Scouting and Guiding in New South Wales facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Scouting began in New South Wales, Australia, in 1908. In the early days, many different Boy Scout groups formed on their own. Several separate organizations started up, including the Chums Scout Patrols and the League of Boy Scouts. There were also Girl Peace Scouts, Boys Brigade Scouts, and Church Lads Brigade Scouts. Later, The Boy Scouts Association, The Girl Guides Association, and the Salvation Army's Life-Saving Scouts joined them. Some local Scout groups even switched between these different associations.

Today, most Scouts and Scouting groups in New South Wales are part of Scouts Australia NSW Branch. Girl Guides are mostly registered with Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT, which is part of Girl Guides Australia. There are also groups like the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association. Many ethnic Scouting groups exist too, such as the Polish Scouting Association (ZHP), Russian Scouts, and Ukrainian Scouts (Plast). Other groups include Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, Armenian (Homenetmen), and Assyrian Eagle Scouts. In the past, there were also Maltese, Greek, and Vietnamese Scout associations.

Scouts Australia NSW Branch: What It Is

Quick facts for kids

Scouts Australia NSW Branch

Headquarters

102 Bennelong Parkway, Homebush Bay

Country

Australia

Founded

1914

Founder

The Boy Scouts Association of the United Kingdom

Membership

13,942 youth members
3,114 adult members (2022)

Chief Scout

General The Hon. David Hurley AC, DSC (Retd)
Governor of New South Wales

Chief Commissioner

Lloyd Nurthen

Affiliation

Branch of Scouts Australia

Website
www.nsw.scouts.com.au

Scouts Australia NSW Branch is a part of Scouts Australia. It was officially known as The Scout Association of Australia New South Wales Branch. In 1914, The Boy Scouts Association from the United Kingdom created this NSW section. It became an official organization in 1928. When Scouts Australia was formed in 1958, this section became its NSW branch.

Who Are the Members?

The 2021-22 Annual Report for Scouts Australia NSW Branch showed that there were 13,942 young people in Scouts in NSW. There were also 3,114 adult members helping out. The NSW branch has 366 registered Scout Groups. These groups are managed through 54 Districts, which are part of 10 larger Regions.

What Do Scouts Do?

Scouts Australia NSW Branch runs programs for all age groups. These include Joeys, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers, and Rovers. Each section has activities designed for their age.

Where Are the Scout Regions?

The 10 Regions cover different parts of New South Wales. They are North West, Golden West, Greater Western Sydney, Hume, and Riverina. Other regions include South Coast and Tablelands, North Coast, Sydney North, South Metropolitan, and Hunter and Coastal. The "country" Regions usually cover a much larger area.

Scout Activity Centres: Places for Adventure

Scouts Australia NSW Branch has six special activity centres. These centres offer many exciting experiences for young people.

Air Activity Centre

This centre opened in 1971 and is located at Camden Airport. It's about 65 km (40 miles) south-west of Sydney. The centre has four Cessna 172 planes. Here, Scouts can experience flying, try gliding, and even take pilot training lessons.

Alpine Activity Centre

The Alpine Activity Centre is in Jindabyne, New South Wales. It's about 457 km (284 miles) south-west of Sydney, near the Snowy Mountains. This is a great spot for snow activities in winter. It has lodges and cottages for accommodation.

Baden-Powell Activity Centre

This centre officially opened in February 1929. Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, who started Scouting, visited it in 1931. It's a 36-hectare (89-acre) site in Pennant Hills, New South Wales. It's next to Lane Cove National Park. Many unemployed people helped build it during the Depression. It has places to stay and training facilities.

Cataract Activity Centre

This large 160-hectare (395-acre) park is near Appin, New South Wales. It's about 71 km (44 miles) south-west of Sydney. The New South Wales Government gave it to the Scout Association in 1978. It has hosted three Australian Jamborees and the 16th World Scout Jamboree in 1987–1988. Since 2010, Australian Jamborees have been held here every six years. The park offers camping, bunk beds, and activities like water slides, ropes courses, hiking, and obstacle courses.

Water Activities Centre

The Water Activities Centre at Woolwich, New South Wales opened in 1973. It provides fun experiences in canoeing, sailing, and power boating. You can also take courses here to get your NSW Boat License.

Other centres are run by the different Scout Regions. These include Camp Ku-Ring-Gai Activity Centre and Bundilla Scout Training Centre.

Girl Guides in NSW, ACT & NT

Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT

Headquarters

Locked Bag 950, Strawberry Hills, NSW, 2012

Country

Australia

Founded

1920

Affiliation

Girl Guides Australia

Website
https://www.girlguides-nswactnt.org.au/

Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT is a part of Girl Guides Australia. It has 12 Regions, and a volunteer manager runs each one.

Girl Guide Regions

The 12 Girl Guide Regions are:

ACT & South East NSW
Central West
Coastal Valleys
Cumberland Plains
Greater Rivers
North Pacific Coast
Northern Sydney
Northern Territory
North West Inland
South Coast & Highlands
Southern Sydney Rivers
Twin Rivers

How Girl Guides Started in NSW

In 1920, Dame Margaret Davidson, the wife of the Governor of NSW, held a meeting in Sydney. She wanted to start Guiding in the State. At first, the women thought girls already had enough chances to be outdoors. But Nella Levy read about this and disagreed in a newspaper letter. Dame Margaret then invited Levy to Government House. She told Levy that "Queen Mary would like to see Girl Guides in New South Wales, and I want you to start it." Nella Levy accepted the challenge. She traveled widely, finding volunteers and forming Girl Guide groups.

In 1926, the different Girl Guide branches in Australia formed a national group called Girl Guides Australia. Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT is still a member of this group. They follow the Australian Guide Program (AGP).

In January 2020, Girl Guides NT joined with Girl Guides NSW and ACT. This brought their total members to 7,800. It also allowed girls in the Northern Territory to join activities in NSW and ACT. This change helped manage resources more efficiently.

Girl Guide Properties

Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT owns some properties for activities.

Araluen

Araluen, near Jindabyne, New South Wales, is a popular place. It's used for both snow activities in winter and summer adventures.

RTS Tingira

RTS Tingira, in Cabarita, New South Wales, is a water sports centre. Here, Guides can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, rafting, rowing, and sailing.

Properties That Were Sold

Since 2000, Girl Guides NSW has sold most of its larger properties. This was done to help keep their operations going.

Glengarry

Glengarry was sold in 2021. It was in Turramurra in northern Sydney. This site had 34 hectares (84 acres) of bushland. It had cleared camping areas and special buildings for training and accommodation. The site was given to the Guides in the 1930s.

Tara

Tara was sold in 2009. It was in Silverdale, New South Wales, just southwest of Sydney. The property was over 101 acres (0.41 km2). Girl Guides NSW & ACT had owned it since 1971. It had several buildings for accommodation and activities. The Nella Levy Chapel was built there in 1972 to remember the first Girl Guide leader in NSW. Tara also had sports fields and campsites.

Gang Shows: Fun Performances

Many Scout and Guide groups in NSW put on "Gang Shows." These are variety shows with singing, dancing, and comedy.

Kirrawee Gang Show – This show started in 1959 and is in Southern Sydney.
Albury Gang Show – Started in 1965, this show is in Albury, New South Wales.
Cumberland Gang Show – This show began in 1970 and is in the Greater Western Sydney Region.
Hornsby Gang Show – Started in 1974, this show is based in the Hornsby district. Members from all over the Sydney North Region can join.
Korimul Gang Show – This show began in 1975 and is in Wollongong.
Central Coast Gang Show – Started in 1986, this show is at North Gosford, about an hour north of Sydney.

Images for kids

Scouts Australia NSW Branch logo
Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT logo