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Welcome to 2026
Half way through the year
I feel bad that I haven't been posting to the blog as often as I should... as a volunteer, my contributions to scouting are subject to my full time work commitments and this yearm work has been a bit crazy.
So far this year, we've have had plenty of action, as our Cub scouts prepare for Cuboree in October and our Scout section continues to grow. Our scouts did a hike camp up at the Murranbindi falls, and despite the rain and being the first hike for some of our younger scouts, they all had fun. Then six of our Scouts did a first aid patrol camp at Clifford park Scout Camp ground.
01 April 2026
Noah Awarded Australian Scout Award
Noah Sefton, scout from 8th Knox Scout Group and hosted by 1st FTG Scout group recently completed his path through scouting by completing and being awarded the Australian Scout Award. This award is the peak award in the Scout section (age 10-14) – equivalent to the better know Kings Scout Award that Venturer Scouts (age 15-18) can earn.
When I first met Noah, he was asking to join 1st Ferntree Gully Scouts on a camp – he was looking for every opportunity to get out and do more camping, to do more hiking, to do more canoeing to do more… everything. Noah became known in the district for jumping in with many of the scout groups in the area when an opportunity popped up to do another camp or join some activity; such was his eagerness to get the most out of his Scouting career.
Noah joined Scouts from 1st FTG, 4th Knox, 1st Kalista and other 8th Knox scouts to bus all the way to Maryborough, Queensland for the 2025 Australian Jamboree. Attending the Jamboree was one of many highlights of Noah’s time in Scouts and he made great friends with Scouts from 1st Ferntree Gully while at the Jamboree.
When Noah’s home group had to close its Scout section due to a shortage of leaders, 1st FTG offered to host Noah and several other Scouts from 8th Knox. Noah quickly stepped up as a Patrol Leader, showing strong leadership with younger Scouts and Cubs at 1st FTG.
I’ve been camping with Noah many times, and he has demonstrated his maturity and his capabilities on every one of those camps – showing off his independence and taking charge to ensure shelters were built or tents erected in a timely manner, giving him and his tentmates the time to enjoy the experience.
Noah’s family has a long Scouting history, with both his grandfather and father serving as Cub Scout leaders. When I had the honour of presenting Noah with his Australian Scout Award badge on 1st of April 2026, his family joined the presentation and celebration. It was inspiring to see Noah’s commitment recognised and to see how proud his whole family was of him.
ANZAC Commemorations
ANZAC Commemorations
As we do every year, 1st Ferntree Gully Scouts remembered ANZAC day pay participating in multiple ceremonies in and around Ferntree Gully. Our Scouts did an overnight scout activity followed by attending the FTG Rotary Dawn service at the Quarry. Following that, 1st Ferntree Gully Scout Group ran a Gunfire breakfast at our hall in Wally Tew Reserve with visiting scout members from 1st Knoxfield, 8th Knox and 1st Rowville. At the conclusion of the breakfast, we invested three new members to our group, two scouts and a new Scout leader, Tom Maggs, who was formerly a scout with 1st Ferntree Gully. Later in the morning, all of our sections joined the ANZAC march to Upwey-Belgrave RSL and the service afterwards.
While Scouting is not a military associated movement, it was born from Lord Baden-Powell’s experiences in the British army during the Boer War in South Africa; respect and reverence for those that served our country and especially those that paid the ultimate price is close to all of our hearts. Lest we forget.
01 March 2026
On 01Mar26, our Scouts and Cubs participated in Clean Up Australia - we targeted the section of Ferny Creek that runs along the north of Wally Tew reserve. The Scouts and Cubs did an incredible job and cleared multiple bags of rubbish from the creek.
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