Lord Mayors Picnic - New Years Eve
2009 has been a full on and crazy year so far.I welcomed 2009 by attending Lord Mayors Picnic a Rover service project on Sydney Harbour. Lord Mayors Picnic is an annual event put on by the City of Sydney for disabled and disadvantaged families. Rovers and Guides from around the state come to lend a hand and ensure everyone has a great night. The night is concluded with the 9pm family fireworks with front row seats on the Harbour. After traveling back to our accommodation Trevors fathers place we began the count down for New Years and once the clock struck midnight headed outside to watch the various fireworks going off in the surrounding streets and suburbs. It was a great night had by all and spent many hours following playing cards (Phase 10).
Escape Venture
A few days later the January 3rd 
to be precise I jumped on a plane and headed to Perth. Why you may say was I travelling to the other side of the country.... Escape Venture would be why. the 14th Australian Venture at Fairbridge Village Pinjarra. A gathering for Venturers from around the country and even around the world. We all came together for 10 days of fun filled freedom. After opening Phase one of the Venture we headed off on expeditions, I was a service leader on The Amazing Race where Venturer units travelled around Perth completing various challenges and earning points. A great time was had by everyone. After expeditions we returned to Pinjarra and comenced phase 2. With the return to camp I then helped run the National Venturer Youth Forum and manned the National display.National Rover Council
With the conclusion of Venture I headed back to Perth for National Rover Council Annual Conference. It was a great weekend and we spent the few days discussing various topics that relate to Rovers in Australia. Evenings were spent relaxing and socialising with many games of beach volleyball being undertaken.(Photo to the right is of all NSW members in attendance = Me, Phil, Matt, Matt, Duckie and Jeff. I was there observing in my position of Chair of NYC)
My time in WA and at NRC concluded with an afternoon of relaxing at a townhouse with half the TAS delegation paid for by Qantas. I then spent a very long time on 3 different flights before arriving home the next day
National Team Meeting
January finished up with National Team Meeting in Chatswood, Sydney. It was great to catch up with everyone on the team and also discuss a few issues pertaining to Scouting at a National level including APR Youth Forum, NRC and NYC.And so January came to a close.
