Meet the team

To run a great event you need a good team, to assist me and the Camp Chief we have the following team of Directors

Finance Director is Jean Clifford. Jean is a Jamboree Junkie and has held many roles at various Jamborees. Some of the roles have been Contingent Leader, Contingent Finance Leader, JTL and Assistant JTL. Jean is employed in the finance field and brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Safetrans Director is Trevor O’Hara. At this Jamboree Trevor will be responsible for Transport and Security. Trevor has a lot of experience at Jamborees especially in the transport area. In his real job he works for Crime Stoppers which gives him a great insight on Security and all dealings with Police, Ambulance and Fire Services

Support Services Director is Ryan Sodziak. Many of you know Ryan through contact with Branch Headquarters. Ryan has gained invaluable experience in Administration with his employment in Scouting and previously outside of Scouting. Ryan enjoys Jamborees and has been part of Administration teams for Queensland Contingent at various Jamborees.

Sites and Services Director is Albert Shelley. Albert is the Regional Commissioner for Western Region. Albert fits right into this role as his employment is in the electrical and communication field. His work also involves other trades that are beneficial in his role at the Jamboree.

Andrew Williamson is the Camping Director. Andrew hasn’t a vast amount of experience at Jamborees but with his other roles he has had in Scouting will be more than capable to carry out the role. Andrew is an Engineer and has a vast amount of experience in organizing, planning and solving difficult situations.

Michael Rice is Health Services Director. Michael is a doctor in Beauesert and has been part of the medical teams at many Jamborees. Michael has already formed a great team for AJ2013. In Scouting Michael is a Venturer Leader.

Paul Marnane is the Program Director and has many years of experience in Scouting. Paul will admit to not having the experience in Jamborees but has been involved with Committees in many other activity events especially in the Venture Section. Paul was a former BC Venturers. Paul has formed a great team of assistants to help him put together a great program.

Robyn Devine is Director for Marketing and Communications.  Robyn’s current role is BC Cub Scouts. Robyn slots into this role well as this is her field of expertise in the other world. Robyn has attended many Jamborees and has been part of the Queensland Contingent Team (known as Scoop).

Tim Gibbings is the Logistics Director looking after Catering and Supply. Tim has not enjoyed the Jamboree experience but has a vast amount of experience through his many years in the Army. Tim is part of the Near North Coast and Country Regional Team.

Leith Clift is our Minutes Secretary and Contingent Liaison Officer. In Scouting you would have met Leith at either the Gang Show or Air Activities.

Enjoy your Scouting
Pieter Van Der Kamp (Smokey)
Chief Director AJ2013

It is hard to believe it was three and a half years ago we spoke about having a Jamboree in Maryborough, now with just over twelve months to go we are well into the planning stages to run AJ2013. As with all Jamborees we require as many Leaders as possible to assist in the Troop lines and with the Activities. If you haven’t been to a Jamboree as a Leader before talk to someone that is a regular attendee and find out why.

There is an area you can help and that is to ensure the Scouts are qualified to attend the Jamboree. Unfortunately we see many Scouts struggle with day to day issues. If not prepared this leads to an unhappy Scout and disruption within the Patrol or Troop. Your State Contingent have on their website what is required to prepare a Scout for the Jamboree, it is hoped most Scouts are well into their Award Scheme to prepare them for one of the highlights of their time as a Scout.

Applications can now be submitted on line and I am sure that the Contingent teams will appreciate you doing this as soon as possible. By doing this promptly assists the Contingents and the Jamboree Committee in organizing transport, equipment, apparel etc.

Leader tours will be organized, we will keep the costs as low as we possibly can. The tours being looked at this stage are the Bundaberg Discovery Tour, Fraser Island Adventure and the Mary Valley Rattler. Other options are also being looked at.

A special area is being set aside for Leaders to have a coffee among friends and to discuss what happened on the day. This are will be called Café De Scout and will be situated near the Leaders camping ground called “The Retreat”.
If you have any questions regarding the Jamboree please contact your Contingent Leader, I am sure they will be willing to assist and don’t forget to visit the official AJ2013 website http://aj2013.scouts.com.au/

Pieter Van Der Kamp
Chief Director AJ2013

Excitement is growing in NSW amongst current Scouts, future Scouts and Leaders.  Over the last six months, our AJ2013 promotion has been travelling to key Scouting calendar events – Scout Hike, State Rally, GWSR Jamborette, NSW State Jamborette, and Hunter Coastal GAS (Gather All Sections).  We’ve spoken with Cub Scouts, Scouts, Leaders and parents, answering questions about everything from “will we have to eat vegetables” and “how long with it take to get to Maryborough”, through to “do you know what bands will be playing” and “what activities will we be doing in the daytime”. 

Our Contingent Executive Committee has already reached a few important milestones: 
   
   1) we’ve finalised our transportation arrangements, both coaches for our people and trucks for our equipment; 
   2) we’ve signed up our Contingent Medical Leader;
   3) we’ve announced the AJ2013 cost for NSW members - $1,495 for Scouts, $1,130 for JSLs, and $1,095 for Leaders; and 
   4) we’ve released our Contingent badge, complete with our larrikin mascot, Kenny the Koala. 

The next few months will see a focus on promoting early registration for our Youth and Adult Members.  We’re on the countdown in NSW!

Kind regards,
Phil Crutchley
NSW Contingent Leader

Bound from South Australia  
We are getting very excited about AJ2013! We have just completed 18 Roadshows around our State Districts, where we met about 650 eligible Youth Members, their parents and Leaders.

Everyone seemed to enjoy our mix of short videos, questions with hand-out rewards, the Jamboree Rap about a day in your life at the Jamboree and a series of short information presentations, aimed firstly at the Youth, then more serious stuff for parents. Detailed information for Leaders and participants will come later on our web site and more importantly through Troop Leaders. We collected contact details of the attending Scouts and older Cub Scouts by offering door prizes to those who filled in little cards. We ended up giving away all the spare old badges we could find plus old Jamboree souvenirs.

We are still negotiating our travel arrangements: we hope to fly, but our Roadshow audiences were pretty relaxed about not knowing these particular details till the New Year.

The Jamboree cost is much higher for South Australians than previously. It’s a long way to Maryborough however you travel. However many Groups are busy fundraising, from the traditional sausage sizzle outside Bunnings method, car washing and Quiz Nights to weeding some garlic fields for a local farmer!

We are looking forward to applications opening and measuring them against the attendance targets we have set each District.  As soon as we get the word, we’ll be contacting everyone! Get on line and start the Dream!

The time has come for the Rovers of Queensland to stand up and be counted for the task that lies ahead for AJ2013.

Queensland Rovers has been asked to run a major onsite activity. If you are keen to assist in the running of Scouting's greatest activity and now is your chance. Please contact the QBRE AJ2013 Exploratory Committee ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to register your interest.

We are particularly looking for Rovers with the following skills and interests:-
+ trades
+ engineering backgrounds
+ manual labour, blood, sweat and tears
+ promotions, communications and media
+ finance and administration
+ experience with leadership of younger sections of the Movement
+ networking with other Rovers from around Queensland andacross Australia
+ enthusiasm, commitment and a sense of fun

All ideas, suggestions and help is strongly encouraged. We look
forward to hearing from you!

QBRE AJ2013 Exploratory Committee Chairman