Welcome to the

St Lucia Venturer Unit Home Page

The Venturer Scout section, like all sections in Scouting has the aim to promote the physical, mental, social and spiritual development of its youth members. However, unlike joey, cub scout, and scout sections the Venturer Scout section is run by the Venturers themselves, with the Venturer leader being there only to guide, assist and motivate. The program is as diverse as the Venturers' imaginations. Although St Lucia Venturer Unit has developed since it's inception in 1995 a reputation for being an outdoor activities orientated Unit, we have our fair share of social activities as well.

Below is a list of many of the activities over the last two years that the St Lucia Venturer Unit have been on:

May Venturer was called off due to the rains but select members of the Unit used the interesting conditions provided to participate in advanced water activities (and flood site seeing.)
Select Members did an ascent on an unmarked section of the East face of Mt Tibrogargen.
Four day Venturer Award Level hike from the Border, Traverse of Summit ridge on Mt Earnest and from here over Mt Barney.
Two day combined camp with the Scouts at Girraween National Park - Stanthorpe.
Two day summit to summit (Mt Cootha to Mt Nebo and then Lake Manchester) off road Mountain Bike hike (following only fire trails.)
Dreamworld Day (due to availability of very cheap tickets.)
Afternoon on the rifle range using a variety of different rifles.
Two day combined water activities camp at Kingscliff (Wallumbin.)
Day trip to Natural Arch - Springbrook.
Two day hike/swim camp at Girraween National Park - Stanthorpe.
Three day (70km) canoe hike - Twin Bridges Fernvale to Centenary Bridge Jindalee (this included a visit to the Mt Crosby water treatment plant.)
Two day swim/cycle hike - Stradbroke Is.
Two day Adventurous Activities camp - Maroochydore.
Overnight competitive base/hike Activity - Laidley.
Two day Abseiler's Course - Boonah.
May Venture Three day competitive hike.
Four day hike from Teviot's Gap to Spicers Gap on the Queensland border.
Three day Scoutcraft base camp at Tyamolum.
Overnight competitive base/hike Activity - Toowoomba (this is the biggest competitive scouting activity in South- East Queensland. The St Lucia Venturers got 3rd place this year. )
Movieworld (more cheap tickets.)
Two days assisting on Charge Certificate Course.
Two day Abseiling Skills improvement course (towards expedition leader) - Boonah.
One day lilo/hike down the Obi Obi Gorge.
Two day base camp/swim/bludge activity - Girraween National Park.
Three day canoe hike - Noosa River.
One day ascent via "Caves Route" Mt Tibrogargen (aborted due to dangerous conditions.)

In between all this there have been plenty of other activities including a good mix of social. These have included: pyrotechniques, night navigation, lightweight foods and cooking, fitness (using qualified instructors), interactive gaming on the internet, taking the "Sir Leslie Wilson" district Venturer Challege trophy away from the Sir Leslie Wilson District and then giving it back the next year, Unit going to see live rock bands ("Concubine is a favorite"), winning a few rallys around the district, welding, first aid and incidents, training days prior to many of the competitive activities we go on, traditional scoutcraft, ideals, InterUnit Debating, InterUnit wide games, the ubiquitous Pizza and Video Nights, etc, and it's not unusual for the unit to finish a meeting at "Hungry Jack's" on the Friday Nights when we are at the Den.

As you can see, the range of activities is quite diverse (as are the locations where they are done) so it takes a certain type of venturer to exist in this unit. That is, one who is committed, motivated, works well with other Unit members, slightly crazy and knows how to enjoy him/her self (or at least make the best of a situation) no matter where they are (rather than being "led by the hand"). Members of the Unit are involved in activities outside the Unit including membership of bands, orchestras and choirs, painting, model building, soccer, rugby, rock climbing, cross-country running, cycling, sailing, and rowing. As you would expect, not everyone gets to every activity (not everyone is suitable for certain activities), but a majority get to most. The venturers' study timetable is always taken into consideration when planning the timing and type of activities.

There are currently seven venturers: Scott Lawrence, James Hanlon, Kristian Allison, Tom Foley, Daniel Hyde, Alex DeFina, Gary and James Robb. Kristian, Tom and Daniel were invested into the unit with the whole unit suspended by ropes several metres down a cliff face. The Venturer Leader is Mark Purvis (Cudda.)

If motivation, enthusiasm and imagination can be maintained this year with the type of venturers who are in the Unit, it is pretty obvious this is going to be one very active, exciting year!

St Lucia Venturers - The Venturers first to venture forth!!