Encompass Issue 46 - October 2012 - Kawana Scouts

Branch Commissioner Joey Scouts
David Cruse
bc.joeyscouts@qldhq.scouts.com.au
As the year is fast approaching the Christmas period, are you
looking for that acvity that will assist in finishing the year with fun,
excitement and expectaon? Have you and/or your Joey Scouts
ever watched a solar eclipse, the awesome power of the universe in
acon? This event is something that could be incorporated into a
special meeng.
Well if you haven’t, the opportunity to experience this wonderful
show is just around the corner. On Wednesday14 November 2012
the shadow of the moon will pass over the earth; a solar eclipse.
This will be a total eclipse in the Cairns Region and a paral eclipse
for most other places. The path of totality (100%) blockage will
occur in the Cairns to Port Douglas Region; however most of
Eastern Australia will experience a paral eclipse. Brisbane will
experience an 82% paral eclipse.
So What Is A Solar Eclipse
A Solar Eclipse occurs when the moon goes in
front of the sun and blocks most of the sun's light
from the earth. During a total eclipse all you can
see from earth is a ring of light around the moon
which is part of the sun the moon did not cover.
It is dangerous to look at a solar eclipse directly,
even if you have sun glasses or smoked glass.
Eclipse Glasses
A special order of eclipse glasses compliant with the new
Queensland Government will be available for purchase through the
Scout Supply Centre for $2.00 each.
Eclipse Badge
A special collectors badge will be available to commemorate the
eclipse and can be purchased through the Scout Supply Centre for
$3.00 each.
More informaon can be found at the following websites:
www.aaq.org.au or
hp://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2012.html#SE2012Nov13T
Queensland Scout Centre Reopening
I hope you saw my invitaon in last month’s Encompass to aend
the Queensland Scout Centre Reopening occurring on Saturday 13
October 2012 from 10.00 am, and that you, your mob and parents
have scheduled it into your plans to aend. There will be a rock
climbing wall, circus acvies, Scout cooking, water rocketry,
environment acvies, etc available for youth members to
parcipate in – come and join us in this wonderful day of acvies.
Eurekit
Eurekit is a resource program developed by Scouts Queensland
which will enable Leaders to access a huge database of acvies
and program elements to build their own programs. The database
is sll in its infancy, but will grow and become an excellent resource
for mobs with 1 or more Leaders. The database can be accessed by
going to hp://eurekit.scoutsqld.com.au and using your
membership number as your username and the same password
used for the Branch website.
THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER
MEMORANDUM
BLUE CARDS FOR SCOUT MEMBERS WITH AN
INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
A query was raised at one of our Region Commissioners Conferences in relaon to youth members with intellectual disabilies who are
over 18 years of age. I was asked what we do about these Rover Scouts over 18 years of age who are in the Secon but have a diagnosed
intellectual disability as they cannot fulfil the requirements of the Blue Card applicaon form.
I contacted the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian asking whether a Rover Scout’s guardian could apply for
an exempon on their behalf and, if so, what evidence would be required? I have received the following response from the Commission
for Children and Young People and Child Guardian in this regard.
The Commission accepts applicaons from individuals with intellectual disabilies; however they do ask that, where possible, the applica-
on form is signed by either a guardian of the individual or a person with power of aorney. If the applicant is physically unable to sign
the applicaon, they also would appreciate a notaon to that effect on the applicaon form, so that if and when the card is produced,
they can make that clear in the area where the signature would normally appear.
Obviously, given the large number of applicaons they receive in any given week, it would be helpful to them if any such applicaon was
clearly idenfied (covering leer would suffice, copy of the power of aorney document etc.), so that they could progress it without generang
a ‘request for further informaon’ leer. As you may appreciate, they somemes challenge applicaons if they are not completed
correctly, so as long as the applicaon is marked accordingly, it should be progressed without interrupon.
The above informaon will be included in the current update of the Queensland Branch Scoung Instrucons (QBSI) and I have also requested
that a template leer be created to go with any such applicaon from the Queensland Scout Centre to the Commission for Children
and Young People and Child Guardian.
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