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Australian Rover Moot

Australian Rover Moots are the major national Scouts Australia outdoor event run by Rovers Scouts.

Activities include off-site excursions, overnight hikes, and acts of service.

History

A moot is a gathering of Rover Scouts (generally called Rovers); The Old English word "moot" means assembly or gathering. It was named by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting Movement in a letter to Percy Bantock Nevill who was charged with coordinating a gathering of rovers at Royal Albert Hall, London in 1926. The 1928 moot in Birmingham with now-Acting Chief Rover Commissioner Neville had 1500 rovers in attendance.

World moots

The first World Rover Moot was held in 1931 at Kandersteg, Switzerland. The late-1939 Third World Rover Moot in Monzie, Scotland was attended by a number of Australian rovers, including one who had the honour of piping up the flag on the castle keep.

World rover moots have also held in Melbourne, in 1961 (7th World) and 1990–91 (8th World).

Inaugural Australian moots

Within Australia, various states initiated their own moots, and in time, districts within a state.

  • New South Wales – An annual moot was underway, including at Warner's Bay on the weekend of 05–06 November 1927 opening with a campfire, discussing rover structure and organisation, and a mock vigil; and 26–27 October 1929 at Pennant Hills.
  • Queensland – The first state moot was a camp held at Ipswich in early-May 1932, and discussed leadership, the meaning of service, and had a cross-country race. A later moot was held at Samford from 11 to 13 June 1938.
  • Victoria – First state moot commenced on 19 November 1927 for the weekend in Melbourne. It was expected to have 400 state rovers in attendance, with representatives from other states, 'which will have a far-reaching significance for the entire movement in the Commonwealth' as one question sought to examine the exact role/status of a rover. The October 1932 moot was held on the grounds of Scotch College, Melbourne.
  • South Australia – The first moot commenced 23 April 1932, at a Stirling property in hike tents, organised by the new Assistant Commissioner for Rovers, with discussions, outdoor competitions, and a Scouts' own. The September 1937 moot was known as the "Marine" Moot, with participants to supply their own tents, personal gear, and food sufficient for three meals and a supper. After the 1938 moot, the first post-World War II moot was at Glenalta on 29–30 November 1947.
  • Western Australia – The first state moot was held at Crawley in late 1926.

The Frankston jamboree saw a moot opened by Lord Baden-Powell at 3.30 pm on Saturday 12 January 1935, and continued until about 3.30 pm the following afternoon. Supplying one's own rations, reports were tabled, the meaning of rover service examined, a Rovers' own speaker, the 'future of a rover', and conference presentations from a number of Australian states and countries such as Ceylon, India, and British Malaya.

A joint Victorian and South Australian "Rover Easter Moot" was held in early-1948 in the Grampians, as preparation for the Melbourne 1948–1949 Pan-Pacific Boy Scout Jamboree. The moot included hikes and informal discussions.

Australian Capital Territory held a moot in mid-June 1982 at Canberry Fair, expecting up to 350 rovers (many from NSW and Victoria), to celebrate the fiftieth year of rovering in the territory. An 11–13 June 1988 ACT moot expected 120 rovers, with activities including iron-man, iron-woman, campfires, and fancy-dress bush dance.

National moots

National moots were established in 1951. They have since been held every three years, typically lasting from nine to eleven days each, and are run by each state on a rotating basis.

List of Australian Rover Moots

Competition

The Eastman Trophy, presented by the Eastman Rover Crew, Palmerston North, New Zealand, in January 1978, is presented to the winner of a state-versus-state competition run during a moot. It is made of wood.

The 2010–2011 Ozmoot activities included 10Ten cricket, water melon rugby, chariot races, and four-way tug-of-war.

The 2013–2014 WAM events included chess, tug-o-war, and a relay race.

The 2019–2020 CBR Moot activities started with a scavenger hunt on opening night.

See also

References

External links