ELECTION OF GROUP EXECUTIVE MEMBERS FOR 2003

LEADER VACANCIES Venturer

Joey's

• A mounted policeman
• A photo on the bridge of the river cat (with the Captain)

• At 3.10pm Peter Hanzlicek (President) declared the meeting open and lead the Scout prayer,
• He then welcomed the guests, Councilor Patricia Camerleri, Daniel Harding RCO, Andy & Val Walker, Scout Leaders and Parents.
• Apologies were received from, Alan Cadman, Ross Cameron, Jacy Harding, Marilyn Langler, Rhonda Glacken, Vicki & Denis Welton and Anne Papasavvas

• The minutes of the previous AGM were accepted by Richard Sperinck, seconded by Andy Walker.

• Presidents Report was read by Peter Hanzlicek
• Treasurer’s report, refer attached , was read by John Hardiman
• Group Leader’s report (Jacy Harding), refer attached , was read by Tony Mercieca
• Joey Leader’s report (Jacy Harding), refer attached , was read by Richard Sperinck
• Cub Leader’s Report, refer attached , was read by Tony Mecieca
• Scout Leader’s Report, refer attached , was read by Ian Shield
• District Report was presented by Daniel Harding:

• He commended the group on its achievements over the last year. He then read a paragraph from the "Bulletin" by Ray Thornley which explained the current Insurance situation and the need to keep accurate and complete records

.

• New Office Bearers, Peter then read out the new office bearers
• Richard Sperinck proposed a vote of thanks to

• Jacy Harding for her dedication and hard work as Group Leader for the last year.
• Peter Hanzlicek for being the President for the last 3 years
• Donavon Gibbs (Mr. Fix-It) who has been involved in 1^st Winston Hills Scouts for at least the last eight years.

The meeting was closed at 4.15pm

• Bligh Gibbs
• Evan Gibbs
• Tim Shield

• Trial Competition Camp
• Competition Camp
• Regional Jamborette
• 6 Day Camp - Kangaroo Valley
• Branch Rally – Scorpions / Hawks and Panther
• Beach Hike / Camp - Newcastle
• Canoe Journey - Tallowa Dam to Kangaroo Valley

To our distinguished guests, Troop members, committee members, leaders, parents and children, hello and welcome to the Annual General Meeting for 20023

This is my first AGM as President and it doesn’t seem that long ago when I sat out there in my very first AGM and got nominated for Vice President! I was a little concerned at first, but have to admit though that it ha been fun and I have not regretted a minute of it.

I believe we have achieved a lot this year, not least of which is to maintain a surplus of funds for the forth year in a row despite the doom and gloom forecast at the start of the year due to the incredible increases in insurance, etc.

This coming year will see one of the biggest events in scouting namely the Australian Jamboree in January 2004. Again 1^st Winston Hills will have a large contingent of youth members attending. The cost of sending a scout to the jamboree is quite daunting and I was determined to start fund raising earlier this time round. Helen has worked hard during the year in coming up with ideas and co-ordinating the Jamboree Fund Raising committee. We have completed some major events, e.g. Fertilizer Drive, Cash-a-Can, with more events in progress

My thanks to Warwick and Ian for tackling the role of Trustee with such enthusiasm. Most, if not, all of the equipment now bears an asset label and has been logged in the Asset Register for ease of end of year auditing. They have erected some shelving in the back storeroom for the computers and also built a cupboard for the Gas Cylinders as part of the Fire & Safety Standards. One of our objectives next year is to continue to upgrade the hall, which includes two major projects:

1. replacement of the main doors and
2. installation of emergency lighting & exit signs.

As Peter said last year, the old motto "Many Hands Make Light Work" really does apply. I would like to see more parents involved in the operation and support of the Group. Even if it is only for a single event, we can never have more than enough. So if you are interested, then please contact one of the uniform leaders or committee members. You won't be committed just by talking to us but any help you re able to offer, will be truly appreciated.

Lastly I would like to thank my wife Genna, not only for her secretarial skills but also in supporting and helping me throughout the year

Thank you and God bless.

Yours in Scouting,

Thanks also go to our scout troop for helping us with the boomerang camps; providing PL's, equipment and support for our yellow cord camps. I would also like to thank Maggie and Khan for all their support during the year.

Being a leader requires the support of your family and I am very lucky to have such great support from John (Hardy) and my kids Kristian, Danny and Alec, thanks guys.

Yours in Scouting

A few weeks ago the Parramatta SES kindly gave up their time to visit us and bring their truck. It was an informative fun night for us all.

Recently some of our cubs and scouts attended the ANZAC Day Parade at Castle Hill where two naval officers complimented us on how well behaved our youth were and to thank us for supporting the parade.

We had a good attendance for the 2 yellow cord camps over the year with Erik Harding, Daniel Sperinck, Luke Saunders and Danny Hardiman being successful in obtaining their yellow cords with a possible four waiting to be completed.

We look forward to another fun year ahead.

THANK YOU

We have had Mark Hurst (Cobar) help us in cubs now that Joeys are in recess, he is doing a great job. Unfortunately Jeff Daly has not continued with training as he is moving with his family to Victoria, I’d like to thank Jeff for his time with us.

I would like to thank the other Leaders for their support during the year, Tony and David.

A big thankyou to all the parents who assisted us on our camps especially those that slept over. I would also like to give a special thanks to Penny, Richard and Genna for all their help during the year

Financially the 1^st Winston Hills Scout Group had a good year ending the 31^st December 2002 with a Bank Balance of $10,642.60, representing an operating SURPLUS of $1,828.03.

Expenditure for the year was $28,404.49 and Income $30,232.52.

An important financial contributor to the group’s funds in 2002 came from fundraising, which brought in $4,783.60. A large part of this fundraising was for the 2004 Jamboree ($2,330.49)

Many thanks must go to all the members of the fundraising committee last year, in particular, Genna Sperinck, Helen Sara, Anne O’Keefe, Warwick O’Keefe, Jenny Scott, Deborah Daly, Penny Baker, Natalie Shield and Ian Hodson, and to ALL those parents and friends who supported our various fundraising efforts.

Some major fundraiser’s were:

• 2004 Jamboree Fertilizer Drive, profit of $2,200.49 ,
• Cash a Can - $426 ,
• Community Chest Raffle tickets ,profit of $411 ,
• Bulb Fundraiser - $445.90
• Job Week - $268 and
• Trivia Night - $451.21.

Therefore without the proceeds from fundraising each year our scouting families wouldn’t be able to enjoy the wide variety of activities and events that they currently do.

Please continue to support all our fundraisers for 2003.

Leader in Charge Report.

There is nothing like a challenge to get people working and that is what has happened in the last 12 months. With the sudden loss of leaders it is not easy to kick-start but we hit the ground running. We have had a successful year in Cubs and Scouts sections with the exception being Joeys, which has been put in limbo for now. We need to re look at Joeys in the near future as it is a vital part of the group to keep it flowing.

We have seen a good number of our scouts also going up to Venturers.

I am pleased to say that we have a good crew at present and it reflects in the achievements being witnessed amongst the youth members, with green and yellow cords being attempted and achieved.

The volunteer Leaders and Committee have put in a lot of hard work.

Thanks to our Leaders Lorna, David, Ian, Lyn, Dennis and Mark, as well as our trainee leaders Rhonda and Jeff (who have not been able to continue)

I wish to thank all of them for volunteering their time to put forward a great year’s program for the children. You will witness some of the activities from their reports.

Much of their time goes into planning and carrying on tasks associated with presenting a full program. This includes attending planning meetings; regional meetings and hours spent doing those extra bits, which most may not be aware of. Things such as monitoring the progress of youth members, keeping records up to dated, preparing gadgets, procuring and preparing craft items, games etc to make scouting that much better

I would like to thank Richard and his committee, Genna, John, Vicki, Helen, for being a great committee who have supported the Leaders throughout the year. The parents, friends, brothers and sisters, who have helped in many ways, I also give big thank you.

Cubs have had an active fun year with attendance being good.

The cubs have been on some exciting camps- the Milson Island pack holiday, the Harry Potter Hogwarts and 007 spy Boomerang camps, and the Manly aquarium sleepover. Highlights of these camps were the dinner at Hogwarts which was just magical and the Quidditch match, the swimming and scenery at Milson Island and uncovering Dr Evil with the lie detector and rescuing Joe at 007 camp. The cubs covered a large part of their boomerang work and we have given out a number of boomerangs.

We have had lots of fun nights including World Cup Soccer night, Spook night with Joeys and 1^st Toongabbie cubs, Red Faces, Mother’s and Father’s Day dress-up nights and campfire sing a longs (they are sounding better each time). We had great fun participating in Treasure Planet especially Akela’s solar surfers! A number of cubs attended the Cub Fun Day, which was a great day.

We did well at the swimming carnival coming 3^rd which was a nice surprise. The most important thing was the fun and team spirit that was seen on the night.

Our last night for 2002 and as Winston Hills Joey’s was a night of ceremony. Queen Batty knighted all the Joey’s and wearing their full armament gathered for the final feast, A merry time was had by all.

Queen Batty and her loyal Toongabbie Knights were presented with a certificate of appreciation for allowing Winston Hills to join them in 2002.

Nikki and Jack linked to Cubs in 2002 and Angus linked earlier this year. James, Alec and Shannon will soon become Cubs.

Unfortunately due to family commitments I was unable to complete my training so we currently do not have Joey Mob again.

I do hope that in the future we can get Winston Hills Joey’s up and running as all those Cubs and Scouts who have been Joey’s will tell you, it’s a great, fun introduction into the Scouting family.

A BIG Thank you to David and Penny Baker for their efforts in putting together the news bulletin A during the year. I would like to also thank John Hardiman for taking on the Group Leader roll.

Warwick O'Keefe and Ian Hodson our trustees who have been on the go for the whole year keeping track of our gear and keeping things in good order.

As well we have support form many families who cook, transport and assist when asked.

What we are seeing here is the Scouting family in action, as Scouting is not just the youth members turning up each week but the interaction of families. Without family support there would be no Scouting.

I would like to end by inviting anyone who wants to have fun to become a Leader and allow your imagination to run as a child’s. I know I have enjoyed my time as a Leader, it’s an excuse to have fun. Leaders are required in Joeys, Cubs and Scouts so don’t be shy in coming forward.

Yours in Scouting

A lot of change has occurred within the Winston Hills Joey mob over the past 1 months. At the beginning of second term 2002 the Joey Leader Jacy Harding resigned and I had just started my training. Needing a qualified leader to operate we moved the Mob temporarily over to1st Toongabbie where we were warmly welcomed by Batty and the Toongabbie Joeys

Six Joeys went with me to Toongabbie:

Shannon Boyd, Alec Hardiman, Nikki Sperinck; James Shield; Angus Boxall and Jack Sheehan.

We splashed into the new term at Toongabbie, where the "Under Sea World" was the theme for the term activities and craft. Sharks, Starfish, Mermaids, Jellyfish, were just some of the craft items we made throughout the term and were used to decorate the Hall for our "Bring-a-Friend" night. Joeys and friends had a wonderful time travelling under the sea in a submarine searching shipwrecks and diving into sea caves in search of treasure.

Third Term (Changing Seasons) We discussed the changes in weather, colour, and the type of activities each new season brings and experienced Summer, Autumn, Winter and spring all in one term.

We made kites and learnt about kite flying safety. One Saturday morning in September we had an outing to Parramatta Park to fly our kites. It was a beautiful morning. Unfortunately there was not enough wind to keep the kites we made up, but the Joeys never stopped trying.

Fathers Day coincided with or summer week so a beach party was planned. The night's activities included boat races (Joeys attempting to drag their Dads on potato sacks down the hall) and slip, slop, slap relay.

All managed the slip, slop, slap but some of the zinc cream was slopped in places it wasn’t meant to be. The Dads behaved themselves and were good sports. They were presented with stylish monogrammed sunglass cases made by their Joey. I’m sure they have pride of place in the car glove box.

Last night of Term Three was one of reflection, where the Joey’s each made a totem containing a personal message of hope. We closed the night with a ceremony under a big gum tree at the back of the hall, where the totems were placed

In October, Toongabbie and Winston Hills Joey’s participated in JOTI and also joined Winston Hills Cubs for a "Spook and Goon" night to celebrate Halloween Night

Term Four. Joeys started out as Pages and had the term to earn their Knighthoods as we lunged into a Medieval Period. They made a castle, swords, shields, and helmets in preparation for their "Knighting". Joey’s met all challenges, taking part in fears sock wrestling matches, battling mystic Dragons, and dueling among each other to perfect the skills a Royal Knight requires.

A spectacular display of authentic medieval costume and a mock battle by Chill from the Toongabbie cub pack and her family entertained and educated the Joey’s, Leaders and neighbours watching over the fences. Joeys listened closely to the tales told and learnt about the lives the Knights lived and they got the opportunity to "strike out" at the Head Knight.