Merry Christmas

I, along with Akela, would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope everyone had a great day with their families. Included, are some Australian Christmas Carols.

Jingle Bells - Australian Version

12 Days of Australian Christmas

I hope everyone enjoys these two carols from us to you.

Centenary of Cub Scouting – Activity for Cubs

In 1916, it will be 100 years since the Cub Scout Section was introduced into Scouting. For those interested, the National Youth Council are doing some work on how to best celebrate this milestone. Please read the message below and have a look at the link and see what you can come up with

Cub leaders/ parents!
The Frankston Patrol of the National Youth Council are doing some work at the moment on how to celebrate the Centenary of Cub Scouting in 1916 (100 years since the release of the 'Wolf Cub's Handbook'). We've put together a short (and hopefully fun!) worksheet that we'd love to get out to as many Cubs as possible. Unfortunately, we need responses back by the 10th of February - yes, we know most of that period is over the summer break . We don't mind whether Cubs do them with the rest of their Pack or at home, or wherever else you can think of, but we would love to get as many responses as possible. More info, including the activity and a guide for leaders/ parents, here: http://nyc.scouts.com.au/2013/12/13/centenary-of-cub-scouting-activity-for-cubs/

Adelaide Test Match

Today was the 5^th day of the Test Match (a 5 day cricket game) at Adelaide Oval. Akela and I have been every day of the game. Akela is a HUGE cricket fan and loves watching the game. So, I was often there watching or sleeping in her bag.

 The game was between Australia and England, one of five in a series. The five game series being called The Ashes. The Ashes is the notional prize in a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. The Ashes are regarded as being held by the team that won the last Test series between those sides or, if that series was drawn, by the team that last won such a series. They were un officially started in 1882, when Australia beat England on English soil. The British vowed to “regain the ashes”, referring to the lost of the game to ‘the convicts’.

One of the entertaining aspects of the games between Australia and England is the English Barmy Army. Essentially, they are the English supporter fan base, and had their beginnings in 1994/95. Today, Akela took me over to meet their leader (of sorts) Jimmy.. He is often seen out the front of the group leading the singing and getting them fired up.

 

Overall, it wasn’t a bad way to spend 5 days and Akela certainly enjoyed herself (which is the main thing really)

Urimbirra Wildlife Park

Today, Akela and I visited Urimbirra Wildlife Park ( http://urimbirra.com.au/) The reason for the visit is due to Akela staying at Victor Harbor for the weekend with relatives from overseas. In true style, I managed to find my way into the baggage and when we visited the wild life park, I thought I would write a entry about it.

It was really a lot of fun and the overseas really enjoyed the chance to get up and close with a number of our native animals. It is certainly worth a visit and a very relaxed place. There was a chance to feed Kangaroos, pat Koalas and have birds sit upon your shoulder. I thought it was a really cool place to visit.

Scouts Australia Youth Program Review

Scouts Australia has commenced a National Review of the Total Youth Program from 6 to 25 years of age (Joey Scouts through to Rover Scouts); it is very important that we are all aware of the review and what it aims to achieve and contribute where we can, including the Youth Members. 

 Akela and I would like to recommend that people visit the Scouts Australia  Youth Program Review   and 'look it over' to get the details of the Review and learn how you and others can contribute. 

 We ask that you please spread the word and consider discussing it in your Groups, Pack Councils, etc. I suspect you will hear a lot more about this as the Review progresses, but you can get involved and contribute from now.

Least We forget their service

Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms
 Lyrics:
These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms

Through these fields of destruction
Baptism of fire
I've witnessed your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

Scouts Australia - Soputh Australia Branch on Totally Wild

This morning, The Bush walking group were on Totally Wild on channel 11.

If you missed Totally Wild Bushwalking story this am, check it out on Tenplay http://tenplay.com.au/channel-eleven/totally-wild/season-21/episode-125 Thanks Bushwalking Leader and Bloo Rover, Simon Inverarity and Stradbroke Scouts

We think this is a great way to highlight what Scouting in South Australia do.

PATHWAY TO RESPONSIBILITY - A reflection provided by Alan Welburn, Editor at News Queensland

Akela and I found this on the Queensland Scouts Facebook page and thought we would copy and past to my blog as we think it is definitely something worth sharing with people. 

PATHWAY TO RESPONSIBILITY - A reflection provided by Alan Welburn, Editor at News Queensland

There is something quite special about the way Scouts interact with one another.

The older Scouts welcome the new as if they have been part of the fabric forever.

The new learn from the enthusiastic teaching and encouragement of their peers and feel comfortable despite their obvious inexperience.

The Leaders tend to their flock as if the Scouts were their own, though in some cases this is true. Yet they allow the younger ones to find their feet, to make an error and unlock the solution.

In many ways it is about empowerment, offering a pathway to responsibility without browbeating and personal development.

It is all good to see.

It is part of what makes Scouting, well Scouting.

Scouts Australia - National Youth Council Survey

Today, through some of our scouting networks on facebook, the following information came through from Scouts Australia – National Youth Council. So, we thought that we would do a cut and paste and share the information here. It is a topic that we encourage as many reading this blog to read and help with the survey.
 
The National Youth Council is currently running a survey and we would love as many responses as possible.

What do young people value? What are they going to want in the future? We’re teaming up with the Youth Program Review to work out what Scouting is now and what it needs to be in the future, and we need your help!

Fill in our survey, pass it on to your friends, and for the first time ever do us an even bigger favour – ask your friends who aren’t in Scouting (whether they’ve left or never joined) to complete it too. This might take some persuading, but we know you’re up to it (and/or have a stash of fundraiser chocolates at the ready). This is your opportunity to shape what Scouting looks like in the future, and we want to make sure we hear from as many people as possible.

http://scoutsnyc.wordpress.com/2013/09/26/scouting-for-now-and-for-the-future/

  

Let's bring Winston HOME

http://neworleans.me/journal/detail/197/Bring-Winston-home#

We have been following this story on Facebook over the last few days. Last week, a stuffed dog by the name of Winston went missing in New Orleans. His owners are distraught and are desperately looking for him.

If you read the article at the link, the stuff dog has sentimental (and special) meaning to his owners. Especially as one of them is undergoing treatment for a medical condition in London.

So, I am asking everyone who comes by and reads my blog, to share the link with their networks. It would be great if we could get Winston back with his family, where he so rightly belongs.

Scouts South Australia on Totally Wild

Don't miss Scouts Australia - SA Branch's very own Chief Instructor and BC Air Activities with our new Glider and Stradbroke Scouts on Totally Wild, October 8 on Network Ten around Australia. If you do you can catch it on line after Oct 8 at http://ten.com.au/watch-tv-episodes-online-totally-wild-video.htm
more at http://www.sa.scouts.com.au/totallywild

We think this was so exciting, so we are sharing it with everyone who reads our blog. It is definitely a way to showcase what Scouts in South Australia are able to do. 

Hike the Heysen

Today, Seamus and I joined the Cubs from Playford and Mawson Lakes Cub Packs on a hike along the Heysen Trail. It was suppose to be a hike, followed by a sausage sizzle lunch and then some archery. However, the archery part had to be cancelled due to Insurance deciding that it wasn’t an appropriate Cub Activity. We are hoping that this will be changed in a few months though.

Either way, we decided that the hike component would still go ahead. Hike the Heysen is a branch activity, where Cub packs throughout the state would do a hike/walk along the Heysen Trail as a pack or district activity.

It was a nice day for the walk and everyone enjoyed themselves. Again, for those who are reading my blog and not from South Australia, more about the Heysen Trail can be found at the following link - http://www.heysentrail.asn.au/

Top 30 deadly animals in Australia - Australian Geographic

Top 30 deadly animals in Australia - Australian Geographic

This is a very interesting article to read. It highlights the many animals we have in Australia.

I thought that this would be interesting for the overseas readers of this blog to learn more about the animals of Australia.

Royal Adelaide Show

Today, Akela took us with her to work at the Royal Adelaide Show. It is held every September and the Scouts always have a display. It was a good way to spend a few hours in the morning, promoting Scouting to many who came through the display.

 Then in the afternoon, we had a chance to wander around the show. We were able to see some Pig racing, as well as Cows getting milked.

 It was certainly a long day, but overall enjoyable. Akela did the Yellow Brick Show bag, and was joined by her sister, niece and nephew. It certainly added to the day.

 Certainly a adventure we are looking forward to the show again next year.

Dutch Tall Ships visiting Adelaide

Today, we went with Akela to see the Tall Ships at Port Adelaide. It was a really good day out, with a lot happening.

 

It was a great day weather wise, and lots of people about. It was hard getting the photos we did. But we hope you enjoy looking at the photos we did get

 For those who want to know more about the Tall Ships we saw, you can find out more about them at http://www.dutchtallships.com/

 

7News - Tall order visiting Adelaide

On Saturday, Akela, myself and Semus will be heading to Port Adelaide to have a look at these ships while they are here. We are certainly looking forward to it and getting some photos of the ships while they are in town

Burning Issues in Scouting (A Australian Scouting Survey)

Hi All

Please see the following from the National Youth Council and for those reading who are based in Australia and within Scouting, please consider doing the survy. It would be greatly appreciated 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
What are the best and worst things about Scouting? What should be changed and what definitely should not be changed? We want to know!

Fill in our shortest ever survey of only 7 questions, and 2 of them are multiple choice, to help shape the future of Scouting!

Please share this survey to your friends, we want to make sure we hear from as many people as physically possible. Your views WILL be taken in to consideration for the future of Scouting!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ScoutsBurningIssues

Football game

Today, Akela is taking me and Seumus to the Football. We went to see Adelaide play Melbourne.

For those who are unsure, we went to watch Australian Football. More information can be found at the following link.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_rules_football

 The game we are watching will be a part of the Australian Football League - http://www.afl.com.au/

 Today’s game is to be the last game that Adelaide Football Club played at AMMI Stadium (formerly known as Football Park)

http://video.adelaidenow.com.au/2402162529/The-history-of-Adelaides-AAMI-Stadium

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/crows-fans-legends-unite-to-say-one-last-goodbye-to-football-park/story-fnia3xzy-1226703117513

 Over all, we had a good day out and really enjoyed it.

Introducing Semus

Akela Alan (the Akela from Playford Cubs) has bought Seamus O’Beanie, who will be staying with us for a few months before heading off on a world tour of cub packs around the world. Akela Alan (Akela’s husband – he is the Akela at Playford Cub Pack) is hoping that the host pack will send back postcards to his pack so they can put them up on the cub notice board. I am sure the notice board will look heaps good once the postcards start arriving.

 For those interested in keeping track of his adventures while he is with us, his blog can be found at http://seamusworldaventures.blogspot.com.au/

 

Planting onions UPDATE

As many may recall, recently Akela and I decided to plant some onions (see Planting Onions for when we started). Well, we have been able to take some pictures of the growth that has since occurred. A bit of a slow progress, but we are in fact getting there.

I hope to provide more updates as the project progresses.

Sunday Palaver 2013

Today, Akela was only running the one session (first one). Hence, was able to go to breakfast and then do her packing afterwards! She certainly found it far more relaxing that having to rush around.

 It was a nice day outside and we got to enjoy some of it, by running the session outside. Although it was a little cool.

 Before long, everyone had done their sessions, packed their gear and cleared their rooms. Lunch was delicious (Akela LOVES lasagna). It was greatly appreciated.

After a forum and some preliminary planning for Palaver in 2014, it was time to lower the flag, do one last look in the rooms to ensure all was packed before heading home.

 

I really enjoyed the weekend, and know that the write up doesn’t really do this justice. But hope the photos make up for it.

Saturday at Palaver

What a nice morning it was at Woodhouse this morning, and it was pleasing breakfast was breakfast was at a somewhat civilized time of 8am (anyone who has been on camp with Akela knows she is just as likely to plan it earlier – but not today. It was at a decent time! And there was plenty of choice as well. No reason for anyone to say they were hungry...

Akela was running sessions this year around Wide Games, but didn’t have any for the first two sessions (there were 8 sessions, but only 4 groups of 6 people rotating through, so there was some free time for all). So, Akela, being the slack person she is (but I am sure she will disagree with me), took the time to staple the handouts together in the morning (I guess it beat staying up until goodness know what time last night to do it!).

Due to the nice weather today, the sessions Akela was running were held outside. It was certainly very nice. The first group who did the session, ended up on Challenge Hill to plan their game (Akela was doing a session around wide games, how to create them, when to run them and themes etc).

The groups worked really well together and now Akela has to type up the game notes into something that is a logical manner!

In addition, the food was great and there was plenty of it. No one was going hungry.

During the evening, everyone got dressed up for tea (except Akela – what a party pooper!!! But I did get pride of place sitting i her uniform pocket so could see everything that was happening) and there was a lot of fun to be had around the campfire after the meal.

 

The Start of Palaver

Today, it was time to get ready for another weekend away with Akela. The reason we are going away is because it is Palaver weekend. This is a weekend where Cub Leaders get together, in a relaxed friendly environment to network, make friends and to exchange ideas.

We arrived early as we had gotten a lift up to Woodhouse (where we were staying in the Rymill Conference Centre) and were lucky enough to have our choice of rooms. Once we set up, it wasn’t long before other leaders started to arrive and name tags were donned, so people could get to know which sixes they were in for the weekend. These small groups were so that people could attend activity sessions together.

The evening was relaxed, with some getting to know you mixing activities, a lot of laughter and fun was had. Certainly was enjoyable seeing people mix and getting to know each other in a great atmosphere!

After some great supper (which included fairy bread!) people slowly started making their way to bed. But not before more laughter, and socializing (I think there is going to be a lot of that happening this weekend!)

National Tree Planting Day

Today is ‘National Tree Day’ in Australia. For those who don’t know what this is (mainly my overseas readers who read my blog) I can provide the following information. “National Tree Day and Schools Tree Day provide all Australians with an opportunity to do something positive for the environment and reconnect with nature, thanks to support from our longstanding major sponsor Toyota Australia. Hundreds of thousands of Australians planted over 1 million native trees, shrubs and grasses at more than 3300 Tree Day events in 2012. We work with councils, schools and community groups to make it all happen” (http://treeday.planetark.org/about)

Akela booked the cubs and joeys into a local site, close to the scout hall. While there weren’t a great deal from the group who attended, there were enough people attending that the planting was done in less time than the activity had been planned for. Which was a really good thing and certainly the weather played a part in this as well.

Overall, a nice day, and those of us who attended enjoyed the day.