JAMBOREE TRIP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 25 January 1939, Page 6

JAMBOREE TRIP

A GREAT ADVENTURE j NEW ZEALANDERS AT SYDNEY HEAT WAVE ENDURED After an experience which should j prove of inestimable value to them in later life, 311 Boy Scouts, comprising the South Island contingent to the Australasian Jamboree at Sydney, arrived at Wellington by the Awatea on Monday morning. Included in the party were 26 scouts from Nelson, the majority of whom arrived back by ferry yesterday morning. The following inj teresting description is given by Mr L. M. Evans, one of the Nelson Party. I Leaving Wellington on Tuesday, 27th ! I December, the contingent reached SydI ney on the following Friday. The jam- ; ! boree was officially opened on the next ' day by Lord Gowrie, Governor-General j of Australia and the Chief Scout of the j Commonwealth. Then ensued a j strenuous week in which the boys were I kept busy in attending displays in the j arena, participating in camp fire con- ; J certs, and entertaining the large num- ( j ber of visitors who came out to the i camp. In addition the usual camp routine had to be attended to and with i the temperature rarely below 90 degrees in the shade the boys had much to endure. However, the novelty. of being in a strange country and the 1 carefree spirit engendered by the jamboree enabled them to treat lightly the little difficulties that did arise and Ihe New Zealanders stood up to the weather and their work marvellously well. The jamboree closed on Monday, 9th January, and all day the site was a hive of activity as thousands of boys broke camp and were despatched on their homeward journeys. As they yet had ten days in which to see the sights 1 of Sydney the New Zealanders were permitted to keep their camp intact, though a few days later the tents were pulled down and the boys were accommodated in a large building which had been erected for the jamboree head-1 quarters staff. / TEMPERATURE SOARS It was at this time that the heat-: wave, which caused disastrous bush fires in the inland districts, reached a climax, and Saturday, 14th January, was the hottest day ever experienced in : | Sydney, the temperature soaring to 1 113.6 degrees in the shade. A scorching north-west wind, which, to use the ! words of Mr Mares, State Meteorolog-1 ist, tapped the tremendous reservoir of heat which had been building up for a month over the parched interior of I the continent, made conditions almost • unendurable. Forbidden to drink too j much water by the camp doctor, the 1 boys crowded to the canteen, the I proprietor of which did a roaring trade 1 selling ice cold cordial at 4d a mugful. As the day drew on the sun became hotter and hotter and it was decided, in view of the fact that some of the boys had collapsed, to enable one and all to visit the swimming baths at Roseville, a few miles away. This scheme was quickly put into practice and a serious problem was thus over- j come. The sea scouts were particularly un- j fortunate on this day as during the morning they were faced with the task 1 of shifting camp. Work was almost impossible until some genius thought of the idea of standing under the shower with his clothes on. The remainder of the party sought relief by this means and the job was soon completed. One boy was reported to have had 20 showers in one day, including one in the middle of the’night. HOT W ATER FROM “COLD” TAP! The camp water supply was reticulated b3 r pipes laid on the surface of the ground, and during the heat of the day many of the older boys took the opportunity of obtaining hot water from the “cold” tap for shaving purposes. On Saturday evening a cool southerly sprang up and the temperature dropped to 65 degrees and thus ended a remarkable experience which, no doubt, every New Zealand boy will vividly remember for many years to come. EXCURSIONS DISORGANISED During the course of the heat wave there were signs of illness breaking out in the camp and those in charge wisely decided to obtain private billets for as many of the boys as possible. The public co-operated splendidly and within a day or too there were only 40 boys left at the jamboree site. This policy disorganised the many excursions which had been arranged, and a trip to Newcastle to visit the steel works, which was joyfully anticipated by all, had to be cancelled. However, many of the boys were fortunate enough to visit the Blue Mountains, while some went as far afield as Canberra. Others were content to visit the many resorts with which Sydney abounds, and full advantage was taken of the splendid facilities for surfing at such beaches as Bondi, Coogee and Cronulla. Visits to La Perouse to see the aboriginals, the Zoo. and other places of interest were made by the majority of the party, and it can safely be said that everyone had a good time. ON THE AWATEA The story of the jamboree from the j New Zealanders’ point of view would not be complete without mention being made of the voyages across the Tas- 1 man to and from Sydney on the i' Awatea. This was *ndoubtedly one of : the big thrills of the trip. Everyone was impressed by the beauty of this fine vessel and the lux- > urious nature of her accommodation, i The majority of the party were installed in two and three berth first-class. cabins, additional accomodation being : provided by mattresses being placed , on the floor. Meals were partaken of ‘ in the first-class dining saloon and it | ’ j was not long before the boys were on j' good terms with the stewards, who I attended to their every want with the J utmost promptitude. Fortunately the ’ sea was calm for the voyage out and also for the return journey, though the ocean swell upset some of the party. ( The weather was so fine on the outward * voyage that flying fish were observed 1 from the bows of the ship.

EXCITEMENT IN HARBOUR 1 With deck tennis, deck quoits, sing 1 songs and other activities the boys i never allowed shipboard life to be- ; i come monotonous and many were sorry : t to leave the ship when she reached i Sydney. As the liner steamed slowly i t up the harbour, khaki-clad, wildly | a

excited boys crowded every vantagepoint, and cheers, hakes and clicking cameras mingled with deafening blasts of the ship's siren and the acknowledging shrieks of a multitude of ferry I steamers. Then came the harbour bridge, the enormity of which naturalily impressed everyone. Many of the j younger lads had an argument as to ' whether the Awatea’s mast would ' touch as she passed underneath—an optical illusion which always causes a discussion—but the obstacle was safely negotiated. On disembarking from the ship the contingent marched to the Wynward underground railway station and were sent to the camp site at Bradfield by train. “A FINE BUNCH”

Describing the New Zealanders to a Sydney newspaper at the conclusion of the voyage. Captain Davey, master .of the Awatea. said that they were a fine bunch, well behaved, but lively, and enjoying every moment of their adventure. The jamboree was an adventure in every sense of the word—an adventure which to most comes only once in a life-time. The New Zealanders came away safe in the knowledge that they had worthily represented their couuntry, ad their fine bearing and gentlemanly conduct evoked praisa from many and varied quarters. The next jamboree is to be held at Heretaunga, Wellington, in January next year, when the New Zealand Scouts will have an opportunity of returning the wonderful hospitality which greeted them on ail sides in Australia, at the same time renewing the friend* ships which they made at Bradfleld.