Vince Connelly (Stirling, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm so pleased to be surrounded by passionate community advocates—no less than the member for Paterson, an ex-Brownie, and the member for Ryan, an ex-Boy Scout. I wasn't a Boy Scout but my father was. His pioneering ways and the camps that he used to take me on, with his billy, his swag and his Scout songs, certainly inspired me. I did become an Army cadet—something a bit similar and certainly akin to fostering a spirit of adventurism and resilience. I think we can all agree that, if there are a couple of things that we want in our children, adventurism and resilience have to be right up there at the top of the list.

So I appreciate this opportunity to give a shout-out to Scouts Australia and Girl Guides Australia. Scouts Australia is 70,000 strong. It's part of a 40 million member worldwide organisation of the Scouts movement. This provides boys and girls aged five to 25 with fun and challenging opportunities to grow through adventure. Scouts Australia is also one of the largest youth development organisations in the whole country. Across the country, there are thousands of volunteer branch and section commissioners, leaders and supporters. Girl Guides Australia is the peak body for guiding in Australia, and is a not-for-profit organisation. It offers girls aged five to 17 years a unique girl-led experience in a safe, welcoming space with a variety of activities. The world association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts has 10 million Girl Guides and Scouts from across 150 organisations.

In a normal year the bulk of funds moving into the scouts and guides come from fundraising, but in 2020 there have been some pretty big impacts on the ability to fundraise through things like the cookie drive and car washes, which I know some of my local scouts get into. All of these have been impacted by COVID. But also local, state and federal government funding forms a component of how we get behind and support scouts. I was delighted, in my own electorate of Stirling, to award $5,000 in this past financial year to the Tuart Hill Yokine Scout Group under the Volunteer Grants program. I was also delighted, last November, to have joined the Tuart Hill Yokine Scout Group for its 70th birthday celebration. It was a wonderful occasion.

Scouts Australia also has received JobKeeper this year, which has assisted with cash flow during what has been a very difficult financial year. Less obvious, but quite unfortunate, have been the restrictions on movement, which, as I mentioned, have impacted that fundraising. That's where it's been great to see again the resilience displayed by these organisations. We all know that facing adversity is par for the course for scouts and guides and they will emerge strongly in 2021.

We have also seen Scouts WA continue to provide their services and camps throughout 2020. That's provided a wonderful sense of normality for a lot of those kids who have been able to keep being involved in scouts. Also, Scouts WA has completed its new program, which successfully aims to be adventurous, fun, challenging and inclusive.

As we come towards the end of the year, I thank and congratulate all of the group leaders and section leaders in WA, and particularly of those in the scout groups in Stirling, at Amelia Heights, Dianella, Hamersley, Karrinyup, Tuart Hill Yokine, Scarborough Beach and North Beach, for instance. I also congratulate Ayden Mackenzie, who in July was invested as the Chief Commissioner of Scouts in WA. He is the youngest ever chief commissioner. I'm told he has a bold vision for the future.

Another person who has gone from strength to strength with the help of scouts is Caitlin Arcus. Caitlin led scouts during the COVID-19 pandemic as acting chief commissioner. Two years ago, aged just 26, Caitlyn was appointed the youngest ever deputy chief commissioner of Scouts WA.

Today I also recognise my good friend Warren Mickelson and his son Connor. I've watched Warren and Connor operate in scouts. Warren has also been really passionate in his leadership within the scouts. This sort of passion supports the kids to have the adventure and excitement that is so important for every child's development. To Ayden, Caitlin, Warren and so many others like them across the country, thank you for what you're doing. You are shining examples to our kids, helping to build that spirit of adventure and resilience.

See this speech in context