Normanhurst Scouts

Earlier this year, Elisabeth McLaughlin (Lis) was presented with the Queen’s Scout Award which is the most prestigious award in scouting and is certainly more widely recognised than any other achievement award in any youth organisation throughout the world.

On the night more than 120 Venturers, Scouts, Rovers, Leaders, guests, family, friends and VIP’s joined together to witness and help celebrate Lis’s award. The night opened with an inspiring presentation by Tim Macartney-Snape OAM, AM the world renowned mountain climber and adventurer. Tim and Greg Mortimer were the first Australians to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1984. In 1990, Tim became the first person ever to walk and climb from sea level to the top of Mount Everest.

The formal ceremony began with Lis being “piped” into the ceremony before all the presentations began. Words of congratulation were given by VIP’s Judy Hopwood MP the Member for Hornsby, Kerry Griffin the Sydney North Regional Commissioner Venturers and Leonie Cooke Assistant District Commissioner Benowie before Tas McManis and Greg Clarke presented Lis with her book and award. Ben Power, one of our Assistant Scout Leaders and the last person from Normo the gain the award then congratulated Lis and they gave us all a brief insight into what it takes and the motivations behind the achievement. Stuart McManis then “Charged” Lis to discharge her duties as a Queen’s Scout. It was very moving to hear Lis speak as she thanked everyone who had guided and assisted her to this point, especially Mum and Dad.

As the ceremony concluded Lis was once again piped put of the hall through an honour guard of Queen’s Scouts and Australian Scouts Medallion awardees (of which there were plenty in attendance).

Now for the fun!!  We then served up a sit down roast dinner to everyone (thanks Alda and Paul). We watched images of Lis in her time in scouting whilst enjoying a great meal and company before partying long into the night with a disco.

It is often said that you are not awarded the Queen’s Scout Award, rather you become one.  This is certainly so in Lis’s case. Lis has been a shining example to everyone that she comes into contact with and we know that Lis will take the experiences, skills and values that she has learnt in scouting with her on all her life’s adventures.

On behalf of the Normanhurst Scout Group we congratulate Lis and say “Good Scouting”.

Hello To all

Just a note to inform you of our groups AGM/Cheese and Wine Tasting afternoon which is booked for Sunday May 16th starting 4pm at the Hall.

During the afternoon we will have our formal AGM process followed by A Social Cheese and Wine Tasting gathering.

BYO Wine,and Cheese, the group will also provide some as well ,

Please encourage your leaders, Parents and members to come along.

During the afternoon, the section and group reports will be read out, also formal voting in of the new committee members etc for 2010-2011 will take place.

Could all section leaders please pass onto the leaders and Parents and copy me in when this is executed.

Thankyou

Hello to all the Normanhurst Scouting families

Our first Hall Grounds Working Bee is scheduled for Sunday 28th February 2010 starting at 9am going thru to finishing approx 1pm.

WHIP< SNIP< BLOW< CLEAN<AND RUBBISH REMOVAL

YES we NEED a LOT of HELP this TIME as we have a list of essential maintenance items.

Including- lawn mowing, leaf blowing,  trimming bushes, rubbish removal, new locks, gutter cleaning, drains cleared, new path drain grates, internal cleaning.

So please come along and lend a hand, this invite is for all members and there families, this essential works is needed  to assist lowering in the running costs and keeping the fees as low as we can.

Please bring any small tools, box trailers for rubbish removal, ladders, wheel burrows, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, rakes, handyman tool box items. etc.

The group will pay for all tip fees and purchased hardware etc

Many Hands make the work look very small.

Paul Wise Group Leader

Become a Junior Service Leader at AJ2010!

Venturers: have the summer of your life at the 22nd Australian Jamboree at Cataract Park next January as Junior Service Leaders (JSL)!

If this sounds exciting, click here to find out more!

Future Scout Day at the Jamboree will be on Saturday 9 January 2010

Ever wondered what being a Scout was all about? Well here’s your chance! Become a Scout for a day on Saturday 9 January 2010 at the AJ2010 Future Scout Day. Future Scout Day is an opportunity for Cub Scouts to get a small taste of what an Australian Jamboree is all about. The day will run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. All details on the Future Scout Day Website.

Visitors to the Jamboree

If you are at the Jamboree and your family wants to visit you, the only open Visitors Day at AJ2010 is Saturday 9 January. For more information and for details of how all visitors MUST apply to attend beforehand see the visitors page on the AJ2010 website.

Keep Your Eyes Open to the Official AJ2010 Website

If you are not going to the Jamboree – or if you are and you want your family and friends to see the excitement and fun happening every day, keep watching the Official AJ2010 Website www.ScoutsAJ2010.com, because we will be putting heaps of videos and photos up on the website every day of the Jamboree, from our Jamboree News Network – JNN. There will also be a Video Activity base where patrols will make their own Videos, and the winning videos every day will be seen on JNN-TV, at the Jamboree site and on the web site. You will also see electronic versions of the JNN Daily Newspaper, and hear some sound clips from JNN 103.7 FM, our own radio station. So have everyone look every day to see if they can spot you having the Summer of Your Life!

National Strategy for Young Australians

The Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, recently announced the Australian Government’s intention to develop a National Strategy for Young Australians. The Government’s vision is for all young Australians to grow up safely, healthy, happy and resilient, and to have the opportunities and skills they need to learn, work, engage in community life and influence decisions that affect them.

Join in the National Conversation. Click here to find out more.

Scouts and CANTEEN!

Scouts from Lake Macquarie District helped to pack more than eight thousand bandanas for CANTEEN recently. Click here to learn more.

Attention Rovers – Oz Moot is open for applications!

The OZMOOT team is pleased to announce that applications for the 18th Australian Rover Moot OZMOOT are now open!!

To apply and for all information, go to this website.

Win a double pass to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs!

Courtesy of Sony Pictures, Scouts Australia NSW has 55 double in-season tickets to give away to 55 lucky Joeys, Cubs and Scouts to see the hilarious animated comedy, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”! Click here to enter!

Hornsby Gang Show – auditions!

Are you interested in singing, dancing, acting or performing arts? Are you from Sydney North Region and will turn 11 by 1st July 2010. Then come along and join in the fun of Hornsby Gang Show 2010. Click here.

Hello all sections

This year we will be selling Xmas trees at the BP Garage Pennant Hills rd Normanhurst on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December to raise money for the group.

We are asking all members to contribute and help in selling the trees over this weekend.

Schedule

• Saturday Morning 6am to 7am Unload Volunteers needed.( Pwise and Early Risers)
• Saturday 7am to 12 midday -  Scout Family Members
• Saturday 12 midday to 5pm-  Cub Family Members
• Sunday Morning 8.30am to 12 midday
• Joey Family Members Sunday 12 midday to 5pm  – Venturers/Rovers Family Members

If any one can not make there allotted section times feel free to assist on another sections time.

This is a fun and community interactive activity to end the year, hope to see many helpers,

NB- Could all section leaders please pass on this early warning invitation/request for help to there respective family section members also.

Paul Wise