View source for Scouting and Guiding in Western Australia

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}

'''Scouting in [[Western Australia]]''' is predominantly represented by a branch of [[Scouts Australia]] and Girl Guides Western Australia, a member organisation of [[Girl Guides Australia]].

Scouting began in Western Australia in 1908 when eighteen-year-old Frank Roche from [[Spearwood, Western Australia|Spearwood]] established the first [[Scout Patrol]]. By the end of 1909 there were 416 members in 16 groups. In 1912, the Founder, [[Robert Baden-Powell]] visited [[Perth]].{{fact |date=March 2025}}

Girl Guides started in Western Australia in 1915 in a very formal way when the Women's Service Guild staged a public meeting, under Vice Regal patronage, in the [[Perth Town Hall]] on 28 June 1915. The governor moved, "that a Girl Guide Association be formed in this State and that we apply to the Girl Guide Association of Great Britain for a warrant".<ref>[http://www.girlguideswa.org.au/history_and_photos History of Guiding in Western Australia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915144425/http://www.girlguideswa.org.au/history_and_photos |date=15 September 2009 }}</ref> 

__TOC__

==Scouts Australia==
{{Infobox WorldScouting
|name              = Western Australia
|image             = Western Australia (Scouts Australia).png
|type              =
|owner             = [[Scouts Australia]]
|headquarters      = 133 Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn WA 6016
|location          =
|country           = Australia
|coords            = {{coord |region:AU-WA_type:landmark_dim:{{wikidata |property |qualifier |raw |P625 |P2386 |format=%q}} |display=inline,title |format=dec}}{{EditAtWikidata|pid=P625}}
|f-date            =
|defunct           =
|founders          =
|founder           =
|members           = 7,200
|chiefscouttitle   = Chief Scout (WA)
|chiefscout        = His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson APM
|chiefscouttitle2  = Chief Commissioner
|chiefscout2       = Ayden Mackenzie 
|chiefscouttitle3  =
|chiefscout3       =
|website           = {{official URL}}<!-- Use Wikidata -->
}}
The Branch is organised around districts:

'''Perth Metropolitan Districts'''
{{div col |colwidth=20em}}
* Wanneroo
* Joondalup
* Swan Valley
* Central Swan
* Sunset Coast
* Stirling East
* Bilgoman
* Kalamunda
* Woodloes River
* Three Rivers
* Minderup
* River Ranges
* Melville
* Beeliar
* Minnawarra
* Beeloo
* Osprey
{{div col end}}

'''Regional Districts'''
{{div col |colwidth=20em}}
* Kimberley
* Pilbara
* Avon
* Moresby Ranges
* Goldfields
* Stirling
* Forrest and Vasse
* Central Great Southern
{{div col end}}

=== Activities ===
A Scout [[Gang Show]] started in Perth in 1962 (and currently{{as of? |date=March 2025}} in recess). Two [[Australian Scout Jamboree]]s were held in Western Australia in 1979/80 and 1994/95.

[[Sea Scout]]s in Western Australia {{vague |date=March 2025 |reason=What does this mean? They always travel a minimum distance or burn a minimum calorie threshold over a given time? They spend a minimum time per some period doing ... what? |text=are active.}} The premier Sea [[scouting|Scout]] Competition in Western Australia is the Master Mariners competition. The Junior Shield is currently{{when|date=March 2023}} held by Canning Sea Scouts, the Senior Shield by Canning Venturer Sea Scouts and the Rover Oar by Pelican Point Rover Crew. There are currently{{when|date=March 2023}} 10 sea scout groups in Western Australia.

There is a Scout Water Activity Centre located in [[Como, Western Australia|Como]] that land-based groups can use. An annual regatta is held there.

[[Air Scouts]] is currently represented by the Bullsbrook Air Scout Group. 

===Facilities===

===Scouts Western Australia Adventure Centres ===
*Scouts WA Adventure Centre Eaton. On the banks of the [[Collie River]] at [[Eaton, Western Australia|Eaton]] in the Shire of [[Dardanup, Western Australia|Dardanup]], just {{convert|8|km|0}} from [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-29 |title=Home - Scouts WA |url=https://scoutswa.com.au/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
*Scouts WA Adventure Centre Gilcreek. On the bank of the [[King River, Western Australia|King River]], {{convert|12|km}} from [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]]. 
*Scouts WA Adventure Centre Manjedal. Near [[Byford, Western Australia|Byford]] about one hour drive from [[Perth]] is the Branch's major Camp Site and Training Centre, established in 1967.
*Scouts WA Adventure Centre Vasse {{convert|280|km}} south west of Perth near [[Busselton, Western Australia|Busselton]].

===Other facilities===
* Northam Scout Camp. {{convert|97|km}} east of Perth and {{convert|4.5|km}} west of Northam. The campsite's southern boundary is the north side of the Kep Track, which follows the Goldfields Pipeline in the area and is used for hiking, walking, cycling, and horse riding.
* Toowacka Campsite. [[Bay of Isles, Western Australia|Bay of Isles]], [[Esperance, Western Australia|Esperance]].
* Scout Water Activity Centre, in [[Como]], near [[Canning Bridge]] in Perth.

===Major branch events===
* OneCamp 2023, a new event for April 2023, for all sections for one major camp, for the [[Swan Valley Adventure Centre]].  
*Branch Venturer Council held every second month.<ref>{{cite web |title=OneCamp 2023 – Eclipse |url=https://onecamp.com.au/ |website=Scouts Western Australia |access-date=7 March 2023}}</ref>
* Nighthawk: A night-time orienteering event for Scouts.
* Rottnest Invasion: Held at [[Rottnest Island]] where Scouts and Venturers do community service. 
* Youth awards: New Australian Scout Award, [[King's Scout|Queen's Scout]] and Baden-Powell Award recipients every February are presented their certificate by the State Governor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Perth Concert Hall |url=https://perthconcerthall.com.au/ |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=perthconcerthall.com.au}}</ref> 
* Campwest: Held every three years, Campwest is a small scale jamboree, held between Australian jamborees.

The following are the major competitions that are held in Western Australia.

'''Scouts'''
* Cargeeg Challenge Shield (Scouts) – the Premier Camping competition in Western Australia for Scouts at Manjedal Scout Centre, is currently held by Donny Brook Scouts Troop.
* Master Mariners Junior Shield (Scouts) – the Premier Boating competition in Western Australia for Scouts, is currently held by Canning Sea Scouts.
* Swan Tiki – a Bi-annual Rafting event for Scout section, the overall trophy is currently held by Bibra Lake Scouts.
* Orienteering – held annually at a national park in Perth. There are many categories in which teams compete to collect the most points.

'''Venturer Scouts'''
* Master Mariners Senior Shield – premier boating competition in Western Australia for Venturers, currently held by Fremantle Venturer Sea Scouts.
* Mission Impossible
* Vencarna is a car event similar to the Rover Baja Car Rally.

'''Rovers'''
* Master Mariner Rover Oar, a premier boating competition in Western Australia for rovers, is currently held by Pelican Point Rover Sea Scouts.
* Mission Impossible.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Mission Impossible: Home | url=http://www.mi.warovers.com.au/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830140434/http://www.mi.warovers.com.au/ | access-date=2025-01-11 | archive-date=2007-08-30}}</ref>
* Rover Motor Sports, the Rover Baja Car Rally.

'''Water Activities/Sea Scouts (involving more than one section)'''
* Swan-A-Bout, the 30 hours sailing Marathon for the Scout section and above. The overall trophy is currently{{when|date=March 2023}} held by Canning Sea Scouts. Waylen Bay Sea Scouts holds the dinghy, seaboat and keelboat classes while Canning Sea Scouts hold the catamaran and [[Red witch]] classes.
* Pelican Point Regatta is held bi-annually with other Sea Scout troops holding the regatta every second year. The last regatta was held as Waylen Bay Regatta in 2006. The shield is currently{{when|date=March 2023}} held by the Waylen Bay Sea Scouts.<ref>[http://www.waylenbayscouts.org.au/ Waylen Bay Sea Scouts]</ref>{{full citation needed |date=March 2025}}
* Como Regatta: The annual regatta is held at Scout Water Activity Centre at Como. The trophy is currently{{when|date=March 2023}} held by Waylen Bay Sea Scouts.
* Rowing Record: There is rowing challenge open to all Scouts and Venturers. It is between Nedlands and Applecross jetty. The current{{when|date=March 2023}} holders are the Waylen Bay Venturers, setting the record in 1984 in the sea boat ''Lyn Ward''.

=== History ===
In 2015, Western Australia's biggest scout group's meeting place and hall (1st Mandurah Scouts) was bulldozed, after the City of Mandurah sold the property (to supermarket giant [[Aldi]]{{relevance inline |date=March 2025}}).<ref>{{Cite web| title=Notice of meeting governance and infrastructure committee | date=2015-02-17 | url=https://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/~/media/Files/CoM/City-and-Council/Council/Council-and-Committee-Meetings/Agendas-and-Minutes/2015/Governance-and-Infrastructure/GI-Meeting-Agenda-Feb-17.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806151217/https://www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/~/media/Files/CoM/City-and-Council/Council/Council-and-Committee-Meetings/Agendas-and-Minutes/2015/Governance-and-Infrastructure/GI-Meeting-Agenda-Feb-17.pdf | archive-date=2018-08-06}}</ref>

==Girl Guiding Western Australia==
{{infobox WorldScouting
| image             = 
| imagesize         = 127px
| caption           = 
| name              = Girl Guides Western Australia
| headquarters      = Belmont, Western Australia
| country           = [[Australia]]
| f-date            = 28 June 1914
| founder           = 
| members           = 2,600
| chiefscouttitle   = State Commissioner
| chiefscout        = Linda Elezovich
| website           = {{URL|http://www.girlguideswa.org.au}}
| affiliation       = [[Girl Guides Australia]]<br />[[World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts]]
}}

Girl Guides Western Australia is one of the seven member organisations of [[Girl Guides Australia]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Girl Guides Australia|title=Where is Guiding Available|url=http://www.girlguides.org.au/About-Us/where-is-guiding-available-.html}}</ref> 
Girl Guides WA has around 2,600 members.<ref>[http://www.girlguideswa.org.au/about_guides About Guides WA] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001175820/http://www.girlguideswa.org.au/about_guides |date=1 October 2009 }}</ref>{{full citation needed |date=March 2025}}

Girl Guide units operate throughout the state and are organised into regions:
{{Div col |colwidth=20em}}
* North Metro
* Joondalup
* Whitfords Coastal
* Seaward
* Darling Swan
* Peel
* River SeaWay
* Southern Foothills
* Capricorn
* Avon Hills
* Great Southern
* Three Rivers
{{Div col end}}
{{Clear}}


===Centenary===
From 28 June 2014 to 28 June 2015, Girl Guides WA celebrated 100 years of Guiding in Western Australia.  A number of events and special projects were organised for the occasion, including a Centenary Dinner for adult members, past members and supporters,  "Jamboree with a Difference" and collection of information for the state archives.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Girl Guides WA|journal=WagTale|date=April 2013}}</ref>

===Our Barn===
Girl Guides WA operates "Our Barn" in [[York, Western Australia|York]]<ref>[http://www.girlguideswa.org.au/campsite_directory Guide Camp sites] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725194509/http://www.girlguideswa.org.au/campsite_directory |date=25 July 2008 }}</ref> The original building on the property is from the Victorian Era and was originally the stables of Haversham House. It has a rich history, and was used by the Red Cross in World War II as a convalescent home for the armed services. Our Barn was converted into a dormitory by Girl Guides WA in the 1970s and officially opened as a Guide Property in 1977.<ref>{{cite web|last=Girl Guides Western Australia|title=Our Barn, York- Brochure|url=http://www.girlguideswa.org.au/library/userfiles/file/Our%20Barn%20Brochure2013.pdf|access-date=12 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205143432/http://www.girlguideswa.org.au/library/userfiles/file/Our%20Barn%20Brochure2013.pdf|archive-date=5 February 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Scouting and Guiding in Australia]]

==References==
{{Reflist |30em}}

==External links==
*{{official website}}<!-- Use Wikidata -->

{{Subject bar |auto=0 |portal1=Western Australia |portal2=Scouting }}
{{Scouting in Australia}}

[[Category:Scouting and Guiding in Australia|West Australia, Scouting in]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Western Australia]]