Following Scouting Sunrise, John Ravenhall and I were off to visit the World Jamboree in England. We spent three days there and caught up with many Scouting friends, including Rod Abson, who is now working for the World Bureau in Geneva. We visited our Australian Troops in their camps and all were having a great time. Congratulations to Grant de Fries and his team on the wonderful job they were doing.
After the World Jamboree John, his wife Sally and I headed north through England and Scotland, before flying to Scandinavia for a two week bus tour. Wherever we went we saw Scouting in some form - many of the stamps I bought in the countries we visited had Scouts on them, we were questioned by many people about Scouting (John and I both wore hats with the Scout logo, so we were easily recognisable), and one of the New Zealanders on our bus trip has a cousin who is a Cub Scout Leader in Tasmania - and one I worked with many years ago! It is indeed a small world.
One of the most memorable things we saw was in Edinburgh in Scotland. We had been on a sight seeing bus tour of the city and the guide had mentioned the Scout clock, so after we finished the trip we went for a wander and found it. What a truly amazing sight it was. A huge clock, commemorating the Centenary of Scouting, made up of cactus and flowers. It was well worth the long walk to find it. I have written to the Lord Mayor of Edinburgh congratulating him and the Scouting personnel of the city for such an initiative.
Now back to work - as we move into our second century.
Julie Creed
National Commissioner Youth Program
