13,000 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCOUTS CONVERGE ON SYDNEY
Arriving from all points of the country and globe, more than 13,000 scouts, leaders and community volunteers will make Cataract Scout Park home for the 22nd Australia Jamboree 2010 (AJ2010) from 2 January 2010.
Off the back of an extremely successful centenary celebration in 2008, a year declared by The Australian Government as the ‘Year of the Scout’, Scouts Australia (NSW) is hosting the 22nd Australian Jamboree across 10 days and 14 locations around Sydney.
Every three years Scouts Australia stages a national jamboree hosted by one of the state scouting organisations. This year’s event is hosted by NSW and will provide all scouts with an opportunity to test their limits,” says Grant De Fries, Camp Chief/ Chief Commissioner of Scouts NSW.
Cataract Scout Park is 71 km south west (90 minutes) of Sydney at Appin. The AJ2010 operations team has been working since the mid-year to create a temporary town which will be, the 35th biggest town in NSW. The numbers will swell from 13,000 to 21,000 on Future Scouts Day, a highlight of the 10 days program.
The camp will be made up of 1,500 six person tents, 10 internet cafes, and 325 temporary structures, including two stages. It will be complete with its own shops, hospital, Westpac branch and ATMs, television and radio station, police station and fire service.
AJ2010 will set a new standard for jamborees with an integrated technology platform to connect the jamboree with over half a million family and friends following the camp activities on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Scouts will also stay connected through the AJ2010 radio and television station and daily newspaper.
AJ2010 will also deliver regular live broadcasts via YouTube and www.scoutsaj2010.com capturing high profile entertainment acts and ceremonial events to ensure the AJ2010 experience is shared by as many people as possible.
“Expanding the jamboree experience using technology opens up a whole new world for scouting. Scouting is experiencing a renewed interest with new scout troops starting up each week around Australia and especially in our neighbouring Pacific Islands. These communities will be able to tune in and share the experience with their fledgling scout groups live for the first time,” says Camp Chief De Fries.
More than 345 coaches will ferry scouts from the farthest points of NSW, Queensland and Victoria, with planes arriving at Sydney Airport from interstate and 26 countries including the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and New Zealand, to name a few.
“Organising AJ2010 is equivalent to any other major sporting or arts event in Australia. Sixty members of the organising committee started planning AJ2010 three years ago. They have been supported by an army of dedicated volunteers who have committed approximately 1,000,000 volunteer hours so far,” says Camp Chief De Fries.
AJ2010 will also be supported by onsite teams from the NSW Ambulance, Police, Rural Fire Service, Australian Defence Force, as well as the medical and emergency service capabilities of local and regional hospitals.
More Information
AJ2010
AJ2010 is the 22nd Australian Jamboree which will be hosted by Scouts Australia (NSW) at the Cataract Scout Park in Appin from 4-14 January 2010. The camp will bring together more than 10,000 Scouts from across Australia and the world, with representatives from 26 countries flying in to Sydney to ‘test their limits.’ There are onsite and offsite activities ranging from flying, water activities in Chowder Bay, and City tours of Sydney to Jamberoo Recreation Park while at Cataract Park the scouts can learn trade skills and participate in adventurous activities. More information: www.scoutsaj2010.com
Scouts Australia
Scouts Australia has been involved in Australia’s community for more than 100 years. Their centenary anniversary was celebrated in 2008, with the Australian Government declaring it ‘Year of the Scout’. Scouts is the biggest and most successful youth organisation in Australia. In NSW, there are over 20,000 boys, girls and adults who are involved with Scouts. Leaders encourage an active program that inspires young girls and boys aged between 11 and 15 to always be prepared, giving them lifelong lessons ranging from outdoor adventures to arts, technology and community involvement.
