Community Rallies To Support Local Scouts

On Saturday, 22 June five members of the Burdekin Men’s Shed teamed up with Harvey Norman in Ayr to fundraise for the Lower Burdekin Scouts.

Outside the store, they hosted a lively Sausage Sizzle, which was generously supported by Harvey Norman which donated bread, sausages, and onions. The Men’s Shed volunteers cooked and sold delicious sausages on bread, alongside refreshments, with all proceeds dedicated to the Lower Burdekin Scout Group in Home Hill.

President of the Burdekin Men’s Shed, Rob Ritchie, expressed their strong commitment to bolstering the local Scouting community, aiming to revive its historical strength in engaging young people in healthy outdoor activities. Ritchie emphasised the Shed’s close ties with the Scouts, having taken over their former premises in Ayr in 2011 after they relocated to Home Hill.

The Men’s Shed committee expresses great gratitude to Harvey Norman for their generous sponsorship in supplying both the food and venue for the event, along with Butcher on Queen, Bendigo Bank for their celebrated support and to the members who ran the sausage sizzle. Collectively, the Burdekin Men’s Shed have begun sponsoring the Lower Burdekin Scouts in hopes the scouting group will strengthen within the Burdekin community, acknowledging the work they do in encouraging younger generations to engage in outdoor activities.

“We look forward to conducting more Harvey Norman sausage sizzles for the Scouts in the future,” shared the Burdekin Men’s Shed.

Lower Burdekin Scout Group Leader, Chris Berkery, explained the scouting group has grown in numbers since January of 2023 from three members to fifteen. The group has set a recruitment target of twenty, and hopes to reach this total by the conclusion of 2024, with a long-term target of fifty hopefully on the horizon. The Scouts, who meet weekly in Home Hill, invite youths aged 5 to 15 for a complimentary trial period to experience activities like camping, archery, and community service.

Chris additionally welcomed support from other local organisations and individuals interested in sponsoring or volunteering with the Scouts. Scouting promotes healthy outdoor adventures and community involvement, offering a valuable experience for young people.

“Scouting is the largest youth organisation in the world promoting healthy outdoor activities for children,” shared Chris.

In appreciation of the joint effort by Harvey Norman and the Burdekin Men’s Shed, a $400 donation was presented to the Scouts, contributing to their annual operational expenses.

For more information about joining or supporting the Lower Burdekin Scouts, please contact Chris Berkery at 0419 104 035.

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Burdekin Men’s Shed President Rob Ritchie presenting a $400 Bendigo Bank cheque to Scout Group Leader Chris Berkery. L to R Men’s Shed member Ed Chandler, Scout Group Leader Chris Berkery, M. Gill of Harvey Norman Home Appliances, Gary Roser of Harvey Norman Computers, Burdekin Men’s Shed President Rob Ritchie & member Alvin Thomas.

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