October 9th 2020. Article by Samuel Graham, Scout, Macedon – Woodend Scout Group

Along with the start of the final term of the year brought some changes to the once 1stMacedon scout group. The first being that 1st Macedon and 2nd Woodend scout groups have merged to create one great Scouting group!

The second being the reality that to do Scouting events, face masks will become the norm. But even through the haze of COVID-19, Macedon – Woodend Scout Group will continue to do amazing activities!

And on that note, we circle back to the point of that article. To inform everyone that we will keep doing Scouting through this pandemic. Which is why on the 6th of October we did our first activity together as Macedon – Woodend! Beginning at the Old Scout Camp carpark, we began our trek! Split into three patrols (Yes, we had Bombshell along with us and as a member of a patrol). Following compass directions, we followed through the open Pine plantations on the search of a flying saucer! Success!

After a quick debate on whether to follow the way we were supposed to go and a shortcut we were on our way! After a quick trip around the Macedon Res and spending 15 minutes bumping into trees looking for balls we returned back to our starting destination! And even with an exhausted rooster we were all feeling great! We all had a great night out with the Scouts again!

Thanks to Mark and Andrew for making this hike possible!

Team,

Term 4 has started and we are slowly getting back to scouting.

Venturer’s is starting this week, Cubs & Scouts is starting up next week, with a carefully considered approach from the Leaders in keeping everyone safe.

Our transition to the new hall in Macedon is occurring in the background with movement of equipment and the other necessary details being admirably handled by the committee, Leaders and Venturer’s.

Three items I’d like to draw your attention too which require input from yourselves

1/ Scarf Design Contest. Attached is a flyer calling for the design of our new scarf, heralding the new era that our combined groups will represent. Submissions are only to be from the cubs, scouts or venturers, with entries emailed to corinneshaddock@gmail.com by October 30th.

2/ TeamApp – Shortly, we will be closing this TeamApp Site down 2nd Woodend Scout Group and moving everyone to the newly created Macedon – Woodend Scout Group. The colour scheme and Logo are generic at the moment, until we finalise this through the scout design contest.

3/ New website at www.macedonwoodendscouts.com – ongoing this will be managed by Venturers and older Scouts who want to learn how to manage a digital platform.

In closing, this has been a tough year for all. Working remote, schooling remote, has meant all of us have had to adapt. Merging two vibrant groups into one has been a tall task, but I’d like to acknowledge and thank the following committee members for their fantastic contributions: Zac Dunn (Parent Committee Chair); Jane Walduck (Assistant Parent Committee Chair); Rohan Birkett (Secretary); Tanya Graham & Jannaya James (Co-Treasurers); Corinne Shaddock, Tim Duff, Ken Bryce (MSG Group Leader), Mark Baeten, Simon Waliss, Brad Dean, Tim Jeans, Andrew Blain, Dale Sutton & Phil Seeber (2WSG Group Leader).

I look forward to catching up with you over the coming weeks, in person (socially distant!)
Best regards,
CY
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Colin Yeung,
Group Leader | Macedon – Woodend Scout Group
Rama | Cub Scouts

2nd Woodend Scout Group at Racecourse Reserve Hall is excited to make some announcements. We are moving to a more permanent home, merging with 1st Macedon Scout Group and starting a new era of Scouting in our region.

The 2nd Woodend Scout Groups tenure at Racecourse Reserve is coming to an end, with plans for development in this precinct meaning our Scout Group needs to find a new home.

We have been offered an enormously beneficial merge by our colleagues in Macedon; an opportunity to share their hall and become the Macedon – Woodend Scout Group.

Ten minutes from Woodend via the Old Calder, the Hall is across the street from where we canoe every summer. It is surrounded by bush trails for our mountain biking, hiking, orienteering and camping program. It is only 400 metres from the Macedon Train Station and shops. The hall is warm, spacious and features indoor bathrooms and plenty of wall space to hang our award boards and house our equipment. We are excited to make this our permanent home with them.

Our Leaders are all coming across, our program will continue once COVID restrictions are eased and our nights will stay consistent. Nothing about the 2nd Woodend Scouting experience will change, except now we have a location which will greatly complement our already active program. The Macedon group are also a highly active group, with both groups leaders commited to working together for the success of scouting in the region.

Our Section Leaders will continue to keep in contact with you as we make a COVID-conscious return to Scouting.

We welcome all of you to send us your ideas to help our Leaders and youth get the most out of this merge. We look forward to sharing this new era for our Group with you and will issue you further updates as we go.

Yours in Scouting,
1st Macedon Scout Group Committee & 2nd Woodend Scout Group Committee

Dear All,

Update in relation to 2WSG and plans over the coming months in relation to COVID-19.

Since electing to cease face to face scouting activities on 22nd March 2020, many of you have spoken to Dale Sutton (Venturers), Matthew Perry & Andrew Blayn (Scouts), Tim Jeans or myself (Cubs) over the past couple of months. The collective message we are receiving, is all Cubs, Scouts and Venturers are adjusting to home schooling and learning an entirely different set of skills in a markedly different environment.

The Venturer unit has maintained activities throughout this period, as reflects their age and maturity, taking to online and individually led teamwork to achieve their goals. Dale has indicated that in the coming weeks with the easing of restrictions, that the unit is preparing to do more in person activities.

The Cubs and Scout units elected not to run activities. Our preference as leaders was that our children be given the opportunity to make adjustments and have the necessary “rest” so important to them at this time. One of the key messages we took away was that many parents were concerned at the amount of screen time with online learning and were making active efforts to reduce this exposure as much as possible.

With the above in mind, it is worth mentioning that Scouts Victoria has created weekly programs for Cubs, Scouts or Venturers available https://scoutsvictoria.com.au/age-sections-adults/scouting-at-home. All the leaders are available for a chat/review of any activities undertaken. Tim and myself with the Cubs are committed to getting our group who are eligible for Grey Wolf’s this year, through successfully.

Supporting those inclined, the 1st Woodend Scout Group, 1st Riddells Creek Scout Group and 1st Gisborne Scout Group have all invited anyone from the 2nd Woodend to attend their weekly Zoom sessions if you are interested. For further details, please contact myself on the below listed.

In closing, with the State of Victoria implementing a phased return to school from May 26th (P, 1,2, Yr 11 & 12) and the general school population from 9th June 2020, at this stage, we are looking to resume scouting activities in Term 3 to allow everyone to settle back into routine. Throughout, our decisions will be informed by the health authorities, containment and treatment and the consensus of the community. I’ll write to you again what that looks like in the coming months.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact myself on the below listed.

Colin Yeung,
Rama, Cub Scouts & Assistant Group Leader (Group Leader elect)
2nd Woodend Scout Group