Rovers (Australia)

Rovers Australia
Age range	17–26
Founded	1918
Founder	Lord Baden Powell
Website Rovers Australia

Rovers, formerly Rover Scouts, is the fifth and final section of Scouts Australia, and began in 1918. Rovers are aged between 17 (generally 18) and 26 years of age and are organised into local Crews, which can be associated with a Scout Group or operate as a stand-alone Crew. Crews accept anyone interested in taking up Rovering, whether or not they have been in Scouts before. The section is based on Baden-Powell's book Rovering to Success and the theme of knighthood. Rovers are actively encouraged to become better citizens through taking part in Scouts Australia's nationally accredited training programs, developing leadership skills, participating in outdoor activities, attending national and international events, providing service to the community and generally building their life skills.

Rovers is organised from a National level down, however the day-to-day running of the section is organised at a Branch (state) level. Unlike most of the other sections it is very active at a Branch level. The larger states are split into Regions, which in turn are made up of Crews. Victoria has the largest Rover population, with around 100 Crews and there are over 300 Crews Australia-wide.

Australian Rovers run an Australian Rover Moot every three years. The largest event in Australian Rovering is Victoria's annual Surfmoot [1], run across the Australia Day weekend each January.

On the old khaki uniform, Rovers were distinguished by green epaulettes, but with the new uniform, Rovers are now distinguished by a red shoulder panel on the blue uniform shirt, green badges on each shoulder, as well as the traditional 'knot' of five ribbons (tan for Joeys, yellow for Cubs, green for Scouts, maroon for Venturers and red for Rovers) - this distinguishes Rovers from every other section. Rovers fought hard against the adoption of the new uniform and won the right to continue to wear their green "epaulettes", although now they are simply a badge sewn on the shoulder panel.

During 2005 and 2006, the Centenary of Scouting Peace Boomerang completed a journey of over 18,000 km around Australia spreading a message of peace and unity leading up to the Scouting 2007 Centenary. Australian Rovers developed the boomerang as a Gift for Peace project that would involve Rovers, Scouts and the general public, and raise awareness and generate discussions amongst young people about peace.

Rovering Organisation

Self Government

Unlike the other sections of Scouts Australia, Rovers are self governing. After the 1970 Design for Tomorrow Report, instead of becoming a new section, Rovers began to admit young women into their Crews and asked their leaders to step back to become Rover Advisors, with the Crew Leaders, Region Chairs and Branch Chairs taking up the responsibility for their Rovers. The National Rover Council, a group of Rovers who coordinate interstate efforts was also founded in 1979.

The Crew System

A Rover Crew is run by its members, led by an elected committee. The committee normally consists of a Crew Leader, Deputy Crew Leader, Secretary and Treasurer but large Crews may also add a Fundraiser, a Quartermaster and other roles. Rovers are adults and make their own decisions but sometimes Crews wish to have input from people over 26, called Rover Advisers. These people are selected by the Crew because of their previous experience, both in Scouting and in life.

Region Rover Council

While allowing District Rover Forums in some states (to organise promotions and social events only), the next step in the Rover Government ladder is the Region Rover Council. These bodies run Rovering in their geographic areas and are typically based on but not the same as Regions in the other sections of the Scouting Movement. These regions also run various Branch events.

There are currently seven Region Rover Councils in both New South Wales and Victoria, assisting the Crews in their area by offering service, organising social functions, distributing information, assisting with training, facilitating the Baden-Powell Scout Award and many other tasks. Not all states have Region Rover Councils, with Crews in the smaller states reporting directly to their Branch Rover Council.

Branch Rover Council

The Branch Rover Council is formed by representatives from each of the Region Rover Councils (in states that have them), and may also have representatives from sub-committees (for events, property, marketing, risk management, motorsport etc.). This body approves Branch awards, co-ordinates training, liaises with other Branch Rover Councils, develops polices and initiatives and encourages the further development of Rovering.

Branch Rover Councils also have a number of sub-committees which organise various parts of Rovering life. For example, these may include

• Management Committees that run campsites and facilities owned by Rovers
• Event Committees, which organise some of the main events Rovering
• Rover Motorsport is CAMS affiliated but also the responsibility of the Branch Rover Council

In Victoria, the Branch Rover Council Executive consists of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Assistant Chairman, Secretary, Victorian Rover Training Team, Computer Systems Officer, Internet Officer, Adventurous Activities Officer, Environment Officer, Marketing Officer, Journalist, Resources Officer, Honorary Historian, Honorary Treasurer, Branch Commissioner - Rovers, Assistant Branch Commissioners for Rover Activities & Rover Development, and the Administration Officer.

Some states have a Lones Rover Crew, which accept members from country or other areas where the nearest Rover Crew is further than practical travel allows or who cannot attend a regular Rover Crew due to shiftwork or military service.

National Rover Council

The Australian National Rover Council (NRC), is the body that governs Rovering at a National Level. It oversees the running of Rovering conducted at a Branch level, and designs policy to affect Rovering as a whole in Australia. This team works together to develop a strategic plan and then implement this over the course of the year. They also liaise with the Branch Rover Council Chairmen and the Branch Commissioners for Rovers (or their equivalent) in each state to help them with any issues, ideas or help that they may need.

The NRC is composed of an executive of a Chairman, Vice Chair and a Training and Development Officer, and delegates from each state, plus the Scouts Australia National Team, and a representative from the Scouts Australia National Youth Council and New Zealand Rovers. The council meets as a whole at their annual meeting where there are 2 delegates and a Branch Commissioner (or equivalent) from each state and territory with voting rights and two observers from each state or territory. In 2009 the NRC Executive is: Chair - Sophie Feint (ACT), Vice Chair - Libby Davison (VIC), Training and Development Officer - Daniel Smith (WA),

The National Rover Council Chairman is therefore a member of the Scouts Australia National Team and attends National Team, National Operations and National Executive meetings.

The NRC meet at the The National Rover Council Meeting held annually, usually in January, following the major event for the year (Jamboree, Venture or Moot). The conference usually runs over three days and incorporates State/Territory reports, discussions and workshops as well as networking activities. The Conference is an excellent opportunity for Branch Rover Council Chairs, their delegates and observers to meet with Rovers from other states and share their knowledge and ideas and learn from one another in a positive environment. It is also an opportunity for States to put forward papers, plans and ideas to the council to be voted upon so the Chair can then take the resolutions to the National Operations Meeting. it is also when the elections for the years executive take place.

Usually held in January, attended by five representatives of each Branch Rover Council, plus the NRC Executive, and representatives from the Scouts Australia National Team.

Award scheme

The Rover award scheme leads to the Baden-Powell Scout Award - the highest youth award in Australian Scouting. This begins with Squire Training - the training required to be completed before being invested as a Rover Knight. Following this is the Rover Skills badge - basic camping, showing an understanding of the Scouting Fundamentals and providing 10 hours of service, although this badge can be completed by Squires, it is uncommon for a Squire to be awarded the badge without finishing their Crew's Squire Training Program first.

Rover Scout Motorsport

Rover Scout Motorsport clubs exist in several states and are is the bodies responsible for the safe operation of Rover car racing. They are Confederation of Australian Motorsport-affiliated racing clubs, with strict drink-driving, safety and racing policies. They are operated by an elected and assigned team of Rovers and are under the control of that states Branch Rover Council. They oversee events like Mudbash (VIC), Sandblast (SA), and Bush Baja (WA).

All Rover Motorsport activities were stopped in the early 2000's because of a loss of insurance, but a new affiliation with the Confederation of Australian Motorsport led to the resumption of Rover Motorsport. Victoria successfully ran its inaugural championship series in 2008/2009. South Australia will be running its own five round series in 2011.

The Bogong Rover Chalet on the Bogong High Plains is one example of property owned and managed by Rovers

Rover property

See also: Rovering in Victoria

Today, the Rover section owns many properties built and funded by the Rovers (including several ski lodges and the largest freehold (not rented for a nominal fee like many Scout parks) scout park in the southern hemisphere, Mafeking Rover Park in Victoria).

Notable Australian Rovers

Dick Smith - He was a Scout for 14 years and a member of 1st East Roseville Rover Crew on Sydney's northshore. He earned the Baden-Powell Award in 1966. Well known amongst Rovers for an expedition that was organised by the Crew to sail using a small sailing boat and climb Ball’s Pyramid, an incredible rock spire about 300 miles to the east of Sydney, near Lord Howe Island. This expedition and a reunion of participants 40 years later, were documented in the 2005 film Rock of Ages, part of ABC-TV's Australian Story series. Dick's Scouting background is profiled here.

See also

• Scouts Australia
• Rovering in Victoria
• Rover Scouts

External links

• Rovers Australia - National Rover Council
• Aussiemoot - 17th Australian Rover Moot to be held in Sydney in 2007/08
• Queensland Rovers - State Rovers Website
• www.nswrovers.com - Rovers in New South Wales
• Victorian Rovers - events,properties,training,service,resources,crews
• Rover Scouts Association - international Rovering fellowship
• SA Rovers - State Rovers Website
• ACT Rovers - State Rovers Website
• WA Rovers - State Rovers Website