Kevin Rowan D.G.L.

On a recent trip to Australia and while passing through Perth I had the opportunity to visit two Sea Scout Groups. The first Group nestled along the River Swan, the 1st Fremantle Sea Scout Group. The group hosts Joey (Beavers) Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts , Ventures , and Rovers. Scouting in Australia have the same program we have in Ireland. The evening programme I visited was with the Cub Scouts. The sections programme for the evening was to visit HMAS PERTH (1) Memorial site. A short walk along the River brought us to the site. Here the Cubs were engaged by custodians of the site. The HMAS Perth (1) was sunk during WW11 in 1942 by the Japanese with heavy losses. The evening concluded with a question and answer session by the Cubs. Further up the river and few days later I was invited to make a Sea Scout visit to the Ist Pelican Sea Scout Group of Perth. The group was established in 1913. They also have Joey Scouts , Cub Scouts , Scouts , Venture, and Rovers. The Saturday afternoon programme was to take place on the water. A inter watch sailing regatta took place in a 3 crew dinghy sailing boat known as a Pacer. A 3.8m. sloop rigged Craft. Here also I met Barbara de la Hunty and her crew of Scouters. Barbara back in November ‘23 took a Zoom call at our National Sea Scout Conference presenting a flavour of their Scouting down under which I also got to witness first hand. I wish to express my sincere thanks to both groups for their hospitality.