Gunnedah is leading a regional resurgence in the state’s Scout movement.
The 1st Gunnedah Scout Group was officially re-launched on Sunday after 15 years in the wilderness.
Scouts has had a presence in Gunnedah since 1911 but the last time a group was active in Gunnedah was 2010-11.
About a dozen youth members were “invested” and presented patches and scarves symbolic of their association to Gunnedah and the region.
The occasion was marked with official visits by Scouts NSW North West region commissioner Cassandra Hammond and chief commissioner Lloyd Nurthen.
“It is great to put Gunnedah back on the map as a place in which we have a scout group,” Mr Nurthen said.
He explained how Scouts NSW last year experienced a 17.5 per cent increase in membership across both youth and adults.
Over the last three years, Scouts NSW’s youth percentage has risen about eight per cent.
Mr Nurthen attributed the growth to a rebound off the back of the COVID.
“People are out in the community again and not stuck at home, not much in country areas, more so in Sydney, but we’ve actually seen some more of our growth in the regions – South Coast and Tablelands but even up here in the North West and North Coast,” he said.
Gunnedah’s Gail Paddison has been working toward the re-launch for more than 12 months.
She said scouts is open to anyone aged five years and up, teaching skills and character which people can carry for life.
“For kids who are not really into highly competitive sport, scouting offers them something different,” she said.
“It assists our kids to learn to be resilient, self-reliant and very community-minded people.
“They learn to adapt and keep going and that’s what I love about it.
“It’s fun, noisy, active, outside and it’s getting them involved in their communities.”
Ms Paddison said the Gunnedah group has been fortunate to receive much support from Scouts state office and Sydney region clubs. There has also been great assistance from neighbouring areas including Moree, Narrabri and Werris Creek, whose members were also in attendance for the opening.
Debbie and Doug Durrant from Werris Creek have been assisting with instruction to youth members during the Gunnedah’s first few weeks in training.
Mr Durrant, a former rail worker, said their group disbanded some time ago but it’s been great helping re-launch the new Gunnedah membership.
Meanwhile, new Gunnedah scout leader, Timothy Leong, brings a wealth of experience from his involvement in the Malaysian scout movement.
He said Australian scouts offers a more relaxed structure and incregreater say in the activities undertaken by members.
The Gunnedah scout group has conducting a trial since earlier this year, meeting weekly in Gunnedah and attending camps including their first competition camp where they earn points based on how they complete various activities, teamwork, and how they set up and look after their campsite.
Sarah Wise’s two children Zoe and Brayden are both Scouts in the group. She said she enrolled the pair as she thought “it would be good for both of them to learn some life skills and have a bit of fun while doing it”.
“They’ve absolutely loved it. Each week the section tries to do something a little bit different, but there are learning things that could possibly be useful later in life,” she said.
