The Daily Bean – 15Jan

AJ2025 NSW Contingent Daily Newsletter

Jamboree is a family affair

Scouts is one of those things where when one family member signs up, the whole family ends up signing up.

Jan Whyte is a Venturer Scout Leader from Cobargo on the south coast of NSW. AJ2025 is Jan’s third Australian Jamboree; she also attended World Scout Jamboree in South Korea , VicJam and Vic Venture. “It’s taken me only seven years to become addicted to Scout major events,” said Jan.

Joining Jan at AJ2025 are five of her grandchildren – Chloe and Nate (Venturer Scouts), and Tom, Jazzie and Aidan (Scouts). Their ages are 17, 16, 15, 14 and 12 years, respectively.

This family is one of many who understands the strength and benefits of Scouting for young people and the local community.

When asked about what they most enjoyed most about AJ2025, they each had different answers.

Tom said, “I like learning new things and how to work as a team.”

Aidan said, “The esky racing and Australia Zoo, and the nightly badge swapping.”

Chloe said, “Being able to help Scouts understand more about the SDGs. Also, the opportunity to meet a wider group of people.”

Jan said, “I love being in Scouts because it’s like becoming part of a big family.”

I survived AJ2025

Thank you to Amber McDonald from FC040 for her design of our NSW Contingent I survived AJ2025 badge.

Amber is a free-range designer and comes from 1^st Cherrybrook Scout Group. Her concept for the badge is ‘togetherness’ and reflects the way youth and adult members from NSW worked together to have a great time at the Maryborough Jamboree.

Amber’s interests are art and Scouting, and designing this badge brought them both together.

VIP visit to AJ2025

For a long time, a Jamboree was the preeminent major event in Scouting. Even though you have the opportunity to go to many other national and international events and camps, Jamboree is still right up there as one of the biggest experiences for Scout-aged youth members.

There are some key things that have to be good for a Jamboree to be successful: good camping areas, good food, good attractions and activities, good health, hygiene and safety.

This week, Scouts NSW Chief Executive Officer, Carolyn Campbell, and Director, Bernard Cronan, visited the Maryborough site to see what participants and attendees from NSW are enjoying at AJ2025.

“The first thing I noticed was the sea of happy faces,” said Carolyn. “Heat, wet, mud. None of it seems to matter much to the Scouts. They look like they’re all having a ball and taking the weather in their stride.”

Carolyn and Bernard met up with some of the Queensland Jamboree Organising Committee, with the NSW Chief Commissioner and Contingent Leader, and chatted with Leaders and Scouts.

“We know that the cost of sending your Scout to AJ2025 may have been a stretch for families. The cost of living is hitting a lot of families,” said Bernard. “What I’ve seen here is a real ‘return on investment’ for families. The Jamboree experience is value for money, if their smiles and excitement is anything to go by.”

Scouts NSW CEO Carolyn Campbell

AJ’s got Talent final

Some amazing talent was displayed during the heats of AJ’s Got Talent. Singing, dancing, comedy – you name it, we saw it.

The finals were held tonight and the standard was exceptional. Miles from Victoria was the deserving winner of the competition.

Kirrawee Gang Show performed and received a special mention. They were also the closing act while the judges were calculating the scores.

Many Units celebrated their last formal dinner onsite and before the AJ’s Got Talent concert began, with street parties and celebrations in the Subcamps.