CHAIRMAN - RODNEY NOEL ABSON
 
Level 1, Scouts Australia House, 8 Help Street, Chatswood, NSW 2067.
Mobile: 0427 223 383. Day Phone: (03) 5444 7869. Night Phone: (03) 5442 8003
Email: nrcchair@scouts.com.au
 
I have been actively involved in the Scout Association since I joined the 1st Belgrave Cub Pack at 8 years old, in 1988. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the sections of the Scouting, achieving the highest award in each section. I joined Rovers at 18, and some of my experiences and positions held within committees and councils are outlined below.
 
I would like to see the National Rover Council move forward and be active in assisting the Branch Rover Councils, and subsequently the Rovers in each of the Branches. I also feel that the National Rover Council has a part to play in communicating Rover perspectives to the National Scouting personnel and commissioners. I would like to see that National level events, including the upcoming Tassie Moot are given full support, and promoted on an international stage. By strengthening our ties with fellow Scouters in other countries, particularly those with a Rover section, we can hopefully attain mutual benefits of continual improvement of the Rover section within our respective countries.
 

Scouting Experience (Rovers)


There is not enough space to give justice to the experiences I've had within the Rover Section, but to outline some of the main items that are relevant to the National Rover Council, and my background I have outlined below the crews I have been involved with and the positions I have held in the various levels of Rovers from Crew to National.
 
I enjoy the friendship of Scouting, the opportunities to get outdoors and to travel, and the opportunities to challenge myself personally and to grow from those experiences. The opportunities to help other people through Rovers and have brilliant fun along the way keeps me coming back for more! I have been a regular attendee at the major Rover events in Victoria, including Mudbash, Metropolitan Area Rover Ball (MARB) and Surfmoot, as well as many smaller events within the Branch, Regions and Crews.
 
Attendance at Oz Moot in Queensland in 2002 provided me with an opportunity to experience Rovers at its peak, providing me great memories and friendships I still maintain with Rovers from around the world. I attended the New Zealand Moot in 2003, providing another opportunity to see how Rovers operates in another country.
 

Crews:


Tom Armstrong Rover Crew (1st Belgrave, RYVER Region, Victoria)
Bevan Trimble Rover Crew (1st Bendigo, Murray Midlands Region, Victoria)
Wellington Rover Crew (Hobart District, Tasmania)
E.J. Marshall Rover Crew (Sherbrooke District, RYVER Region, Victoria)
 
Due largely to travelling for university, my involvement with the Rover section has included being a member of four Crews of varying time frames, which has been very beneficial in seeing how different Crews operate, the traditions and things they most enjoy doing, but most of all the friendships that I have made from meeting so many Rovers. I have spent most of my time with the Bevan Trimble Rover Crew in Bendigo.
 

Membership of the Rover Section has involved a variety of positions of leadership and responsibility including:


Crew positions held:


2003 - Marketing and promotions officer, Bevan Trimble Rover Crew
2000 - Crew Leader, Bevan Trimble Rover Crew
1999 - Assistant Crew Leader and Assistant Promotions Officer, Bevan Trimble Rover Crew
 

Region positions held:


2003-2004 - Chairman, Murray Midlands Region Rover Council Tassie Moot Expedition Committee
2002 - 2003 - Vice-Chairman, Murray Midlands Region Rover Council
2002 - 2003 - Murray Midlands Region Rover Council Baden Powell Award Guidelines sub-committee
1999 - Murray Midlands Region Rover Council representative to the Bogong and Baw Baw committees
 

Branch positions held:
2003-2004 - Chairman, Victorian Branch Rover Council (BRC)
*
Liased and assisted with the Region Rover Councils of Victoria, BRC delegates, BRC sub-committees (Mudbash, Surfmoot, MARB, Bogong, Baw Baw, Rover Marketing Team of Victoria, Risk Management Committee), Branch committees and commissioners, and the National Rover Council.
*
Chaired the monthly meetings of the BRC & BRC Office Bearers
*
Assisted in the development and promotion of 700+ Program ideas for Rovers, through the Murray Midlands Region
*
Assisted in the development of a Rover Ideals Course
*
Assisted in the development of 99 Ways to Grow Rovers
*
Developed 'Helped by a Rover' service and promotional project
*
Assisted in the development of the Victorian Branch Website
*
Regular contributions to Scout Magazine and Interchange Magazine
*
Assisted in the development and implementation of strategic plan for Victorian Rovers

 
2002-2003 - Environment Officer, Victorian Branch Rover Council
*
Developed, coordinated and ran 'Envirover', a weekend course for Rovers based on the World Conservation Badge, incorporating many aspects of environmental management and education.
*
Developed, researched and implemented a firewood plantation at Mafeking Rover Park, in cooperation with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, consisting of 2,000 Ironbark trees (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) to combat salinity and produce a sustainable, environmentally friendly product.
*
Researching and distribution of information relevant to water enhancement and fire protection measures.
*
Environmental education of primary school children.
 
2002 - 2003 - Deputy Chairman, Victorian Branch Rover Council
*
Co-ordinated the Rover involvement in the Oxfam Trailwalker
*
Represented the BRC at the Camp Managers Conference
*
General duties as directed by the BRC Chairman
 
2002 - Victorian liaison to Tasmania for Tassie Moot
*
Liase with Tassie Moot committee on Victorian involvement and promotion of the event to Victorian Rovers.
 

National Involvement:


2004, 2005 - National Rover Council Chairman
2002, 2003 & 2004 - Member of Victorian delegation to the National Rover Council
2003 - Victorian representative to National Youth Programming meeting
2002 - Secretary to National Youth Programming meeting
 

Rover Achievement awards:


Baden Powell Award (2001)
Advanced Rover Sectional Techniques Course
Basic Rover Sectional Techniques Course
TASC (Techniques and Skills for Committees)
Quality Scouting Award
Landcare Badge
World Conservation Badge
First Aid
Charge Certificate (Level 1)
 

Scouting Experience (Cubs, Scouts, Venturers)


Youth leadership
Youth leadership positions with youth members in cubs (1996, 1997, 2001, 2003), and Scouts (2000)
Assistant Cub Scout Leader with 1st Bendigo Cub Pack (2002-2004)
 
Venturers
I was actively involved with the 1st Belgrave Venturer Unit for several years, holding several Unit Council positions. Two main highlights included attending the Mega 10 Venture in Adelaide in 1997, and achieving the Queen's Scout Award.
 
Scouts
I thoroughly enjoyed the Scout section, was appointed a Patrol Leader and achieved the Green Chord Adventurer Level.
 
Cubs
Cubs opened my eyes to the possibilities of Scouting, and I achieved my Gold Boomerang, and earned 35 badges along the way - a record for Victoria.
 

Qualifications


2001-2004 Master of Environmental Management (University of Tasmania) (completing early 2004).
Course work Masters including four subjects, Environmental Planning, Environmental Technology, Environmental Values and Ecosystems; and a thesis: 'Monitoring the use of the Slaty Creek Wildlife Underpass on the Calder Freeway, Macedon, Victoria, Australia.'
 
1998-2000 Bachelor of Arts (Nature Tourism) (La Trobe University, Bendigo).
Specialised in Environmental Studies, Outdoor Education, Environmental Interpretation, Parks and Wildlife Management and Naturalist Studies.
 
I have been accepted into the Golden Key International Honour Society for being in the top 15% of students at La Trobe University, in 1999 & 2000.
 
I am currently employed as an environmental consultant to La Trobe University, Centre for Sustainable Regional Communities, carrying out work for VicRoads relating to road ecology.
 

VICE CHAIRMAN – JASON THOMSON
 
Level 1, Scouts Australia House, 8 Help Street, Chatswood, NSW 2067.
Mobile: 0408 531 564
Email: nrcvicechair@scouts.com.au
 

How I started in Scouts


I have been involved in the Scouts since I joined the 1st Forrestfield Cub Pack when I was 8 years old. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the sections of the Scouting, and learnt a lot of things along the way whilst having tons of fun. I have had some great opportunities during my Scouting Career and am honoured to have been elected NRC Vice Chair. I feel that I can now give a bit back to Rovers.
 

Aims and Thoughts


I would like to see the National Rover Council move forward and be active in assisting the Branch Rover Councils. Strategic Plans give us clear guidance, direction and something to measure ourselves against. I’m keen to assist Branch Rover Councils in developing or reviewing their Strategic Plans to take Rovering into the future.

Most Rovers would achieve their Baden Powell Scout Award during their time in Rovers if only they understood it better or did their paperwork. The NRC Executive will continue to promote the BPSA and develop tools to encourage more Rovers to undertake this prestigious award and reduce some of the administrative burden.

I have experienced international events and would like other Rovers get a chance to experience an international event.

I believe Rovering is totally awesome and would like to get Rovers more promotion and members. To this end we are looking at developing promotional kits that crews can use to go out and promote themselves. This kit will be inline with the upcoming promotion of Rovers by the National Rover Council. The biggest recruiting stream for Rovers is Venturers. I will continue to encourage and promote joint activities with Venturers at all levels. Roverscope will be running at the Venture, this is a great chance for us to plug Rovers to the Venturers.

Many of the Branch Rover Councils have excellent resources they have developed and lots of useful information along with heaps of great merchandise. There is no point re-inventing the wheel. We should be able to share our resources better and concentrate on developing new things. This obviously relies on all of the Branch Rover Councils sharing their resources, but is something I think will prove very useful to Rovers throughout Australia.
 

Rovering Career


My Rovering has been in two Crews and two different states…

Since starting in Rovering I have made contributions at different levels and in different roles

(in ACT):
Erindale Rover Crue (Erindale, Australian Capital Territory)
National Rover Council 05 – Delegate
TassieMoot Youth Forum - Representative
EskyMo Moot Chief
St Georges Day Organiser
RoVenture Committee
Branch representation to Ops Committee and Branch Executive Council
Branch Organising Teams for various events
Canberra Gang Show - Assistant Stage Manager

(in WA):
3rd Kalamunda District Rover Crew (Kalamunda District, Western Australia)
Rovers (3rd Kalamunda) – Crew Leader,
WA Rover Council 03 – Vice Chairman
WA Branch Strategic Planning Committee
National Rover Council 04 – Delegate
Numerous event committees and Branch representation
Certificate IV Leadership and Certificate IV Management
Perth Gang Show – Technical Team and Cast
 

TRAINING – ROBERT UNGER
 
Mobile: 0416 116 654
Home Phone: (08) 8258 0891
Email: nrctraining@scouts.com.au
 

National Involvement:
2005-current - National Rover Council – Training Officer
2004 - Observer to the South Australian delegation to the National Rover Council
2003 & 2004 - South Australian representative to National Youth Programming meeting
2002 & 2003 - Delegation Leader for the South Australian delegation to the NRC
 

Branch Positions Held:
2004-current - Personal Leader Advisor (SA Branch)
2003-current - Team Member – Rover Training Team (SA Branch)
2004-current - Youth Representative – Branch Operations Council (SA Branch)
2002-2004 - Chairman, South Australian Branch Rover Council
2001-2002 - Treasurer, South Australian Branch Rover Council
 

Rover Achievement Awards:
2004 - Advance Leader of Youth (Rover Section) – Woodbadge
2004 - Stage 1 – Train the Trainer
2004 - Geoff Schnaars Memorial Trophy (South Australian Branch Award)
2002 - Basic Leader of Youth
 

Leadership of Youth:
2005 - Director – Scouts Shouts Youth Theatre
2004 - Assistant Venturer Leader – Evitica Venturer Unit
2003-2004 - Venturer Leader – Evitica Venturer Unit
 

 

 

Want to know more?

Want to know more about Rovering? Then contact your local Branch Rover Council, call 1800 072 688 or email: nrcchair@scouts.com.au

 

The Adventure Continues