Dragon Skin Comes Of Age

  The largest annual Venturer Scout and Guide event in Australia came of age on the Easter long weekend 2004 with Dragon Skin celebrating its 21^st birthday.

 More than 800 Venturers and Guides from around the country made their way to the Newnes State Forest near Lithgow for the annual competition starting on Good Friday morning.

During the previous week hundreds of leaders and Rovers, also from across Australia started making their way into the forest to set-up their respective Venturer Overnight Campsites and activity areas.

 Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia, John Ravenhall was one of three leaders who sent special messages of support which were read out to Dragon Skin organisers and participants at a cake cutting ceremony attended by the NSW Chief Commissioner Graeme Fordham.

 The ceremony was staged on Easter Sunday night at the Rover run VOC 3 campsite and was also attended by the NSW Branch Executive Officers in charge of the organisation of Dragon Skin.

 In his message of support, the Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia said Dragon Skin has developed into the largest annual Venturer and Guide event in the country and it is still as exciting and challenging as ever.

“Regular major events such as Dragon Skin make up a part of the culture of Scouting in Australia and Dragon Skin has gained an interstate reputation for excellence in Scouting and Guiding,” John said.

 “When you have adventurous challenges such as this event provides, the going is not always easy and that brings out the best in most of us.

 “You practise the obvious skills in teamwork, navigation and physical fitness but later on remember that you have shown determination, tolerance, perseverance or ‘gutsiness’, initiative, responsibility and concern for others. Patience? Never, you’re Venturers!

 “Very well done Venturers, Guides, Leaders and organisers fort another fabulous Dragon Skin,” John said.

The Dragon Skin was modelled directly on the successful Hoadley Hide competition which has been run by the Victorian Branch for its Venturers over the Easter weekend for the past 53 years.

Victoria’s Branch Commissioner for Venturers Greg McDougall said his team may have to visit Dragon Skin to find out NSW’s proven method of success.

“Congratulations from Victorian Venturers for the magnificent contribution that Dragon Skin makes to Venturing each year,” Greg said.

“It is a great opportunity for Venturers and Guides to have a bush experience in a controlled environment, allowing them to further develop their skills and initiative and simply have fun.

“That it is has grown to such a large event over the past 21 years is due to the efforts of many people involved in the team over that time – well done!

“Hoadley Hide continues to provide a similar activity and the numbers are building again – maybe we need to visit Dragon Skin to find out your proven method of success.

“Congratulations and have a great Easter 2004,” Greg said.

 Chief organiser of the 53^rd Hoadley Hide, Neil Purcell said in his message he hoped Dragon Skin will have continuing success.

 “On behalf of the Hoadley Hide we wish Dragon Skin the continuing success it is sustaining now for future generations of Venturers and Guides,” Neil said.

“Congratulations to all the organisers and participants on such a great event. Happy 21^st Dragon Skin!”

NSW Chief Commissioner Graeme Fordham said the Dragon Skin had come a long way since its inception and was a credit to its organisers for the way it has grown so successfully.

Graeme said Dragon Skin is a living example of what Scouting is all about. He said he wanted a film on Venturers made for advertising and from a marketing perspective, the section has more than got it right with the way it conducts business, especially in regards to Dragon Skin.

 The Dragon Skin originated after current 1^st Hurstville Venturer Leader Christopher Holcroft was part of the organising committee for the 1982 Hoadley Hide in Victoria.

Christopher was on secondment for his NSW employer to Melbourne and continued his scouting by being appointed District Venturer Leader for Sandridge. He brought back the ideas and concepts of the Hoadley Hide and presented them to the District Venturer Leaders and Area team in charge of the former St George Area now the South Metropolitan Region.

The St George Area team embraced the concept and held its first four day competition in 1983. It has grown in organisation and participation to become the country’s top annual event for Venturers and Guides.

NSW Chief Commissioner Graeme Fordham cuts a cake with the originator of Dragon Skin, 1^st Hurstville Venturer Leader Christopher Holcroft, to celebrate the coming of age of the national competition. Photo by Xavier Zehalco, 1^st Burwood Rovers.