About the Project
We find ourselves at a very important time for Scouting with 2006 being the 50th anniversary of the Asia Pacific Region of Scouting, 2007 the centenary of Worldwide Scouting and 2008 the centenary of Scouting in Australia. So what better way to celebrate than sending a boomerang around Australia collecting Rovers thoughts on peace.
At the 21st Asia Pacific Region Scout Conference in Brunei Darussalam in December 2004, there were a range of discussions on activities for how we can celebrate these milestone events for Scouting, with one suggestion being for a Regional Rover Car Rally. This prompted Rod Abson, an Australian Delegate to the Conference, to think about how Australian Rovers could be involved in these celebrations. The idea of a Rover Peace Boomerang, that would travel around Australia, gathering people’s thoughts on the subject of Peace through accompanying logbooks, seemed to be a project with potential. The Boomerang, as an Australian Aboriginal tool that when thrown, returns to the sender, was a fitting symbol for this project.
The project was discussed at the National Rover Council Meeting in early 2005 and supported by the outgoing and incoming NRC Executive. Leah Bach, as outgoing Vice-Chairman was appointed as the coordinator of the Peace Boomerang Project.
There were several objectives when establishing the Rover Peace Boomerang initiative:
1. Engage Rovers in the lead up to the Centenary of Scouting celebrations – Having a way to raise Rovers attention and involve them in 100 years of Scouting is very important. By undertaking this project in the lead up to 100 years of Scouting, we have ensured it is fresh in people’s minds as we approach the centenary and have a project we can use in promoting Scouting achievements.
2. Capture the thoughts of Rovers and young people on the subject of Peace – This project provided us with a unique opportunity to get young people and supporters to discuss and record their thoughts on the subject of Peace. These logbooks will serve as a historic record and snapshot in time on what young people feel about this subject which can be referred to and utilised in promotions throughout the centenary years and beyond.
3. Promote the Rover Section amongst Scouting and the broader community – Associating the Rover Section with a worthwhile project such as a Peace Boomerang traveling around Australia would gather the attention of others involved in Scouting , the broader community and media’s attention.
4. Have a truly National Australian Rover Project – There have been few projects instigated by the National Rover Council that have the ability to engage with each Branch and Rovers in every state and territory. There would be the need for Crews and Branches to interact with each other in order to handover the Boomerang, encouraging a sense of unity for Australian Rovers.
On March 21st 2005 the Peace Boomerang Project was launched in New South Wales to coincide with Harmony Day. The Boomerang was purchased in the Northern Territory from a local artist called Kev Pearce.
The boomerang was only in NSW for a short time before heading to the ACT. The first handover was held in NSW at the National Rover Youth Programming meeting.
While in the ACT, Rovers shared the project with the current Governor-General; the previous Governor-General; the Chief Minister and the Minister for Children, Youth and Family Support along with each of the Rover Crews in the ACT.
The second handover was also held in NSW at Camp Howlong on the NSW/Victoria border. This camp was attended by Rovers from NSW, ACT and Victoria. One of the many landmark occasions on the weekend was the first ever Victorian Branch Rover Council meeting being held in NSW.
Whilst in Victoria the Peace Boomerang visited with all but five of the Rover Crews in the state.
The next handover was held in Peace Park, Hobart with the Tasmanian Rovers receiving the boomerang. While in Tassie the Peace Boomerang saw snow, went 4WDing and on the Tree Top Airwalk.
After receiving the Peace Boomerang, South Australian Rovers took the opportunity to share the project with the kids at Cuboree, the Governor and the King and Queen of Sweden who just happened to be in town. They also took it on a South Australian icons tour, from the Coopers Brewery to meet with the best iced coffee around.
The Rovers from Western Australia decided to share the project with their regional Scout groups and took it on a tour of the South-west. This trip saw Rovers visiting Groups that don’t have much contact with Rovers and was also the precursor to a new Leader joining the Scout movement. The Boomerang also got to ride with Santa in a local Christmas parade.
Once again, a handover happened in New South Wales. The Boomerang was handed from WA to Queensland at the 2006 National Rover Council meeting held near Woolongong.
Once in Queensland the Peace Boomerang headed to several sectional events including the Branch Venturer Coffee Shop, the Queen Scout and Baden-Powell Award presentations, it was almost burnt when Tandara’s Rover Den was torched by arsonists (but did get to meet some cute firemen and policemen all the same). The project also had its first birthday while in Queensland.
New South Wales received the Boomerang again in April 2006, just in time for their annual formal McDonalds dinner and the Royal Easter Show. It was in NSW that the Peace Boomerang had a chance to experience some of the more adventurous activities Scouting has to offer including abseiling and the flying fox.
Upon the conclusion of the project a dinner was held in Sydney. This dinner was attended by each of the Peace Boomerang Co-ordinators from each state as well as other Rovers, Commissoners, new Leaders and layside members.
After a journey of over 18,000km around Australia, the Peace Boomerang has completed its journey spreading the message of peace and unity in the lead up to Scouting's Centenary. The project has acheived many things for Rovers in Australia and has even spawed similar projects in the Asia-Pacific Region (the Peace Baton Project) and the U.S (the Peace Pipe Project).
The Peace Boomerang will be kept in a display case at the National Office in
Sydney along with the Logbooks. It will be available for loan by our Branch
Rover Councils for special events.