Cuboree 2014 - GWSR Scouts

Written by Anne Thompson on 15 January 2014.

Cuboree Thank You

Hello Everyone

Sincere thanks to each and everyone of you for the fantastic job you did on the very successful GWSR activity base - Wish Upon a Star.

Special thanks to:
Peter Zauner for the loan of the Yurt and for setting it up and taking it down - it proved a great point of interest and was just perfect for the Space base.

Mick Fry who devised, created and constructed the fabulous gateway for our base and the many helpers who attached the hundreds of decorated stars to the gateway.

Matt Borderly and the Nepean Rovers who hired the marquee out to us and then also set it up and took it down - a huge task and very much appreciated.

Shirley Robinson who made all the purple scarves and who joined our working bee to decorate them with stars.
Matt and Meagan Thompson and Chris Thompson who formed the working bee decorating the scarves (after some trial and error)!

Steve who came in as a day worker and did a great job helping out on the Space base.

Sandy and Rebecca who did a brilliant job running the Level 1 Space badge base.

Greg (Taipan), who planned, set up and ran the amazing Shrek's Swamp base along with Kathryn and Linda - you all did a brilliant job - it was a fun, as well as an educational base and the Line Leaders loved the Leaders' Rest Area!
Peter and his dedicated team who set up and ran the ever popular International base, including badge swapping and friendship bracelets.

Bob who organised the electrical power for us and ensured it complied to the safety standards.
Ayla and her team who did a brilliant job with Circus - the cubs and leaders loved the performances and the opportunity to learn a new trick or two.

Cassie and Anthony who worked closely with the Circus Team and did a great job of splitting the groups and trying to stick to the timetable - despite the best efforts of many groups who arrived late and caused us a great deal of difficulty in trying to accommodate them!

Tracey for her ongoing support of the Circus Team and gaining some valuable publicity for them.

Liz and Dean and the Junior Service Leaders from the Golden West who set up and ran the super Masks and Sculptures base.

Lorraine and George who did a great job taking care of our morning and afternoon teas and supply of cold water on the bases (despite supply problems)! They were also an invaluable resource for me with their history of having worked on the GWS base at previous Cuborees.

Ann from Golden West who took such good care of the JSL's welfare and ensured they were on time for the base.
All the Scouts and Venturers who gave up some of their holiday time to work at Cuboree - we could not have done it without you. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves and that the Leaders were kind to you.

Dave Stopps for his support and advice at pre Cuboree camps, for the loan of the tables from Bundilla and transporting them to and from Cuboree, and for supplying us ice and garbage bins from his sub camp when no one else would or could!

My husband Paul for all the lovely signs he made for the bases, the name badges he made for everyone, the support he has given over the last 12 months with planning for Cuboree, the packing and transportation of gear, the loading and unloading of 300kgs of clay (4 times), his help with marshalling and time keeping and his advice and encouragement when it all got too much!

I hope I haven't missed anyone - please forgive me if I have - it was not deliberate.

I have received many nice, positive comments from some of the line Leaders and members of the organising committee re our base. They praised the structured organisation, the timing, the enthusiasm and knowledge of the workers and the fact that they could have a little time out - many of these aspects were sadly lacking on the other bases - so well done.

Thank you everyone for helping to bring this base together, for your cooperation and support, for your time commitment and good humour ( despite a few minor hiccoughs along the way), for your patience with me (who has been a Pack Coordinator for the past 4 Cuborees) and above all for your friendship which you extended in true Scouting tradition.

Please let me know if you do not receive your certificate and thank you gift from Jan Goodall and I will chase it up. I also have some special pins for you, which I will get to you asap. Also, if anyone has any receipts that they need reimbursement for, please send them to me as soon as you can (350a Old Windsor Road, Old Toongabbie NSW 2146).

As Editor of The Bulletin - I would appreciate any photos you could send me for the newsletter or the GWSR website.

Best wishes for the rest of 2014.

Yours in Scouting

Anne Thompson
Region Commissioner (Cub Scouts)

Hits: 824

Written by Jan Goodall on 24 December 2013.

Cuboree Newsletter No 2 now available!

A new edition of the official newsletter of the Cuboree is now available.

Version 2
document Click here to download

Hits: 1136

Written by Anne Thompson on 11 December 2013.

Cuboree Update 3

Membership Cards

Every Leader, Scout, Venturer and Rover attending Cuboree is required to take their current Scouts Australia Membership Card with them as their ID. These cards were reissued recently – if you did not receive yours, contact your Group Leader ASAP.
Please note: This rule does not apply to Cub Scouts – ID tags will be issued for them and all non- members of Scouts Australia working at Cuboree.

Coaches

By now, everyone must have received an email from David Spears, confirming their preferred method of transport to and from Cuboree. Check the details carefully and contact David if an error has occurred. The coaches are booked and timetables set – do not contact David to complain about pickup or drop off times. We understand that many Packs have very early return journeys, but nothing will be altered so close to the event and we just have to cope with the timetable. Speak to your Pack Coordinator if you have a real issue about coach travel.

Independent Travel forms

All IT forms should have been completed and forwarded to me by now. If you or your child are not travelling to or from Cuboree by coach, then you are required to complete one of these forms for each person travelling independently. Don’t just presume, that if you are working at Cuboree and staying back to dismantle a camp or an activity, that you will automatically be driving your child home. You need to advise Cuboree HQ that your child will not be on the coach. This will help avoid any delays, while the Coach Captain searches for someone whose name is on the manifest – but never had any intention of being on the coach!

Early set up of camps

Everyone going to Cataract to help set up camp on Sunday January 5 and not staying overnight – is required to let their Pack Coordinator know their name and the registration plate number of the car they will be driving. The Pack Coordinators have to compile a list to give to the organisers, so they know who will be on site for the day and allow them access through the gates of Cataract.

Update On-Line applications

It is very important that you log back in and double check all the information on you or your child’s application forms - especially the medical page. Your Pack Coordinator has special Medicines List brochures that you can use to list all the medications your child takes and details specific times, dosage etc. essential for the Leaders who are going to be caring for your children.

Head Lice

Please check your child’s hair very carefully the week before Cuboree – this will give you plenty of time to treat their hair if necessary.

Cuboree merchandise

Time is running out to pre-order your souvenirs. Give your order and money to your CSL or Pack Coordinator ASAP, to avoid disappointment.

For more information, please click here check out the Cuboree page

Hits: 989

Written by Anne Thompson on 12 November 2013.

Cuboree Update 2

COACHES

Our transport is finalised and all coaches booked. Everyone will be emailed shortly and given their Coach number, Coach Stop and departure and arrival times. You will also be able to log back in to your on-line registration form for access to this information.

Please make sure that you are at the Coach stop at least 45 minutes prior to departure. We also urge all parents to park well away from the Coach Stop to allow plenty of room for the buses to load safely. The coaches will be numbered clearly and the Coach Captains will have a manifest of all passengers allocated to each Coach and will tick off each person as they board – so no one will be inadvertently left behind.

FACEBOOK

A special Cuboree Facebook page will be created, so that parents can see what is happening at Cuboree. As each coach arrives - this info will be posted, so that parents can rest assured that their children have arrived safely and are settling into their campsite.

The general use of Facebook is being discouraged, as we have to be mindful that we do have participants who cannot be photographed and their whereabouts kept secret. We do not want to put these people at risk, so please think before posting info/photos onto social media.

PHONECALLS

There will be a telephone number published prior to Cuboree, to enable people to contact Cuboree HQ. This telephone is only to be used for emergency calls, not for general enquiries.

Mobile phones have very limited coverage at Cataract Scout Park and there will be limited access to power for phone chargers. Cub Scouts are not permitted to bring mobile phones and Leaders are not permitted to allow Cub Scouts to use their mobile phones to call home.

Parents are requested to not call their Leaders for progress updates on their children, but presume that no news is good news. The leaders will be kept very busy looking after the entire pack not just the Cub Scouts from their home pack.

In the event of an incident or accident – the only person, who will contact the parents, will be the Camp Chief, Jan Goodall.

SUNSAFE

Jockey style hats are not suitable for Cuboree. All Cub Scouts are to wear bucket style or broad brimmed hats, which will offer better protection for the face and neck and help prevent sunburn. Please make sure your child’s name is in the hat.

Collared polo style shirts are encouraged as they offer better sun protection. T shirts are permitted but singlet tops are not permitted to be worn.

Please make sure that your child brings a tube of Sunscreen cream with him/her to Cuboree.
Write their name on the tube and place the tube in a Zip lock style plastic bag to avoid spillage.

BUSHFIRES

Many parents are concerned about the safety of their children in the event of a bushfire. Pease be assured that the organising committee is working closely with the RFS, who will be on site during the entire Cuboree. Fire breaks have been organised and weather conditions will be monitored very closely. Emergency assembly points have been organised and if fires are threatening and it is deemed necessary to evacuate the site – the coaches will transport everyone to a safe and suitable site either in Wollongong or Campbelltown (depending which direction the fires are burning).

In the event of bushfires - all parents are urged to stay home and await further information.

Please do not attempt to drive down to Cataract Scout Park to take your child home. More than likely you will not be allowed through, as you will be putting yourself at risk and hindering the work of the RFS, Police and Cuboree HQ staff. Please trust everyone to keep your children safe and sound.

SETTING UP CAMPSITES

Please note that Cuboree Pack campsites will be marked out by the Sub Camp chiefs on Saturday
4th January, so there will be no access to the site before Sunday 5th January. Some cooks or leaders are permitted to stay overnight in camp (Sunday night) but the majority need to travel in by coach with the cubs on Monday 6th January. Please make sure that you have completed an Independent Travel form if you are not travelling by coach, either to or from Cuboree.