By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A CASEY scout group is in desperate need of their own facility after outgrowing the community centre they have used for the last seven years.
The Narre Warren South Scouts have been based at the Oakgrove Community Centre since the group’s inception in 2007, but now with almost 100 youth members in their group, the scout “pack” is working hard to raise money for a new facility.
Committee member Richard Dawson, whose three sons are members of the Narre Warren South Scouts, said the group needed a permanent place to call their own.
He said the Narre Warren North Scout group had their own hall and hoped his own pack could follow suit.
“The community centre is great, but the pack is rapidly out growing it,” Mr Dawson said.
“There’s nowhere for them to hang up their flags and other stuff, it’s just become untenable.
“As part of Scouts, the kids have to salute the flag, but every time we do this at the moment, we need to wheel out our flag then pack it away again.”
The campaign for a new Scout facility started roughly two years ago, with the group having raised $10,000 so far.
This Saturday the Narre Warren South Scouts will run a sausage sizzle at Ritchies Supa IGA on Webb St Narre Warren, with IGA and Nestle both keen supporters of Scouts Victoria.
Mr Dawson expected it could take up to another two years before the Scout group had raised enough money for a new facility, but he said locations had already been scouted and also flagged the possibility of meeting with the City of Casey to discuss the project.
“At first we thought we’d never raise enough money, but we’re starting to get excited now,” he said.
“Scouts Victoria would like every pack to have its own hall, and hopefully we will very soon.”
Scouts Victoria District Commissioner Mick Adams said the Narre Warren South Scouts were one of the largest groups in Casey, offering Joeys, Cub-Scouts, Scouts and Venturer youth programs.
“A Scout facility would allow continued growth of the group now and into the future,” he said.
“Scout facilities are not just used for Scouts but also other groups including churches, dance groups and sports groups, which utilise the facilities managed by Scouting, and they become valuable community assets.”
For more information, or to sponsor the group, contact Colin on 0418 179 870 or at groupleader@nwsscoutgroup.com
