Select host group serves jamboree

Press, 6 January 1987, Page 20

Select host group serves jamboree

Twenty-six hosts have welcomed the New Zealand scout jamboree contingents at Rangiora, comforted the homesick, and shown the tent village to visitors. The 26 are the Host Corps, selected from throughout New Zealand. All are Queen Scouts, having received scouting’s highest award. More than 50 people applied to join the corps.

The hosts said their job

gave them an opportunity to see everything going on, and was a way to put something back into the movement Their most trying times came at the beginning of the jamboree when more than 7000 scouts had to be met from rail or bus stations and shown their sites. The hosts refused to be fazed, taking from their leader, Mr Ross McKenzie, of Rangiora, their motto: "There are no

problems; only solutions.” The hosts have helped with activities, including the confidence course, “Challenge Valley,” and the abseiling wall. They have also visited scouts in the camp hospital, and kept in touch with all the groups.

One host, keen to try his Japanese, spoke to the Japanese contingent in their language. He was told that the Japanese were keen to practise English.