Scouting in Victoria

property is located on both sides of the Launching Place Road, Gembrook.

History

Gilwell Park was named after the original Gilwell Park in London. In 1920, the first leader training course was held at what would become Gilwell Park, after it was soon donated to the Scout Association.

Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting Movement, approved the naming of the new Training Centre and visited it twice, in 1931 and again in 1935. One of the features of the park is the "Chief's Gate", which was only opened for Baden-Powell, and after his death has been welded shut. Other locations include The Gauntlet Commando course - built for the World Rover Moot and the Lochaun, a lake that is famously freezing all year round - even in the depths of summer. The EM Derrick Pack Holiday Centre, a bunkhouse and hall/kitchen that is primarily used by Cub Packs for their Pack Holidays, as well as for training courses, and the Hoadley and deMolnar Training Areas are dedicated to Wood Badge Training, though like most buildings they are open for hiring.

Gilwell Park is home to the tri-annual Victorian Cuboree, a five-day camp that hosts thousands of Cub Scouts. Hundreds of Leaders, Venturers, Rovers also attend and provide much worthwhile service.

The Warden of Gilwell Park is considered a full Branch Commissioner of the Victorian Branch. The current warden is assisted by a staff of two paid Rangers who live on site.

Mafeking Rover Park

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. [ [http://www.mafekingroverpark.com/ Mafeking Rover Park] ]

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 besiged 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.

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.

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.

Alpine Rovering

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

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.

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 ideals of Rovering and are dedicated in their service to others. Roughly 200 members have since been invested, in a ceremony that traditionally takes place on skis in sight of Mount Bogong.Membership requirements are as follow:
# Be a member of the Alpine Rover Crew.
# Have attended at least 3 Bogong Chalet Winter Parties.
# Have contributed by the way of work or organisation to the Bogong Rover Chalet and Rover Skiing.
# Be nominated and seconded by two members of the Bogong Rover Crew.

Gang Shows and other theatrical experiences

* [http://www.gangshow.org/ Melbourne Gang Show] - started in 1953.
* [http://www.sunraysiascouts.org.au/gangshow/ Sunraysia Gang Show] - started in 1976, held in the states North West.
* [http://www.southmetroshowtime.org.au/ South Metro Showtime] - started in 1982.
* [http://www.strzshowtime.com/ Strzelecki Showtime] - started in 1969.
* The Whitehorse Showtime , started in 1965, is presented by the Scouts and Guides of the Whitehorse and Maroondah Districts.

ee also

* Scouting in Australia
* Baden-Powell Scouts' Association
* ESGAV-the Ethnic Scout and Guide Association of Victoria
* John Russell Savige

External links

* [https://www.vicscouts.asn.au/ Scouts Australia Victorian Branch Web Site]
* [http://www.vicscouts.asn.au/Heritage/history.php History of Scouting in Victoria]
* [http://www.vicrovers.com Victorian Rovers]
* [http://www.bogongroverchalet.org.au Bogong Rover Chalet]

References