Scouts mark centenary

KATINA CURTIS

SCOUTS from Kiama and Shellhar-bour will celebrate 100 years since the foundation of the movement with a candlelit walk tonight.

The scouting movement started in 1907 when Robert Baden-Powell took 20 boys from a variety of social backgrounds on a camp in Brownsea Island in the UK.

Waveney Hextell, the district commissioner for Illawarra South, said World Scout Day today (August 1) was a worldwide celebration of the centenary of the start of scouting.

"Here in the district we're having a candlelight walk from Reddall Parade in Oak Flats to the scout hall at Boonerah Point," she said.

"There we'll have a Scout's Own and a 100th birthday cake and a party time generally."

Minnamurra cub pack leader Danusia Waite said a Scout's Own was "a reflection on scouting life and what we do and what we represent".

The celebrations will also include a renewal of the scouting promise by each member.

Ms Hextell said she expected almost 150 people to come as all 12 groups of the district would be represented, with all age groups from joeys right up to rovers.

"Everybody who attends gathers points towards a centenary medallion, which will be given out in October," she said.

One of the Minnamurra cubs, Samantha Waite, said she was looking forward to the celebrations.

"Its special because it's been a hundred years and scouts have been in the world for a really long time," she said.

Fellow cub Darcy Crook said he liked being a scout because he got to do lots of "fun stuff".

Next year is the centenary of Australian scouting. Prime Minister John Howard recently announced it would be Year of the Scout.