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Welcome to the Scouting Lower North Island website
If you want to find out about your local Scout Group, please email us and we will direct you to the correct person in your part of the Lower North Island Region. (Taranaki through to Gisborne down)
If you want to read more details about becoming a registered member of this website, please read About this site
Friday 04 July 2008
Regional News 2008/25
Hi All, It was good to talk to Phil Meyer this week. He’s back home after 44 days in hospital following a stroke. He’s using a walking frame but is coping on his own with visits from his family and various helpers. Not bad for an 88 year old!
It was also good to hear of the appointment of Murray Charlesworth to the position of National Development Manager in National Office. The Hutt Valley and Wellington will miss his many, many years of local support but because of that he takes a wealth of Scouting experience into the national position. We wish him all the best and look forward to working with him to further develope scouting.
We say thankyou but not goodbye this week to Jenny Rodgers who has retired as the Hutt Zone Training Leader but I’m sure will continue to give us support in other areas. Prior to becoming the Hutt Zone Training Leader, on the introduction of new scouting last year, Jenny was the Training Leader for the old Wellington Area for a number of years and we thank her for the skills and dedication she put into these positions.
A small turnout from the Last of the Summer Wine Team this week but as they say it’s quality not quantity that matters. Foggy is away inspecting our new outreach in Tekapo so watch out for any press headlines from down that way (the key search word should be tractor).
On the weekend of 26-28 September the Hutt Valley Gang Show is hosting a combined Conference and AGM of all the Australian and New Zealand Shows. Some of our Australian attendees will require accommodation so if anyone can help out with billets for the weekend, preferably in the Lower Hutt area, please contact me on scoutseervicecentre@xtra.co.nz
SEA SCOUT REGATTA Regatta cooks The catering director for the Regatta is looking for staff 2 x Quartermasters, 4 team leaders (2 morning and 2 afteroon) and an additional person to prepare special meals. If any of these roles interest you please contact John Heaton j.heaton@xnet.co.nz
There are many jobs on offer at this event December 28 to Jan 4th 2009.. I will be looking for adults to act as bus captains taking groups of Scouts into the city with a walk and discovery sheet. (hey lunch will be provided). I would also like some hands to help on site (Titahi Bay Intermediate School) during the times that the Scouts are not out sailing or rowing.. some crafts, badge swapping, boards games and other.. I expect lunch will be provided again or if you want to stay on site there will be a charge to cover all meals. Just anyone with a day or two to spare... please let me know.. thanks heaps... Jacki Williams jakiw@xtra.co.nz (Director, Non Water Activities)
CENTENNIAL CUB DAY - INTERZONE CHALLENGE
Kapiti-Coastal, Rimutaka, Wellington and Hutt Zone Cubs will combine on Saturday 13 Sept to celebrate the centenary with an interzone challenge. 100 sixes completing, 100 craft projects, in 100 minutes. This will be from 2pm at Ngati Toa domain Hall. More details will be with Cub Leaders shortly.
Sue, Barbara, Lois & Heather, Sally & Elizabeth
LOWER HUTT ZONE Congratulations to our Zone Treasurer, Murray Charlesworth, on his appointment as the new National Development Manager for Scouting New Zealand. We have been fortunate to have had Murray as a member of our Zone team since the Zone was formed. We know that he has a vast knowledge of Scouting and many other skills that mean he’s well suited to his new role. On behalf of the Zone, I’d like to wish Murray all the best as he takes up this challenge.
Of course that means that we have another vacancy on the Zone Management Team. If you are interested in the job of Zone Treasurer (and Group Committee support person), or know anyone else who might be worth approaching, please contact me.
On the subject of the Zone Team, I would like to confirm that Jen has now finished as Zone Training Leader. Unfortunately, as yet we have no replacement, so for the time being any enquiries about training should be directed to me.
Andrew Rodgers Zone Leader
Zone Good Turn Since its inception over 100 years ago, Scouting has built its reputation around the outdoors and community service. In 2008, the Lower Hutt Zone is bringing these two ideas together with the “Zone Good Turn”. By becoming involved with community projects around our zone, members of the movement can both enjoy the outdoors for years to come, and inspired by our founder Lord Robert Baden Powell, know that they have played their part to conservation and nature.
The Zone Good Turn is for all members of the Scouting Movement and the public alike. Beginning at 10am on the 7th of September at Waiu Street in Wainuiomata, the planting aspect of the Zone Good Turn will run till 2pm. After taking part in the planting of flaxes, manuka and other natives along the border of a unique wetlands area, attendees are also encouraged to meet with the local mountain bike club and enjoy the network of tracks that make up the Wainuiomata Trail Project.
Considering this is also Fathers Day, as well as the beginning of Conservation week for 2008 this is a great excuse for fathers and their children to do something really worthwhile together.
For those in the Lower Hutt Zone, you will be contacted in the coming weeks with your time to show up as we need to set some controls over numbers at certain times. But for everyone else, feel free to come along and enjoy the occasion with us. If you get a little lost getting there, head downhill into Wainuiomata , take a left at the first roundabout into Parkway and again first left into Waiu Street. Go right to the end and you will find us there.
Thanks to the Hutt City Council and the Wainuiomata Trail Project, we will provide the plants and the spades, you bring your enthusiasm and your bikes!
Dave McCarthy Zone Good Turn 2008 Organiser.
KAPITI COASTAL ZONE Good to see our campfire photograph and write up appeared in this weeks local paper.
This week we had swimming sports in the Northern part of the Zone. Well done to Barry and St Mary's for organising a fun programme for the 38 Cubs & Scouts who attended. We are planning another swimming event later in the year.
Stituation Vacant A need has arisen for us to recruit a Zone Scout Leader. The person appointed will be responsible for maintaining contact with all the Scout Troops in the Zone, to support the leaders in presenting the programme, and to ensure that all training required by youth and adults in the section is arranged. If you are interested in this position and think you have the right skills for the job then please send a written application including a brief out-line of your Scouting experience to Jaki Williams jakiw@xtra.co.nz . Applications close Friday 18 July 2008.
School holidays have arrived so enjoy your break and don't forget to meet with your Leaders to plan next term. Must say the programmes are fantastic. It is certainly much easier to be a Leader now with all the programmes prepared for you. The volunteers who write all these programmes would love to receive feed back from you on what works and what doesn't. Send your comments to tony@scoutingnz.org.nz and he will send it on to the Leaders concerned.
Have a good week & enjoy the holidays Jaki Williams
BROOKFIELD: On the weekend of 5-7 December this year we will be celebrating 50 years of ownership of Brookfield by Scouting.
To mark the occasion we will offer free camping (not accommodation) to all Groups and scouting families that weekend and will arrange a number of activities and displays throughout the weekend including a campfire, scout own and celebration dinner. We also hope to offer free abseiling.
Those of you who know the Brookfield history will have heard the story of how Mary Crowther used to walk from here into Lower Hutt to get supplies etc. To mark the occasion and to complement the Te Araroa Walkway Challenge Weekend we encourage scouts to try variations of that walk into Brookfield. For example scouts from Upper Hutt, and Silverpine in particular, could come in from the top of Blue Mountains Road or Johnsons Road and then drop down directly into Brookfield. Similarly scouts/venturers from Lower Hutt and Stokes Valley could come in over the hills from Naenae. Wainuiomata Scouts can simply walk down Moores Valley Road.
It’s going to be a great weekend so book your site now on brookfield.camp@xtra.co.nz
LAST WEEKS TEASER: See if you can figure out what these words have in common.
1 Banana 2 Dresser 3 Grammar 4 Potato 5 Revive 6 Uneven 7 Assess Answer: In all of the words listed, if you take the first letter, place it at the end of the word, and then spell the word backwards, it will be the same word.
THIS WEEKS TEASER: Many years ago, befor modern educashun in the new millenium, one problem in skools was baseic speeling and grammer. To conbat this and rays acheivement, teechers were adviced to start at the very begining, at the yungest age. Once they had managed to breath new life into leessons, progres came quickly - sucess was then garanteed. How many speeling errors would modern skolars identify in this paragraph wivout useing spellcheck.
Have a good weekend, Ian Smith
Posted by Ian Smith on Friday 04 July 2008 - 20:08:17
I am delighted to announce that Murray Charlesworth has been appointed as the new National Development Manager for Scouting New Zealand.
Murray has been involved in Scouting for well over thirty years and in 2007 was the youngest ever recipient of the Silver Tui. In addition to his broad Scouting knowledge, Murray brings with him a wealth of skills from other sectors, all of which will be useful in the execution of his new role.
I would like to welcome Murray to the team, he will be a great asset and I am sure you will all join me in wishing him the very best of luck!
I should also add that the standard of applicants for the position was very high indeed and I thank you all for your interest and patience throughout the interview process.
Murray will commence his duties in National Office from 11th August 2008
Cheers Chris
Chris Hooper Chief Executive Scouting New Zealand
Posted by Ian Smith on Thursday 03 July 2008 - 12:00:44
Hi All, From all accounts the Centennial Campfires around the Region were a great success; I certainly enjoyed the one here at Brookfield. A number of people suggested it should be an annual event. In camp we had 1st Wainuiomata Parish Group and the Belmont Group in cabins and camping we had St James Venturers, Avalon Scouts and Belmont Scouts. Then late in the afternoon of Saturday we had all the other Groups in the Zone arriving for the campfire. We tried to make the campfire something special that the youth would remember. The weather was great until Sunday so that was a bonus The Belmont Group brought in a Kowhai tree which they planted to mark the Centenary of Scouting and the Campfire and Avalon scouts cleared the ditches of rubbish etc. Thanks guys. I’m struggling a bit this morning because I mislaid my specs last night so I’m wearing an old pair of Foggy’s to get me through this. They are not the best, in fact I think it must be the pair he was wearing when he drove the tractor into the lake earlier in the week. What? I hear you say, not again! We may leave it there this time though as a sort of icon, a bit like the carrot at Ohakune and the bottle at Paeroa - The tractor at Brookfield!!
SEA SCOUT REGATTA Regatta cooks The catering director for the Regatta is looking for staff 2 x Quartermasters, 4 team leaders (2 morning and 2 afteroon) and an additional person to prepare special meals. If any of these roles interest you please contact John Heaton j.heaton@xnet.co.nz
There are many jobs on offer at this event December 28 to Jan 4th 2009.. I will be looking for adults to act as bus captains taking groups of Scouts into the city with a walk and discovery sheet. (hey lunch will be provided). I would also like some hands to help on site (Titahi Bay Intermediate School) during the times that the Scouts are not out sailing or rowing.. some crafts, badge swapping, boards games and other.. I expect lunch will be provided again or if you want to stay on site there will be a charge to cover all meals. Just anyone with a day or two to spare... please let me know.. thanks heaps... Jaki Williams jakiw@xtra.co.nz (Director, Non Water Activities)
NATIONAL SNOW SCHOOL 28th September – 5th October 2008 (School holidays) – Mt Ruapehu For Venturers and Scouts 13+, beginners to experts. Learn or improve your skiing or snowboarding skills and have a great time at Ruapehu Scout Lodge with other young people. Book now to avoid disappointment. Fee approximately $675 for youth members and approximately $940 for adults. Covers all food and accommodation, lift passes, lessons and leadership. Applications close Friday 22 August. See more at: http://scouts.org.nz/sanz/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.21
NATIONAL MOUNTAINCRAFT SCHOOL 5th – 12th October 2008 Ruapehu Scout Lodge For Venturers 15+, Rovers and Rangers 15+, beginners to experts, to learn and do the real thing - ice axe and crampon techniques, rock climbing, snow caving, rescue techniques to name just a few of the specialised mountain skills covered. Fee approximately $450 Applications close Friday 22 August. See more at: http://scouts.org.nz/sanz/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.20
LAST CALL FOR HVGS ORCHESTRA MEMBERS! Many of the members of the 2008 Hutt Valley Gang Show Orchestra are in place, but we are still looking for a few good players to fill the following roles. If you are keen to help out, or know someone who would love this opportunity, please contact Eric Sidoti at hvgs2008music@yahoo.co.nz as soon as possible. Rehearsals for the orchestra begin in early August.
Violin Viola Cello or String Bass Trombone Clarinet
HUTT VALLEY GANG SHOW UPDATE A lot of hard work mixed with a heap of fun is going on at the Hutt Valley Gang Show rehearsals each Sunday. These first few weeks are being spent learning the music with six or more new songs being learnt each week. This requires considerable effort from both the cast and the musical team but the results are already plain to hear! This is just as well because we are already one quarter of the way through rehearsals.
Meanwhile the behind the scenes team is also hard at work constructing and painting the set, sewing costumes, organising props and undertaking the myriad of other tasks needed to get the Show on stage. Most departments have working bees once or twice a week to work on these things and rapid progress is being made off stage as well.
This weekend we have our first Gang Show Camp at Brookfield. This is an intensive two days of rehearsal which is always exhilarating but exhausting and we are all looking forward to it.
It is exciting to see just how representative of the Region this year’s cast is. Of the 51 scouting people in the cast, 13 are from the Rimutaka Zone, 20 are from the Lower Hutt Zone, 14 are from the Wellington Zone and 4 from the Kapiti Coastal Zone. There are 20 different Scout Groups represented in the cast: Silverpine. St Josephs, Totara Park, Avalon, Belmont, , Waterloo, 2nd Lower Hutt, Valley Venturers, Lower Hutt Zone Team, Eastern Bays, 1st Karori, Karori West, Northland, Ngaio, Paparangi, Tawa, Victoria Rover Crew, Whitby, Ngati Toa, and KayCee Rover Crew. So if you have someone from your Group involved how about having them with the rest of the Group share what they are doing at rehearsals.
With the school term about to end many sections will be starting to do their programme planning for next term. How about incorporating attending the Gang Show into your programme? Coming to a Gang Show performance is an ideal activity to do as a Kea Club, Cub Pack, Scout Troop, Venturer Unit or even as a whole Group. It’s a great scouting activity that youth and adults a like are bound to enjoy. This year’s Show celebrates the centenary of scouting in New Zealand, which makes it an even bigger reason to attend. There are seven performances to choose from, so make your plans and build it into your programme for the last week of Term 3: Monday 22 September 2008 at 7.30pm Tuesday 23 September 2008 at 7.30pm Wednesday 24 September 2008 at 7.30pm Thursday 25 September 2008 at 7.30pm Friday 26 September 2008 at 7.30pm (Rover Night) Saturday 27 September 2008 at 2.00pm Saturday 27 September 2008 at 7.30pm
Information about how to purchase tickets will be distributed next month.
Finally (at least for this week) we have recently reconfigured our website. So if you are looking for more information, check it out at www.scouting.wellington.net.nz (and then go to the HVGS 2008 tab). Alternatively you can contact Tony Dale at tony@pmi.co.nz.
The HVGS Team
RIMUTAKA ZONE 211 members of Rimutaka Zone took part in their Centennial Camp, and Campfire, last weekend in Masterton. Activity Bases included Abseiling, High Ropes, Low Ropes, Blind Trail, Making lanterns, Horizontal bungy etc etc..... We were joined by a handful of past memebers for the campfire itself, including Campfire Chief "Barney" Knox. Unfortunately the weather prevailed on the Sunday, forcing the cancellation of most activity bases (including a planned Centennial Battle under the guidance of Alf's Imperial Army), and after a brief Centennial Scout's Own the camp drew to a close. Thanks to all those Leaders, Parents, and Supporters, who helped contribute to this event.
Rodney Fraser Acting Zone Leader
SCOUTING PALMERSTON ZONE Special MSC promotion. Our special winter mountaineering safety offer provides an opportunity for people to buy our Alpine Skills Manual and Charlie Hobbs’ Staying Alive! DVD for just $39 rather than the usual $50.
WELLINGTON ZONE Wellington Zone Swimming Sports Once again we are holding the annual Wellington Zone swimming sports at Karori Pool, Donald Street, Karori. For Keas and Cubs on the 13th of August, and for Scouts on the 20th of August. Both nights run from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. This not an event for only serious swimmers! Apart from the standard freestyle and backstroke events, there will also be egg & spoon, flutterboard, t-shirt relays and other non-traditional races. This year we have a discounted entry fee of $1 per swimmer and free entry for adults. Further details from Craig McDonald, Group Leader Karori West. . (email craig.mcdonald@telecom.co.nz or fivemcdonalds@xtra.co.nz )
LOWER HUTT ZONE Give me a B… Yes a big BRAVO to all those who helped organise and run the Zone centennial campfire on Saturday night. Thanks, Ian and team. It was an awesome night. Somehow we managed to fit around 350 people (including the Mayor, David Ogden, and Scouting NZ CEO Chris Hooper and his family) into the campfire circle at Brookfield. The various Sections entered the circle from different directions to the beat of drums, the Venturers making an impressive sight with their flaming torches and the Scouts entering via Mary Crowther’s gateway. The Keas had already made a lot of noise practising the Kea yell beforehand while the Cubs were the biggest group. Many of the songs were old favourites, but some were given a new twist. In between, our livewire Zone Venturer Leader kept everyone on their toes with a series of yells. It was definitely a fitting way to celebrate 100 years of Scouting.
So what’s next? There are a number of other activities coming up: a Zone Winter Scout Camp in August at Brookfield; our Zone good turn on 7 September; the Centennial Cub Day on 13 September; and more. Plenty to look forward to!
Andrew Rodgers Zone Leader
KAPITI COASTAL ZONEOur campfire at Battle Hill was a resounding success with 300+ enjoying the event. I have had many messages of thanks from various parts of the zone but best of all was the response from the Ranger on site. He wrote "Glad you had a good time on Saturday, there were no problems from my point of view regarding the event, The place was spotless and the gates, when I went out at 9pm to close, were closed and locked so I was a happy Ranger". Three Groups camped on site, Waikanae spent two nights under canvas while Raumati and Titahi Bay stayed for one. Well done guys, there are not too many other organisations who could boast camping out on the shortest night of the year! Waitarere Group and Paraparaumu Beach enjoyed a campfire at Waitarere along with a sleepover. Ron tells me it was a great evening with 60 people at the campfire.. so well done. Newspapers have been chasing for interviews so I expect some good publicity in the coming days..
Stituation Vacant A need has arisen for us to recruit a Zone Scout Leader. The person appointed will be responsible for maintaining contact with all the Scout Troops in the Zone, to support the leaders in presenting the programme, and to ensure that all training required by youth and adults in the section is arranged. If you are interested in this position and think you have the right skills for the job then please send a written application including a brief out-line of your Scouting experience to Jaki Williams jakiw@xtra.co.nz . Applications close Friday 18 July 2008.
School holidays are only a week away so enjoy your break and don't forget to meet with your Leaders to plan next term. Must say the progammes are fantastic. It is certainly much easier to be a Leader now with all the programmes prepared for you. The volunteers who write all these programmes would love to receive feed back from you on what works and what doesn't. Send your comments to tony@scoutingnz.org.nz and he will send it on to the Leaders concerned.
Have a good week Jaki Williams
WAIAPU ZONE: About 250 youth, leaders, parents and supporters attended the Waiapu Zone Centennial Campfire at the Hawkes Bay Presbyterian Campsite by Tukituki River near Havelock North on Saturday 21st June. Seven Scout Groups were represented at the special occasion and each performed a little skit or song within the campfire circle. Mr Percy Clapperton, Baden-Powell Guildmaster (Little John Branch), was given the special honour of being the Campfire Chief for the evening. A leader from each of the four sections in the zone (Keas, Cubs, Scout and Venturers) carried four flaming torches, coming into the circle from each of the four points of the compass, they then lit the campfire. Everyone joined in the fun which followed including singing campfire classics such as Grand Old Duke of York, Kookaburra, Bingo, Gum boots and no campfire would be complete without the most famous scout song ‘Ging Gang Gooley’, written by Baden-Powell himself many years ago. Some people wore their campfire blankets and some just wore their jackets and beanies, but all came together to enjoy a wonderful evening around the warm campfire, just as scouts have been doing over the past 100 years. The campfire was followed by a supper in the campsite’s hall and the Havelock North Scout Group camped out on site for the night. It was a fantastic and enjoyable evening’s entertainment for people of all ages and this momentous centennial event will be sure to remain in the kid’s memories hopefully for the rest of their lives, as for many it was their first ever scout campfire.
Daniel Koehler
BROOKFIELD: I’m pleased to say Brookfield now has a new website thanks to Brendan Vercolen who has done a great job. Check it out www.brookfield.org.nz
Next week I’ll be telling you about the great opportunities we are offering in the first weekend in December when we will be celebrating 50 years of ownership by Scouting. Watch this space.
KEAS IN ACTION A letter has been received from the 'Kea Conservation Trust' in response to the money collected and sent them from Kea Day at Aotea Lagoon. It reads 'The Kea Conservation Trust would like to sincerely thank all Kea Scouts, their families and Scouting New Zealand for their support with our work and we look forward to associating with you in the future. It is heartening to see that Kea Scouts, with support from their Leaders, have taken it on themselves to help with the conservation of their name sake, our beautiful and inteligent New Zealand parrot' Well done to everyone who contributed, we were able to donate $71.40.
LAST WEEKS TEASER: Traffic was bad going to work this morning. I only managed to average 30 mph. How fast must I go home tonight, along the same route, to average 60 mph for the entire round trip?Answer: This cannot be done. It does not matter how far the trip is, if we assume that it is 30 miles, then the morning trip took 1 hour. So for the entire trip we have to travel 60 miles in one hour. Since we have already used up the hour in the morning, we cannot average 60 mph.
THIS WEEKS TEASER: See if you can figure out what these words have in common.
1 Banana 2 Dresser 3 Grammar 4 Potato 5 Revive 6 Uneven 7 Assess Have a good weekend, Ian Smith
Posted by Ian Smith on Friday 27 June 2008 - 14:03:27
Samuel Ogden [ 0 years, 0 months, 0 weeks, 0 days, 1 hour, 10 mins, 19 secs ago ]
Ian Smith [ 0 years, 0 months, 0 weeks, 0 days, 15 hours, 3 mins, 58 secs ago ]
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Chatbox
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Ruthless 17 Jun : 14:42 Hi There. I am doing my art portfolio on scouting and need lots of images to use to paint if any of you can help me please let me know all help will be much appreciated
Jemma Findlay 15 Jun : 22:18 oh yeah! so awesome that gangshow 2008 is finally here!!!!!
John 10 Jun : 20:03 Great to hear Jemma on the radio this morning saying that life was good because the Gang Show rehersals had just started and what a great event it was. John
Keith 01 Dec : 23:11 Hey Camp Manager - congratulations on the new appointment Ian!
Matt_Whitehead 01 Nov : 23:10 Venturer Fireworks, any changes will be placed on the NT website, none so far, buy your fireworks on friday, hope to see you all there.
Matt
Matt_Whitehead 26 Oct : 16:40 Wellington Area Fireworks, all invited, if you havnt recieved the email please goto ngati toa venturers website -search google or click on homepage link in my profile, all venturers and senior scouts coming up to venturers invited
Jemma Findlay 09 Oct : 09:38 and see how much we all actually remember? ok maybe not... just a get together would be pretty cool.