2 Weeks to Application Due Date

2 weeks to due date for applications for Scouts of the World Indigenous Discovery

Due date for applications: 7th April. The application pack can be downloaded from this website and submitted by email or post.

Included in Cost ($80)

All meals starting supper Thursday and ending afternoon tea Sunday
Semi-traditional dinner and transport to activities on ANZAC Day
All group facilities, materials and equipment hire
Camping fees and use of new Enviro Village hall at Camp Cottermouth

Program

Thursday 24th April (evening only)

Welcome to Country
Introduction to Scouts of the World

ANZAC Day Friday 25th April - Exploration

ANZAC Day Dawn Service
Aboriginal memorial service
Visit to a number of Indigenous communities and community groups in the ACT
Semi-traditional dinner with local Indigenous community

Saturday 26th April - Understanding Indigenous Issues

Discussions led by Indigenous guest-speakers on Indigenous health, education & employment, spirituality, culture and more
Small-group discussions and team exercises
Campfire and cultural presentation

Sunday 27th April - Implementing a Social Project

Project management skills
Challenging prejudices and conflict resolution workshops
Designing and implementing a social project workshop

Updates, updates

The application pack, the Discovery flyer and a number of other documents have been uploaded (see bar on right of screen). Please download these by clicking on the link and following the prompts.

Applications are due at the latest on 7th April 2008. Please get these to us before that date if you can, as we have an introduction pack to send to you once we have registered your application.

One of the documents in the pack is a form to complete your Scouts of the World Award that needs to eventually go to the National Youth Programs Commissioner, Julie Creed. This will take about two working weeks to be processed and a SW passport returned to you prior to the Discovery. This award is available to non-Scouts as well, and more information will be included in the pack.

Once we have confirmed our program of guest speakers, exploration and cultural activities, we will upload this onto the website!

If there is someone you think would be interested in being a part of the Discovery (particularly if they aren't involved in Scouts), please ask them to come along or email the organisers for more information. Only a bit more than two months to go!

Updates to Discovery Website

Due to some serious technical difficulties (and incapabilities on the editors behalf) the official Cotter Scouts of the World Base website is out of action. This official website is located as part of the Scouts ACT website, and this blog will be our temporary replacement for the duration of the Indigenous Discovery 08. It is a fun, easy to use blog, and will be regularly updated with news and information on the Discovery.

Please email me if you have anything you would like me to put onto the website.

Government says 'Sorry'

An excerpt from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's 'Sorry' Address.

"today we honour the indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment. We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation."

Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples House of Representatives Parliament House, Canberra

13 February 2008

Aboriginal Dancers outside Old Parliament House (AFP news)

Jude Kelly (from ABC news www.abc.net.au/news)

Sorry, the First Step (from ABC news www.abc.net.au/news)

Dates for Indigenous Discovery

The dates for the Indigenous Discovery have been finalised!

When: ANZAC Day Long-Weekend, 24th - 27th of April 2008.
Where: Camp Cottermouth, Canberra, Australia

More details coming soon!

Cotter Scouts of the World Base Up and Running!

The Cotter Scouts of the World base is up and running in the ACT!

The Scouts of the World Program has been developed by WOSM (World Organisation of Scouting Movements) and the United Nations and will see young people from around the world contributing to achieving the Millenium Development Goals set down in 2000. These include the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, universal primary education and ensuring environment sustainability.

The base will be an information centre and meeting place for people interested in the Scouts of the World Program, and will provide active support to the young people undertaking the Scouts of the World award. The main elements of the award are the Scouts of the World Discovery and the Scouts of the World Voluntary Service Project.

We successfully ran a SW Discovery and SW Voluntary Service Project in October 2006 as a part of the Solomon Islands Project. It was an amazing experience and we are now focussed on the process of establishing ourselves as a base, so stay tuned for all of the excitement!

Michael Freeman - Cotter Scouts of the World Base Chair