Dragon Skin began with a trip to Melbourne!

Dragon Skin had its humble beginnings in the dense forests of Victoria - yes Victoria.

I was a journalist and had been sent to Victoria to head the Sydney Sun newspaper bureau situated in the Herald-Sun newspaper in Melbourne in 1982 with 24 hours notice.

Up until this time I had been a Venturer Leader of 2nd Peakhurst, in the Kameragal District which was part of the St George Area.

I quickly made myself known to Victoria Scouts and was appointed District Venturer Leader of the Sandridge District in the Bayside area of southern Melbourne.

'Sydney must have a taste of this'

Victoria's Venturers have had a proud history of gathering together each Easter under the umbrella of the Hoadley Hide - a giant Initiative Course and adventure camp spread over four days.

I joined in the planning of the 1983 Hoadley Hide as part of the Area team. When I saw what adventures the Venturers could have and the types of testing of their initiative that lay before them I had one thought in mind....Sydney must have a taste of this.

Helping to plan the Hoadley Hide was like planning a small military campaign. It was exhaustive and logistically sound, down to the very numbers of people required to dig ablution pits.

My feeling of awe only increased when I participated in the Hoadley Hide as an observer and watched the Venturers have an absolute marvelous time of being put through their paces.

The games of learning and practical exercises St George Area Venturers had been through as part of initiative courses suddenly burst into life after hundreds of Venturers were bussed into the forest area and let loose.

The main concept was simple. Imagine a wagon wheel and a series of spokes emanating from the centre. Buses carrying Venturers would drive deep into the forest to the end of the spokes. Each end part was called a Venturer Overnight Campsite (VOC). The centre of the wheel was the main headquarters where the points were tallied and administration was carried out.

The Venturers had to find out where they were, then plot their way around the wheel and in so doing, complete a number of tasks, have fun and maybe, complete their Initiative Course too.

I gained permission from the organisers to bring the concept to Sydney so the State's capital Venturers did not miss out on such a wonderful way to have organised fun and adventure. The Hoadley Hide could be extended into Sydney and take in our sister organisation, the Girl Guides.

Before my departure to Melbourne, I had worked closely with 1st Narwee Venturer Leader Bob Potter in organising and writing Venturer courses for Kameragal District.

On my return to Sydney, I again contacted Bob and within minutes of explaining what the Hoadley Hide was all about he was ringing Area delegates inviting me to the next District Venturer Leader meeting.

I brought my Hoadley Hide plans, maps given to Venturers, photos and ideas to the St George Area office at Hurstville and verbally sold the concept for the Hoadley Hide.

'It was not a Rat Skin....nor a Penguin Skin..or even a Cow Hide'

It was agreed by the Area Commissioner for Venturers and other leaders to give the four day camp a try. The Dragon Skin was born.

The Dragon Skin was an initiative of, and initially only for, the St George Area. Similar to Rovers, we wanted a prize worth competing for. It was not a Rat Skin, nor a Penguin Skin or even a Cow Hide. It was a green coloured stretched skin we called The Dragon Skin...after the St George Area.

The success of the Dragon Skin caught on with more and more leaders and Venturers wanting to participate in it. Dragon Skin grew from a small initiative course type activity for only a few score of Venturers in the southern Sydney area to one of the premier State-wide events it is today.

Scouting can be proud of a number of milestones in the history of this State. The Dragon Skin, with its varied themes and magnificent logistical support and team spirit is one of them.

I am glad to have brought the idea of good scouting from a tried and tested area and help bring about the spawning of a new age in Venturing for NSW.

Dragon Skin has captured the imaginations of thousands of Venturers and Guides across the State. Leaders and Rovers spend up to a week preparing their VOCs and activity sites for Dragon Skin.

 Examples include the fact of Venturers and Guides tramping through the hot forests and suddenly finding ice cold drink vending machines run by generators and even mini-spas in the middle of nowhere. Rovers and leaders on hand to take them through organised adventure and a safe place to camp where camaraderie abounds. This is Dragon Skin!

This is Venturing and I'm proud to have brought it to NSW!

Christopher J. Holcroft RFD                                                                     Venturer Leader                                                                                                 1st Hurstville

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