2]

Mafeking is home to a large variety of Australian fauna and flora, such as Kangaroos, Koalas, Swap Wallabys, Possums, Bats, as well as a multitude of lizards, Frogs, Birds and Fish. Local indigenous plants are used at Mafeking, both from propagated species collected from the local area, and through revegetation efforts.^[2]

Rover Skiing

Alpine Rovering in Victoria takes place mainly in the W.F. Waters or Baw Baw Rover Chalet and the Bogong Rover Chalet, home to the Alpine Rover Crew and now also the Alpine Venturer Unit.^[3]

Bogong Rover Chalet
Owner	Bogong Rover Crew Victorian Branch Rover Council
Location	Alpine National Park, Victoria
Country	Australia
Founded	1934
Founder	W.F Waters
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The Alpine Rover Crew was formed in 1940 by W.F. "Bill" Waters, Branch Commissioner - Rovers during 1930 - 1965, to promote the Bogong Rover Chalet. All invested Rover or Leaders, who have completed a Bogong Winter Party, become a member during their first winter party. The Alpine Venturer Unit was formed in 2000, mostly by the hard work of Matt & Ian Franzke. It is used as many Venturers visit the chalet but cannot be invested into a Rover Crew.^[3]

Before 1940 and the birth of the Alpine Rover Crew, the Bogong Rover Crew carried out the same purpose. However since then, membership has become an award for services to Alpine Rovering. Members have displayed the of Rovering and are dedicated in their service to others. Roughly 200 members have since been invested, in a ceremony on skis that traditionally takes place at "Investiture Point" the closest place to the Chalet you can see Mount Bogong, where the ashes of W.F. Waters were scattered.^[3]

Bogong Rover Chalet was one of the first ski lodges on the Bogong High Plains which is why it is so far from the village of Falls Creek. Similarly, the WF Waters Lodge is the closest to the carpark at Mount Baw Baw Village.

References

1. ^ Scouts Honour for Rover Motorsports Club Members, From the Office of the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Media Release, 14 March 2007
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Mafeking Rover Park
3. ^ ^{a b c} www.bogongroverchalet.org