Scotch College

Our latest Queen's Scouts

This year two of the Unit's Venturers have achieved their Queen's Scout Awards. Alistair Rose (Class '98) and Robert Turnbull (Year 11) have completed over three hundred hours of work to obtain this very prestigious award.

The Award Scheme is designed for Venturers to gain the most from their time in the Venturing section. During the Scheme Al and Rob have attended several training courses emphasizing Initiative, First Aid, Ideals and Leadership. Through these they have met countless friends and have gained many new skills, which are much sought after by employers.

A very large part of the Scouting Movement is about 'putting back' into the community, and so a considerable part of the Queen's Scout Award is concerned with service. Both these scouts spent from six months to a year helping to lead a Cub Scout Pack, and training at a Youth Leadership Course.

Through this, many friendships were made with the Cubs and I'm sure that the two boys will go back often to see how the Cubs are faring.

Also, Alistair was involved in an intensive conservation project at a suburban park. He spent over fifty hours mapping an area of native grass in the park and pegging it out, so that the Park Rangers could look after it and make sure it was protected from all the sporting activities in the area.

Even after Queen's Scouts have completed all the technical requirements of the Award Scheme, they must be deemed, by the District Commissioner, to have a character worthy of the Award. While spending all the time completing the Award and doing school work, they must be an active member of the unit and keep the Scout Law and Promise.

This Award is recognised by the business community as identifying someone who can set and achieve goals, and who has leadership and organisational skills and we hope that it will stand these young men in good stead as they leave Scotch. The 1st Hawthorn (Scotch College) Venturer Unit congratulate Alistair and Rob for gaining their Queen's Scout Award, and know that they will live up to the reputation that has made this Award great.

Dr Wooldridge presents his trophy

Federal Minister for Health, the Hon. Dr Michael Wooldridge ('73) presented the trophy named in his honour to the winners of the 1st Hawthorn (Scotch College) Scout Troop best patrol competition, at the Troop's meeting on 7 October.

Dr Wooldridge is a former Troop Leader of 1st Hawthorn and achieved his Queen's Scout Award in 1973. He spoke to the Troop about his time at Scotch before presenting the Wooldridge Trophy to the Thylacine Patrol - who were judged overall best patrol during the year - and the Scotford Shield for best patrol on main camp to the Penguin Patrol.

The boys in the Troop were fascinated to hear about the massive Scout camps held in Dr Wooldridge's time and challenged both to make the most out of their Scouting at Scotch, and to employ their skills to the benefit of the wider community. Dr Wooldridge also greatly enjoyed a tour of the school, particularly a 'preview' of the Family Day Art Exhibition.