1st East Ryde Cub Scouts -

Pioneer Pack

 

2008 - our second year - was even bigger and better than our first! Again we shared most of our activities with Explorer Pack and other Sections in our Scout Group, and this has greatly enhancing our strong scouting family spirit.

Throughout the year our best laid plans have often changed, and our first outdoor event set the trend. We had planned on doing an official “Clean Up Australia Day” site again, but when Group Committee scheduled our Group AGM on the same day, we took advantage of the situation by changing our activity into a follow-up to our tree planting activities by weeding, watering and in some cases re-planting the trees and shrubs we had planted some months earlier… leaving our parents to enjoy themselves inside at their meeting.

On the following weekend we braved the crowds at Balmoral for the “Sirius Cup”, and had great fun taking part in canoe races with other Groups from our Region. Following this, we have been fortunate to welcome “Armada” to our leader team, and although Armada is helping all sections we are lucky as at Pioneer Pack we seem to see him often.

Soon afterwards we had the pleasure of investing Isabel who had come to join us.

Later in March many of us took part in our Scout Group Annual Family Camp over the Easter weekend. It was during this fantastic time – thanks again Chippy and all who came! – that Rebecca Shoesmith and Lauren Reynolds were invested as fully-fledged cub scouts, during the evening and under the magical light of a real full moon. Fortunately, both their mothers have also become active members of our Scout Group, with Rebecca’s mum being our great assistant leader Jacala, and Lauren’s mum Helen often coming to assist at Pack meetings, and to use her expertise for some great activities.

Anzac Day at North Ryde was wet again, so the march was cancelled and we all crowded into the RSL club for the service. Afterwards, we went for an excursion to The Sphinx at St Ives, and hiked from there to Bobbin Head… in the rain. It had all the makings of a disaster with wet weather, wet track, rough terrain and an unexpected difficulty in finding drinking water at the picnic areas - but it turned out to be a very enjoyable, memorable experience... even for the two Joey Scouts Clare and Jacob, who managed to do all that the Cub Scouts did!

The next weekend saw leaders and older cub scouts at the District Cub Scout Leadership Course at Camp Windeyer [Crosslands]. Apart from cub scouts and leaders having the usual fun, we developed many great skills and enjoyed being with others from our District. Our old tents [christened the “Wiggles Tents” when One‑Tonner used them at the Group Family Camp] were a popular choice for the girls’ sleeping arrangements, but they may be outclassed next time by the heavy canvas pyramid-shaped touring tents kindly donated to us by Warwick, who was 1st East Ryde Scout Leader around the 1980’s; also Group Leader and later Moocooboolah District Scout Leader.

Also during May we bought a supply of new orienteering compasses and after an initial training session in their use at our Pack Council meeting, we have been making sure that our cub scouts know their map and compass work!

Next came the wettest event of the year: our Pack Holiday at Tea Gardens, this time being a shared experience with our Scout Troop. After settling in to the wonderful amenities at the Smith Family Camp – including lots of games such as table tennis, we all slept in our 5-star accommodation and watched the Scouts having fun setting up their tents outside… in the rain. Next day began with a visit to the ever-popular sand dunes at Darkes Point in Myall Lakes National Park. We had planned a going-up ceremony for David and Matthew , involving canoes. The choppy conditions on Myall Lakes precluded that idea, so instead we had a memorable ceremony huddled together in a picnic shelter at Mungo Brush while wild dingos roamed outside.

With just too much weather about we headed back to the comfortable quarters and amenities at the Smith Family Camp to spend the afternoon playing games and doing test work. Following yet another fantastic dinner [thanks, team!] we held a shared campfire with the scouts inside. One-Tonner was sprung big-time, as it was his birthday and all the other leaders made sure no-one missed it!

Sunday featured a wet lunch with the pelicans by the river at the main park in Tea Gardens… made more bearable by the scouts’ tarpaulins to protect us from the wet winds. We learnt later that this was the wettest weekend in Tea Gardens for over 10 years!

Sydney North Region Cub Scout Fun Day came on the very next weekend. It was held at Lane Cove National Park, and we had a lot of fun going around the various bases and doing a variety of activities. At our Moocooboolah Base we made and flew popstick boomerangs.

Sydney North Region AGM came on the next weekend, and our cubs were asked to open the meeting with one of our famous Grand Howls. We made an unforgettable impression. During that weekend One-Tonner and Hawk-Eye were doing an advanced leadership course at the same location – Pennant Hills Scout Conference Centre – and the sight of a few of our cub scouts roaming about brought a welcome return to reality for some of our fellow leaders on the course.

1st Annual 1st East Ryde Scout Group Campfire  followed later that day, also at the same place, and this was a lot of fun for those who were there. Our pack had individual Six items, and a whole-pack item called “American Names”. Thanks to all who were there, and to all who were victims of our humour and took it in good part.

 After the holidays, for National Tree Day we did a lot of tree planting and bushcare in Tyrell Park behind our scout halL.Together with Joeys and Scouts and under the guidance of Pam, our resident bushcare expert, we replaced trees which had died or been removed, and started work on the dreaded acetosa weed which is invading the bush regeneration area. A few weeks later we shared a night of Indoor Rock Climbing once again with Explorer Pack. There followed a night where we celebrated the Australian Centenary of Scouting by holding a “Brownsea Island” night, and then we visited the Ryde SES headquarters with Explorer Pack to find out what the SES do and admire all their big toys.

The Seven Wonders of Ryde was our theme two weeks later, and again we were joined  by Explorer Pack in touring Ryde and North Ryde to see what those wonders are, and which features we need to know for our Boomerang tests. This time, St Anne’s Church at Ryde topped the list.

Sydney Tram Museum at Loftus was invaded in September, on a showery Sunday which discouraged us from doing the planned hike to Audley from the tram terminus in Royal National Park. Instead, we spent the day having rides on old trams and inspecting the museum at Loftus. The looks of dread on the faces of the museum volunteer staff at the sight of the arrival of a 30-strong Cub Scout Group changed through the day, and after lunch they were so happy with us that we were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at many trams, trolley buses and related equipment not made available for public viewing. We were allowed to go inside trams normally kept roped off, and on one we were even allowed to handle the controls, under staff guidance. This was Andrew’s last activity with us, as he also has linked into our Scout Troop.

Badge and Test Work have continued at a hectic pace with the following being awarded:

Alex

Musician

L.2

Josh T

Cycling

L.1

Maia K-W

Artist

L.1

Ben W

Cycling

L.1

Andrew

Animals & Birds

L.1

 

Collector

L.2

 

Collector

L.2

 

Engineer

L.2

 

Cooking

L.1

 

Entertainment

L.2

 

Cycling

L.1

 

First Aid

L.2

 

Pets

L.2

 

Fishing

L.2

 

Space

L.2

 

Sports

L.2

 

Australian Heritage

 

 

Swimming

L.2

 

Landcare

 

 

Australian Heritage

 

 

Leadership

 

 

Gold Boomerang

 

 

Silver Boomerang

 

 

GREY WOLF !!!

 

Lucy

Art and Design

 

David Z

Cyclist

L.1

Jordan

Musician

L.1

 

 

 

 

Australian Heritage

 

 

 

 

 

Silver Boomerang

 

 

 

 

During the October school holidays, many cubs and leaders came firstly to the Field of Mars Open Day, and later to Tyrell Park to satisfy requirements for the World Conservation Badge and continue with bush regeneration work and other test work. We expect to see some World Conservation Badges completed fairly soon!

Meanwhile, we have welcomed more Joey Scouts to our Pack: Lucy, Isabel, Meg and Clare. Also, in the second half of the year we welcomed Ben J and Alex, who are both very keen new cubs.

Pack Council has changed throughout the year, with our veterans moving on to the Troop. Our current membership is:

Six:           Brown                   Green                       Tawny                     Yellow

Sixer:        Andrew                 Joshua B                   Benjamin W             Jordan

Second:      Joshua T               Rebecca                    Erina                       James

A few Thankyous are in order… to a great leader team, augmented by our new associate leaders Armada, Nushka, Kilky and Mrs Turra; parents, especially Helen, who turn up when needed, all other Sections in our Group – especially Joeys, who always hop to it and get out of our way in time each Wednesday; and, most of all, our fantastic Cub Scouts who share with us a lot of inspiration and fun.

At the time of writing, we are looking forward to the bike-hike / barbecue organised by Akela and the Explorer Pack team, visits to the Scout Air Base at Camden and to Ryde Court House, and our end-of-year events.

We all enjoy being together as Pioneer Pack, with lots of activities and great co-operation and shared experiences with all other sections of our Group. May the good times continue to continue!

One-Tonner