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It's game on for scouts |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jan 04 2007 at 3:01 PM |
Dated 3rd Jan 2007 - Source
For thousands of scouts from throughout Australia and the world, it's game on.
This was the message from Governor-General of Australia Michael Jeffery, who officially opened the 21st Australian Jamboree in Elmore last night.
About 8500 boys and girls and more than 3000 volunteer leaders are attending the event, which will be held at the Elmore Field Days site until January 13.
The theme of this year's jamboree is "get in the game".
It is the first celebration held for the worldwide scouting movement's 100th birthday.
Hundreds of children lined the gates to the Coca-Cola Arena in anticipation, well before the event officially started at 7.30pm.
The night began with music from covers band Phase Four, drummers situated around the crowd, fire twirlers from East Side Represent, and a dazzling light display.
Major-General Jeffery, who is also chief scout of Australia, told the crowd that AJ 2007 was the first event of a year-long party.
"It's a celebration of everything that scouting - and scouts like you - has achieved during the past 100 years."
Many extraordinary people had been scouts, he said.
Australian scouts include Jamie Durie, John Safran and Peter Garrett, while international scouts include David Beckham, Jamie Oliver and Nelson Mandela.
Maj-Gen. Jeffery said it was now the turn of the scouts at the jamboree to make history.
"Over the next two weeks you will play the game of scouting as it has never been played before," he said.
"And when it finally closes in 10 days, one thing is for sure - there will never be anything like this again.
"So work hard and play harder, look after your leaders, and write your own part in history.
"The fun starts here. It's game on!"
Australian electro-rock band Rogue Traders then closed the night with a raucous performance, including hits Voodoo Child and Watching You.
At the jamboree's opening dinner, before the opening ceremony, Major-General Jeffery thanked Scouts Australia volunteers, local community and local government leaders, the town of Elmore, and the jamboree's sponsors.
"There are no quick dividends for supporting youth," he said.
"It is an investment for the future, in our most important asset of all - the next generation of Australian leaders."
Scouts will be doing their own cooking, cleaning and washing and will be doing four days off-site and four days on-site activities.