Rovers (Australia)

Rover Scouts, also known as Rovers, is the fifth and final youth section of Scouts Australia, Rover Scouts are adults aged between 18 and 25 years of age and are organised into local Units, which can be associated with a Scout Group or operate stand-alone.

Scouts Australia
Age range18–25
Founded1918
FounderLord Baden Powell
Website
Rovers Australia

Rover Scouts began in 1918, and are based on founder Baden-Powell's book Rovering to Success at the time using the theme of St George or knighthood but today use a wide variety of themes or none at all. Rover Scouts are actively encouraged to become better citizens through taking part in Scouts Australia's training programs, developing leadership skills, participating in outdoor activities, attending national and international events, providing service to the community and generally building their life skills.

Rover Scouts are distinguished by a red shoulder panel on the blue Scout uniform shirt with green badges on each shoulder, as well as the traditional 'knot' of five ribbons (tan for Joeys, yellow for Cubs, green for Scouts, maroon for Venturers and red for Rover Scouts) – this distinguishes Rovers from every other section.

Organisation

Government

The Rover Scout Section is organised from a National level down, however the day-to-day running of the section is organised at a Branch (state) level. The larger states (Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland) are split into Regions, which in turn are made up of Units. There are around 3000 Rovers nationally in about 250 Units.

Unlike the other sections of Scouts Australia, Rover Scouts are self-governing with Rovers under 26 becoming the leaders of their own section while still taking part in the program. After the 1970 Design for Tomorrow Report, instead of becoming a new section, Rover Scouts began to admit young women into their Crews (now known as units) and asked their over 25 leaders to step back to become Rover Advisers, with the Crew Leaders, Region Chairs and Branch Chairs taking up the responsibility for their Rovers. The National Rover Council, a group of Rover representatives from each state, who co-ordinate interstate efforts was founded in 1979 and just like Units, all are under 26 years old.

The Unit System

A Rover Unit is run by its members and led by an elected committee. The committee normally consists of a Unit Leader, Assistant/Deputy Unit Leader, Secretary and Treasurer and large Units may also add a Fundraiser, Quartermaster, training officer, Venturer liaison/recruitment officer and other roles. Rover Scouts are young adults and make their own decisions but frequently Units wish to have input from people over the age of 25, called Rover Advisers. These people are selected by the Unit because of their previous experience, both in Scouting and in life.

Region Rover Council

The next step in the Rover Scout government ladder is the Region Rover Council. These bodies run Rovering in their geographic areas and are typically based on the same Regions as the other sections of the Scouting Movement. These Regions can also run various Branch events on behalf of the Branch and run their own where all Rovers are invited. The application and practice of Region Rover Councils varies between the three states that operate them, in Victoria this level is known as a Rovering Community and conduct few if any events and are primarily a social networking function with most coordination done at a Branch Rover Council level. Conversely in New South Wales Region Rover Councils undertake several region events a year and support their units in running events and activities that are open to all Rovers, they operate bank accounts, conduct business with private companies and have an annual report presentation.

There are currently Region Rover Councils in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, assisting the Units in their area by offering community involvement activates, organising social functions, distributing information, promoting training and the Baden-Powell Scout Award and many other tasks. The smaller states without Region Rover Councils have their Units reporting directly to their Branch Rover Council.

Branch Rover Council

[1][2] The Branch Rover Council is formed by representatives from each of the Region Rover Councils (in states that have them) or directly from Units, and may also have representatives from sub-committees (for events, property, marketing, motorsport etc.). This body approves Branch awards, co-ordinates training, liaises with other Branch Rover Councils and National Rover Council, develops policies and initiatives and encourages the further development of Rovering and the Rover program.

These bodies also communicate with their respective Branch Scout Organisations where the whole State is organised and Branch Rover Councils send their elected members to represent Rover interests. Branch Rover Council's Commissioners and Chairs directly represent Rovers to the wider organisation in this way.

Branch Rover Councils also have a number of sub-committees which organise various parts of Rovering life. For example, these may include:

  • Management Committees that run campsites and manage assets and property
  • Event Committees, which organise some of the larger Rover events in the Branch for Rovers
  • Rover Motorsport is CAMS affiliated but also the responsibility of the Branch Rover Council
  • Diversity and Inclusion Committees that help support members
  • Award approval Committees for the conferring of Rover awards

Some states have a Lone Rover Unit, which accept members from country or other areas where the nearest Rover Unit is further than practical travel allows or who cannot attend a regular Rover Unit due to work or other commitments, currently New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia have Lones Units.

National Rover Council

The Australian National Rover Council (NRC), is the body that governs Rovering at a National Level. It assists the running of Rovering conducted at a Branch level, and designs policy to affect Rovering as a whole in Australia. This team works together to develop a strategic plan and then implement this over the course of their elected year/s. They also liaise with the Branch Rover Council Chairmen and the Branch Commissioners/Advisors for Rovers (or their equivalent) in each state to help them with any issues, ideas or help that they may need plus implement any actions or policies that effect the whole nation.[3]

The NRC is composed of an executive of a Chairman, Vice Chair and a Training and Development Officer, and delegates from each state, plus the Scouts Australia National Team as observers, and a representative from the Scouts Australia National Youth Council and New Zealand Rovers. Additional project and support officers are elected from time to time. The council meets as a whole at their annual meeting where there are two delegates with voting power, being their Branch Chairmen and one other and a Branch Commissioner/Advisor (or equivalent) plus two observers.[3]

The National Rover Council Chairman is a member of the Scouts Australia National Team and attends National Team and National Operations meetings and through direct participation at the highest level possible puts the "Rovers view" into Scouts Australia, Rovers is the only section with this direct access.

The NRC meet at the National Rover Council Meeting held annually usually in January following the major event for the year (Jamboree, Venture or Moot). The conference runs over three days and incorporates State/Territory reports, discussions and workshops as well as networking activities. The Conference is an excellent opportunity for Branch Rover Council Chairs, their delegates and observers to meet with Rovers from other states and share their knowledge and ideas and learn from one another in a positive environment. It is also an opportunity for States to put forward papers, plans and ideas to the council to be voted upon so the Chair can then take the resolutions to the National Operations Meeting. it is also when the elections for the years executive take place.

Events

Rovers run an Australian Rover Moot every three years which is open to Rover Scouts, Guides and 18-25 year old Scouts from around the world. The most recent Australian Rover Moot was held in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory in December 2019/January 2020. The next Australian Rover Moot will be held in Tasmania in December 2022/January 2023.

During 2005 and 2006, the Centenary of Scouting Peace Boomerang completed a journey of over 18,000 km around Australia spreading a message of peace and unity leading up to the Scouting 2007 Centenary.

In 2018 many events and celebrations took place to mark the centenary of the Rover section, nationally this included a uniform badge and the sharing of Rover history with states hosting formal dinner balls, placing time capsules, reunions and countless other local events.

Award scheme

The National Rover Service Award is Scouts Australia's Adult Recognition Award presented for an outstanding contribution to the Rover Section over a sustained period. The minimum requirements to be considered for the award is five years' service by a Rover, and ten years' service by a Rover Advisor, leader or other supporter. The Rovers and other supporters who receive this award have a lasting impact on the way that Rovers operates on a wide base.[4]

In four states, the National Rover Service Award is named to recognise the unparalleled contribution to Rovering in that state by an early leader:

StatePictureAward NameContribution
VictoriaW.F. Waters Rover Service AwardVictorian Headquarters Commissioner for Rovers, 1930 — 1965
Victorian Commissioner for Rover Training, 1965 — 1968
Moot Chief, 7th World Moot in Melbourne (1961)
Founder of the Alpine Rover Crew and Bogong Rover Chalet
Encouraged Rovers to pursue bushwalking, ski touring, rock climbing and other outdoor activities
Developed the backbone of modern Rovering across Australia
New South WalesStan Bales Rover Service AwardNSW Branch Commissioner for Rovers, 1955 — 1978
A Deputy Moot Chief at the 7th World Moot in Melbourne
Moot Chief for the 6th Australian National Rover Moot held in Sydney in 1974/75[4]
South AustraliaHenry Rymill AwardPast Chief Commissioner and Rover Commissioner in South Australia
A dominant force in establishing Rovers within South Australia.[4]
Western AustraliaIan Jennings Rover Service AwardWA's much-loved former Branch Commissioner for Rovers who dedicated over 17 years to advising and supporting the Rover section. After joining as an Assistant Scout Leader in 1974, Ian (also known as IJ or Papa Bear) served in various Scouting leadership roles including District Commissioner, Scout Shop Manager, Board member, Leader Trainer, Branch Commissioner Adult Training and Development and Branch Commissioner Youth Program. Ian was known for his commitment and dedication to Scouting's vision and was a great friend and mentor to generations of WA Rovers. He was WA's first recipient of the Rover Service Award, which is now named in his memory.

The Baden-Powell Scout Award is the highest badge able to be earnt by youth members in Australian Scouting. Fully redesigned in 2014, the BP Award (as it is widely known) begins with the Squire Training badge, which aims to develop the basic scouting skills that a new Rover will need over the course of their time in Rovering. The Rover can then complete any of the three remaining St George Award badges (Rover Skills, Service, and Outdoors) and the two project badges, Personal Growth and Community Development in any order to complete the Baden-Powell Scout Award.[5] Recipients receive the award from the Governor of their State (Northern Territory Rovers receive theirs from the Administrator, and ACT Rovers from the Governor-General) as a part of their Branch's annual or bi-annual awards presentation. All awards are signed by the Chief Scout of Australia, who, by convention is the Governor-General.

History

Rover Scouts (as they were then known) began in Australia in 1918 as young men returned home from World War One and sought outlets for their love of the outdoors and the camaraderie of like-minded others. As well as acting as leaders to youth sections, many people chose to form "Rover Scout Crews" and undertake activities - many service-related - as a team.

2018 marked the centenary of Rovering in Australia.

Motorsport

Motorsport clubs exist in several states and are the bodies responsible for the safe operation of Rover car racing. They are Confederation of Australian Motorsport-affiliated racing clubs, with strict drink-driving, safety and racing policies.[6] They are operated by an elected and assigned team of Rovers and are under the control of that states Branch Rover Council. They oversee events like Mudbash (VIC),[7] Sandblast (SA),[8] Banana Bash (QLD),[9] and Bush Baja (WA).[10]

All Rover Motorsport activities were stopped in the early 2000s because of a loss of insurance, but a new affiliation with the Confederation of Australian Motorsport led to the resumption of Rover Motorsport. Victoria successfully ran its inaugural championship series in 2008/2009 and South Australia running its own five round series in 2011, Queensland's Banana Bash has faced similar insurance problems to the point a few year's events were run without actual motorsport racing taking place but as of 2012 vehicles have returned.

The Bogong Rover Chalet on the Bogong High Plains is one example of property owned and managed by Rovers

Rover property
See also: Rovering in Victoria

The Victorian Branch Rover Council, through a committee manages property built and funded by the Rovers (including two Victorian ski lodge and Mafeking Rover Park in Victoria. Rovers and Scouts fill these ski lodges each season with many Rovers from New South Wales, South Australia and other states traveling each year to enjoy the facilities. During Summer months the Bogong Chalet is maintained and supplied by mainly Victorian and a hand full of interstate Rovers.

Carr Villa is a ski lodge on Ben Lomond which is also owned, built and funded by a local Tasmanian Rover Crew.

Notable Australian Rovers

Notes
  1. "Queensland Branch Rover Council".
  2. "New South Wales Rover Council".
  3. "National Rover Council".
  4. "National Rover Service Awards". www.rovers.com.au.
  5. "Rover Scouts Strive for a New Award". rovers.com.au. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  6. RSM in CAMS Magazine, 4138 Scouts get a taste of motor sport!, p38, Autumn 2007, Accessed 23/6/7
  7. Mudbash
  8. Sandblast
  9. Banana Bash
  10. Bush Baja
  11. "Dick Smith: Adventurer, Businessman, Publisher and Former Scout". Scouts Australia. Archived from the original on 2006-08-22.
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