Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to give a big shout-out to our Scouts and Guides groups on the New South Wales South Coast. Wherever I go I'm always thrilled and amazed to see Scouts and Guides out playing their part in the community—helping people in our community, giving back to others and importantly learning lifelong skills and making lifelong friends. These young people are our future, and the skills and experience they obtain with the Scouts and Guides will no doubt stay with them for life. I want to thank the many leaders who take the time to lead Scouts and Guides in my local community. It is a time-consuming role, but it is one that I can clearly see provides so much enjoyment for leaders in helping guide our young people.

A while ago I attended a local Remembrance Day service at St Georges Basin RSL subbranch. Afterwards we went to the Scout hall and had morning tea. I was delighted to see the 1st St Georges Basin Scout Group and their families out in action, providing tea, coffee and slices, but also, more importantly, bridging the gap between our veterans and learning from them. These activities might seem simple, but they are so important in today's world. Well done to all the Scouts who were involved.

I also had the pleasure of delivering a new flag to the North Nowra Girl Guides. Apart from delivering the flag I got an insight into the extremely busy and well-coordinated junior programs that they're running. The Guides welcomed me with open arms, and I was delighted to join with them. What struck me was the passion the guides showed with their carefully thought out activities, including groovy scientific experiments, spinning wheels and much more. Thanks for having me.

When I attended the Illawarra Rose Festival, held in Jamberoo, I was taken with the 1st Jamberoo Scout Group. They were diligently providing the hospitality—preparing morning and afternoon tea, expertly taking orders and delivering the tea and food with a smile. These young scouts were learning valuable skills, all under the watchful eye of their leaders. Well done to them all.

When I go to my local Relay For Life events, I always see our local Scouts groups out there, raising awareness about cancer prevention, fundraising to support cancer patients, providing support and, importantly, having a lot of fun dressing up, participating in fun events and walking laps through the night. They of course have their tents, and they are pretty good campers. It's all for a good cause, and it's fabulous to see young kids getting so involved from such a young age.

The New South Wales South Coast was hit hard during the bushfires, but our local Scouts and Girl Guides groups rose to the challenge of supporting their community. The 1st Batemans Bay Scout Group were very busy with their fire-recovery community service projects, including making wildlife feeding boxes and collecting donations. They were making new signs for the Australian Rainbow Vets and Allies mardi gras market day, as they lost all their decorations and signs in the recent fires. Then, on Australia Day this year, the inaugural 1st Batemans Bay Scout Group versus Emergency Services Australia Day Tug of War Challenge was held, and a great day was had by all. It's an important event which really highlights the community coming together and the importance of groups like Scouts and our emergency services working together—so special, and another amazing example of how our community has pulled together through these tough times.

That's the sort of passion we should be proud of, and I say a huge thank you to all our scouts and guides and their leaders for all they do. I want to recognise those groups today. It's a bit of a long list. The Scouts groups are: 1st St Georges Basin Scout Group, 1st Nowra Scout Group, 1st Bomaderry Scout Group, 1st Kangaroo Valley Scout Group, 1st Burrill-Ulladulla Scout Group, 1st Illaroo Scout Group, Shoalhaven Rover Crew, 1st Jamberoo Scout Group, 1st Kiama Scout Group, 1st Batemans Bay Scout Group and 1st Moruya Scout Group. The Girl Guides groups are: Huskisson Bay Guides, Huskisson Bay Ranger Guides, Huskisson Gumnut Guides, Huskisson Junior Guides, Kiama Flametree Guides, Kiama Seashells Junior Guides, North Nowra Guides, North Nowra Junior Guides, North Nowra Pre Junior Guides, Nowra Guides, Nowra Junior Guides, Sussex Inlet Black Swan Guides and Moruya Swan Girl Guides.

Thank you to all our scouts, guides and leaders. You are absolute champions.

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