From left: Zakir Daredia, Alexander Hawley, Julianna Robbins and Group Commissioner Sarah Thompson show off their jamboree outfits. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Aussie Jamboree

N. Battleford Scouts and Venturers set to take over Queensland for Jamboree

Dec 27, 2024 | 2:00 PM

Four local North Battleford teens are about to trade in their signature expression “Eh” for “G’Day.”

On New Year’s Day, when the rest of the world is busy ringing in 2025, Zakir Daredia, Julianna Robbins, Alexander Hawley and Henry Silver will be setting off on a grand adventure Down Under for the 26th Australian Jamboree.

“I’m excited to meet new people, explore a new country and just enjoy the camping experience,” said 12-year-old Daredia, a third year Scout with the 2nd North Battleford Scouting Group.

The group will begin their adventure on Dec. 30 and will arrive in Australia two days later for an acclimatization period in Brisbane before making their way to the Maryborough Showgrounds and Equestrian Park, in Maryborough, Queensland along with 10,000 other youth and adults – representing over 30 countries.

The event is held every four years, so this year will also be extra special. In 2020, when COVID forced the world to cancel major events, the jamboree was among the casualties. As such, the Scouts who would’ve participated missed out. This year, those scouts, who have since grown into Venturers have been invited to this jamboree. Robbins, now 16 and a second-year Venturer, is also excited for the chance to explore.

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“I go camping a lot right so, I’m excited to see how camping is different there,” she said.

“Maybe they set up campsites different or they have different equipment for different purposes, I’m just curious to see what that is like.”

According to the official jamboree website, the trip, which runs from Jan. 6 to Jan. 15 will feature a jam-packed itinerary including trips to the seaside, activities like archery and hatchet throwing, amateur radio and a trip to the Australian Zoo – the latter of which is a must do for Sarah Thompson, group commissioner.

From left: Zakir Daredia, Julianna Robbins, Group Commissioner Sarah Thompson, Alexander Hawley, and Henry Silver in their traditional uniforms. (Submitted Photo/Sarah Thompson)

“I get to go on my day off, ‘cause I’m going to work there,” she said, noting she’ll be serving as security at the institution founded by the Irwin family.

“It was like my number one thing. I was up at 4 a.m. just so I could get my ticket – I’m goin’.”

Along with the Battlefords youth, the Canadian contingent will feature participants and volunteers from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. Once they arrive, they’ll be split up into different patrol groups that make up units. And the group commissioner said that she was excited to meeting participants on the grounds that for the time they are there will become a city.

“One of the big things within Scouting is trading crests,” she said.

“We are bringing bags of things to trade so that we’re giving a piece of Canada to them and then I can take home things from Africa and from Asia and from Australia that I can then share those stories that come with those crests.”

To prepare for the trip, the Scouts and Venturers have been fundraising all year along with receiving the proper clothing as they move from winter to summer climates in the space of a couple of days.

“They’ve been warning us for the last eight, nine months that we need to get hydrated, and we need to be wearing sunscreen every day because it’s a different sun,” said Thompson, adding the group will also be dealing with high humidity.

“It focuses differently there apparently.”

As the anticipation builds, the young participants are getting more and more excited as this will be the first time any of them have left the continent.

“Looking forward to just looking around and seeing all the Australian things and learning about their history,” said 16-year-old Hawley, a second-year Venturer.

“That kind of stuff I’m really pumped for.”

Among the differences they have to wrap their heads around include driving on the other side of the road, use outlet adapters, contending with active wildlife that may make appearances in unwanted areas and strange foods.

“I’ve been hearing a lot about some different kinds of jerky they have down there than they have up here,” said Thompson.

“Australian kangaroo jerky,” quipped Hawley.

“Or maybe some croc – crocodile,” added Thompson.

Meanwhile, although the teens will have their cell phones, they will be expected to limit their use and live in the moment, which the Battlefords contingent see as a completely reasonable request.

“We’re there to see Australia, not Tik Tok, YouTube,” said Hawley.

“Google Australia,” added Robbins jokingly.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.social