Dear Scouts,
Here is a quick update before we all take off on our holidays, so we can "be prepared" for next term!
Firstly, there is no scouts on tonight, Thursday 9th April, we finished the term last week with the ice blocking and BBQ.
Scouts will resume the first full week of the school term, so that's Thursday evening the 7th May at the hall.
We will have a meeting if possible on the Thursday beforehand with the Patrol Leaders (Phil and Tom) to map out the term program, but PLs only please, if available...
Now coming up in next term is an important event, the Region Rally. This is a great overnight, challenging, competitive camp and bushwalk and one for those up to it I would like to see some Avoca Scouts attend if possible. We haven't been for a year and the last patrol we sent in 2007 came real close (they did have a lot of fun though...) and would like to see an Avoca patrol make the the top twenty and get invited to the State rally this year, I reckon some of you guys could do it, you're good!
I can send you an application form for the Region Rally if interested and would like to see if we could form a patrol (or two!) to send, maximum of eight in each patrol. Note that with the term break, we will also need to send in applications as soon as we come back (possibly earlier, I'll confirm that), same week on the Friday, so this is the advance notice. I have sent out separate invitation letters to the Patrol Leaders so they know what's on.
Scouts, for the Region Rally you and your Patrol will be spending the weekend of the 23rd – 24th May hiking in the Wallaroo State Forest (North of Raymond Terrace, Newcastle), you will be relying on yourselves to find the bases, camping out in hike tents, cooking your own food and carrying everything with you that you and your Patrol needs for the week-end. It's self sufficiency, a bit tough, but a lot of fun camping and working together with hundreds of scouts from across the Hunter and Coastal region, many of whom you would have met at the Corroboree. At $12 camp fee for the weekend plus food, it's not an expensive activity...
It would be really good, if you could let me know soon by return email whether or not you may be attend this activity, so I can advise the numbers and start putting the patrols together. At this stage I do plan to attend as the troop leader.
Other things...
** Very Important** during the term holiday break we do have the Anzac Day dawn service at Terrigal memorial (next to the surf club) to which we have been personally invited in writing by the Terrigal-Wamberal RSL sub-branch, this is always a big event and one Avoca Scouts have always attended, it is early at 5.15am but very rewarding. FULL uniform please! This is a very moving and worthwhile service, to which you should also invite your family and friends to participate. At the end, breakfast at Maccas at Erina for all!
Also we have also been invited to participate in a memorial ceremony/service at The Palmdale Group's Greenway Park, Avoca Drive, Greenpoint where they need some people to raise the flag, (scouts are ideally chosen for this as we know how and we are really good community citizens...) this is at 11am, whether we do it or not will depend numbers I can get, it's optional but would be a nice gesture to do for the retired RSL folk and their families. This would be important if we could, as we will conduct the flag raising, but I do know people are also busy on Anzac Day.
Lastly, after a long Anzac Day, you're welcome to join me on Copacabana Beach for the last surf patrol of the season for fun and surf, as I will be on! Whew, what a day!
To help me with planning for these activities if you could please email me back when you can and indicate:
"I will attend (scout's name) or not the following:"
1. Region Rally (yes/no)
2. Anzac Day dawn service Terrigal (yes/no)
3. Anzac Day Greenway Park (yes/no) "
That would be appreciated.
All the best, have a great holiday, have fun and keep safe!
Musca.
