Scouts celebrate with promotion day

More than 75 year of Scouting on the Peninsula will be celebrated at a Scout Promotion Day held as part of the Umina Uniting Church annual Spring Fair on Saturday, October 25.

The day will be held to advise parents and children about Scouting.

Leaders and youth members will be at the promotion.

"The Scout group has Joey-Scouts six to seven years, Cub-Scouts seven to 10 years and Scouts 10 to 14 years," said leader Mr Alan Ford.

"Next year the group will have Venturers 14 to 17 years.

"Adults are welcome as leaders."

Mr Ford said this year marked a significant milestone for local Scouting.

"It is the centenary year for Scouting in Australia, more than 75 years since Scouting commenced on the Woy Woy Peninsula.

"And 40 years ago, in 1968, the Woy Woy Presbyterian Church sponsored second Woy Woy (St Davids) Scout Group," Mr Ford said.

"Second Woy Woy met in the Dave Campbell Hall behind Woy Woy Presbyterian Church for nine years.

"The group consisted of a Cub-Scout section and Scout troop.

"In that period, the Scout troop awarded the highest number of first class badges in the district.

"In 1977, the Uniting Church was formed and continued sponsorship of the Scout group.

"The youth sections moved to Umina Uniting Church and the group name was changed to First Broken Bay.

"This matched the name of the Broken Bay Uniting Church Parish.

"First Broken Bay Venturer unit was registered in the 1980s.

Mr Ford said the group celebrated 25 years of sponsorship in 1993.

"At the dinner there were three leaders who joined the group in 1968 and, for the 25 years, had continuous service," Mr Ford said.

"The Scout group was fortunate because the sponsoring churches provided a meeting hall and equipment storage without cost.

"However, the Scout group assisted with repairs to the hall."

Mr Ford said the first Broken Bay group amalgamated with Ettalong in 1998 and with Umina in 2006.

"Broken Bay Scout Group is one of the larger groups in Gosford District," Mr Ford said.

"The group meets in Scout halls at Ettalong and Umina.

"Next year the group may restart a Venturer unit.

"The Uniting Church, although no longer sponsoring scouts, has continued a relationship with Broken Bay Scout Group."

For more information, contact Alan Ford on 4342 1515.

Press release, 7 Oct 2008 Alan Ford, Broken Bay Scout Group