Venturers - South Australia

Scouting Statewide September 2001

VENTURING ON     . . . news from Venturing SA

KATE’S BLURB:
I have just been on a Beautifully Organised Nutritionally Zestful Activity.
If you read that right it reads BONZA, and that was what the weekend of the 3 to 5th August, 2001 was called. It was designed to be a gathering of all Leaders from all sections. A weekend of sharing, caring, learning and eating and maybe a bit of sleeping! I was one of three cooks a big thank you to Peter Owen and Chris Bates who were my partners in crime for all the weekend and also a big thank you to those who helped on various duties for breakfast (sausages one morning and pancakes the next it’s your worst nightmare!). It was another exciting adventure in the life of me and one I would like to share with you (tough if you don’t want to hear about it I thought it was great!).
Friday night was interesting to say the least we were making supper and were called in to judge the best singing for your supper routine. As usual all of the attending Leaders used their imagination and initiative and came up with some very funny songs. There was even one about something smelly and runny and it wasn’t the eggs!!! Anyway they all passed and enjoyed their supper.
Some sleep was gained after supper and it was up bright and early 6.15am for all those who came to eat breakfast at 5am! Breakfast was sausages and scrambled eggs, cereal and toast. Off to activities in their patrols for an hour and then it was off to have Sectional activities (that was the word Janis, wasn’t it?) and participated in activities pertaining to their sections.
I participated in the Venturer Leaders’ activity, which was a walk and talk to Arbury Park. We nearly made it but we had a time restriction of an hour as I had to be back to prepare lunch. Anyway, we thought an hour was long enough to walk and as we pottered along we enjoyed each other’s company. I think all in all there were about 10 of us.
We were solving the problems of the world and best of all we got to know each other that little bit better. You know it is really fun to just walk and talk with people and when you get away from the distractions of life, you find you actually talk and find things out about each other it was great, and we made it back in time for us to prepare lunch. Anyway, lunch was a smorgasbord of cold meat and salad sandwiches.
Then it was back into action in the Sectional activities and Patrol activities. I unfortunately couldn’t participate as the activities in the kitchen became rather hectic. We all had to dress for dinner the dress code was Tiara and Bow Tie and we were asked to meet in the round house at 7pm. But sometime during the entrees (most magnificently presented by the Cub Section and you’ve got to love the hat which Dennis had on) something small and blue was brought to my attention, which during the ensuing 36 hours caused much fun and hilarity.
Yes you guessed it it was a peg. I would not have believed that a small item such as that could bring a group of people together in such a way that you were excited when you were pegged and the excitement you felt when you pegged someone else, without them knowing. This and the silver balls (made of silver foil) carried on from entree until the closing ceremony. "Whose got the peg now?" I’ll have to check with the Mt Lofty Leaders. It was really fun to check out what everyone was wearing.
Much creativity was used to come up with some of the outfits and accessories with which we were optically delighted. After we had finished entree, we all ventured out into the rain and proceeded to the Trading Post for soup, which was deliciously (or should I say EXOPTABLY! could I have a word check please Karen and Nicola!) created by the Joey Section. There was a choice of Pumpkin and another soup the other soup was very tasty, I didn’t have the pumpkin. Luckily the rain had abstained and we all stood around the Trading Post sipping our soups and munching on bread rolls.
Like sheep we wandered up to the Rymill Centre, wondering what delights the Scout Section were to bestow on us. At the Rymill Centre dining room, we were served Chicken and Vegies, peas and gravy. We were offered red or white wine with our dinner and beautiful salads as well.
The night was warming up well. Many people were mixing with other Leaders out of their Sectional areas, which was part of the idea for the weekend. Main course finished far too soon. We perhaps should have sat and chatted for a while longer and enjoyed the comfortable feeling that many of us felt. But, we knew that sweets were being served in the Old House and a hunting we did go.
Dessert was provided delectably by the Venturer Section and what a selection we had. Pavlova, trifle, fresh fruit salad and lemon meringue pie. Boy we were in for a real treat. There was plenty for all. We did take our time over sweets and slowed down our pace a bit to let all the lovely food digest before coffee and port. I’m sure the peg raised its ugly head again at some time during dinner. As I mentioned before coffee, port, after dinner mints and the peg were being served in the Lone’s Hut and presented by the Rover Section.
They had real coffee!!!!! Yum, percolated coffee and port I couldn’t think of any better way to finish off the night. The Rovers were fantastic hosts under the ever watchful eye of Peter Hann, and had plenty of supplies of everything for those who made the pilgrimage to the Lones Hut.
There was a wonderful bonfire happening as well. We sat around the fire and quietly sipped on our port and swapped stories and much laughter and the peg.
It was nice to catch up with a few Rovers who I had met a while back when they were Venturers. It is wonderful to see them still in the Scout Association.
The rain tried to join in the fun on a few occasions but was unsuccessful luckily. We also had a surprise thrown in when Wayne came and shared his Didgeridoo playing with us all. I was fascinated to watch him both play and imitate the animals in the music with his right hand so we knew when the Kangaroo was hopping and the Kookaburras were laughing.
You could actually hear them in his music.
I could have listened a lot longer it ended too soon. Thanks Wayne. We then settled down to enjoy the company around the campfire for quite some time.
Again we found ourselves mixing with other Leaders and you know what? It was fun!!! Mixing with Leaders from different sections and other groups isn’t that hard. The night proceeded along very nicely we had a great fire going, one or three glasses of port, new and old friends put these altogether and you have a great way to finish off a fantastic night.
The peg was put to bed about sometime o’clock, and a good sleep was had by all.
Breakfast on Sunday morning was pancakes, cereals and toast. There were a few people who looked very sleepy and some who were as bright as buttons, go figure? After morning tea, which was down at the Lones Hut, we all joined in a Joey, Cub, Scout, Venturer and Rover’s Own.
I love this time during an activity. It is always a very special time for reflection. We had lovely stories and prayers and time for us to think about the weekend and the friends we had made.
It was then onto some more patrol activities and one more Sectional one which was our Branch Venturer Council.
Lunch was hamburgers and any leftovers from the night before. Then came the pack up, tidy up and the closing ceremony. A time for "goodbye and see you at the next activity", lots of hugs and the peg!
I would like to thank Janis, Jenny, Dave, Jo and Peter for organising this "first of its kind" activity. To see the barriers break down between sections is wonderful not that there were any barriers as far as I was concerned but to see Leaders from each section mix in and get to know each other, so then at any future activity or gathering they can say "Hi, remember me? We met at the Bonza weekend". is really what Scouting is about getting out there and having fun and if you learn something along the way that’s even better.
I will now carry a peg with me just in case, and my cat is having fun playing with the silver balls. I hope that you will all mention this weekend to other Leaders who may not have been able to attend this one and tell them what a great time you had and encourage them to go to the next one.
It is really important for new Leaders as well, so they can see that we are not all so weird after all and probably very nice people! Who knows I may be one of the cooks for that one too!!!
Seriously now, I had so much fun and I would recommend this BONZA weekend to all Leaders. Thanks for not complaining about the food and being polite to us you know even cooks have feelings. I look forward to seeing all of you in the future, somewhere around the Scouting traps.

Yours in Venturing
Kate Ryder
ABC Venturers.