Monthly Archives: September 2012

pics: All the fun of the fair!

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Yesterday was a special Kids edition of the Brooklyn Community Fair.  The tables were full of games, pre-loved soft toys, cakes and other tasty treats.  Pocket Money soon disappeared!

Brooklyn Scouts had a really strong presence, from Venturers through to Cubs: it was impossible to get inside the community centre without being tempted by a scout-served hot-dog, a turn on the real-life fruit machine (cubs and scouts make cheap labour), push the tyre or trampoline!

Whilst these activities make a bit of profit for the group, their main benefits are profile raising (Duane and Sue were distributing our information leaflets faster than a WWII propaganda campaign),  strengthening the links between the youth, parents and local community, and getting youth involved in fundraising activities.

Enough words – pics below…

[if you can’t see the pics click here]

Jamboree on the Internet – October 20/21

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JoTI 2012 Poster

UPDATED – New locations / options

Jamboree – a large gathering of Scouts who rally at a national or international level

Jamboree on the Internet (JoTI) – as above, but gathering online instead of in real life [IRL]

It was 55 years ago when amateur radio enthusiasts all over the global gathered and shared stories over the airwaves.  16 years ago (1996) this virtual gathering also started using the Internet.  Every year since, a virtual Jamboree has been held both on the air and on the Internet (JoTA and JoTI).

JoTI is a fantastic chance for leas, cubs, scouts and venturers to:

  • expand their computer communications skills
  • practice typing
  • learn the “rules of the road” for social networking in a controlled environment
  • earn a patch!

JoTI It takes place over the October weekend 20-21st.  You can login from wherever you have Internet access by yourself or with some others.

Families wanting to host groups engaging in JoTI should email donald [at ] clark-family.net, or use the comments below.  We’ll add them to a schedule:

  1. Sat 21st October to Sun 22nd October – Masterton, Te Runga Den, $35 inc Camp
  2. Sunday 21st October – 09:30 to 11:30, Clark household, Coolidge St, Brooklyn
  3. Sunday 21st October – 13:00 to 15:00, Alaigne’s House, Connaught Terrace, Brooklyn – 389 8970

The Queen thanks Brooklyn Scouts

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… well, through and instruction to her Lady-in-Waiting!

The Group wrote to the Her Majesty earlier in the year, to pass on its congratulations during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  Part of the Scout Promise involves doing our duty to the Queen – and this was a nice way to do so.

Hopefully, we’ll get the response displayed in the Hall in Term 4.

pics: First aid and fighter pilots

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A great end to Term 3 for the cubs – excellent instruction on ‘first response’ first aid techniques (how to make an emergency call, recovery position, victim checks) and then a visit from a fighter pilot in a pressure suit!

Big thanks to parents Sylvie and Helen who shared their skills and enthusiasm with the cubs. And to Leader Henry for adding a third skilled set of hands for the evening.

Voices from the past: 50th Jubilee booklet now online

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Thanks to our friends at the Alexander Turnbull Library, we now have a digital copy of the Brooklyn Scouts 50th Anniversary Booklet from 1959 (also available on our History page)!

The booklet, produced 50 years ago contains a  number of gems:

  • The Troop being “forced” out of the Baptist Church Hall c. 1925 after a change in Minister
  • The phenomenal effort by Mr A Cowen (a builder) to drive the funding and construction of our current Hall, opened on 21st November 1931
  • The scout “senior patrol” producing 2 Queen’s Scouts in 1959
  • The memorium to 8 ex-Scouts “who laid down their lives for their country in the 1939-45 War”
  • The plea to parents to “attend the Annual Meeting and other special functions, and to see that your boys are smartly turned out”!

Share your favourite bits in the comments, below.