After much planning and with the support of local councillor Krista Adams, Victor Scouts has covered its roof in solar panels. Its our final stage towards carbon neutrality, which will likely see us feeding in considerable green power to the net as well as help lower our substantial running costs. Did you know its takes nearly $10,000 a year to keep the den running for all our scouts and local community groups to use.

We’d like to especially thank Evergreen Electrical, our local heroes who helped us right from the projects inception, with multiple quotes (after our first application to a federal scheme wasn’t successful) , through to helping us out with costs. Special thanks to the Lord Mayors Community Fund and Cr. Krista Adams (Holland Park Ward) for accepting our application at the 11th hour.

Over the last few years we have worked steadily to wards reducing our footprint, from harvesting rainwater for use in our toilet/shower area, LED lighting to keep our energy use low (thanks to Ergon Energy) and now have some serious solar to generate enough power for our needs as well as to help out the grid (and our pockets) too.

As the old saying goes it takes a village to raise a child and it’s certainly true at Victor Scouts. 

Why just this afternoon our most recent Grey Wolf awardees (the peak award for cub scouts), Matthew and Angus (centre) were quietly cooking marshmallows on the ‘Matgus’ fire brazier (which they donated to the group as a thankyou to the cubs section before moving up to scouts), when who should drop by (from L to R) but Phoenix our Venturer leader (almost pictured) and furry friend, their cub leader Chil (give that man a medal…errr burnt marshmallow), and fellow cub Oscar. Then Scoutmaster and Victor group leader Blackbeard turned up to check on the fire safety ( can we have a badge for doing this?)

The smell of roasting marshmallows wafted up the hill drawing Anthony Gribbin, their school principal, down from the adjoining Holland Park State School (I guess it was a long time since little lunch).  As it happened Sam (from Environ Landscaping Solutions) was also there watering the grass, from his recently completed retaining wall,landscaping of the grounds and new fire area. We love the sandstone seating area Sam donated as well!(he got extra charcoal on his marshmallow). Brenna from scouts and Xiyenqa from Joeys were along for quality control.

Next to pop by was Joe Kelly, our local State member (and incumbent Victor treasurer),  he said he was checking up on the progress (as it was funded from the Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund), but we know better! It’s a few months to go till the next democracy sausage is available, so we reckon he just wanted a few marshmallows to tide himself over.

But that’s not all folks, if you think the grounds are looking fabulous come inside and check out the floor restorations undertaken by Brad from Custom constructions. A mammoth task to repair a post war floor made of three different timbers (and anything else they could find), and fix a stage area that was more trampoline than floor. Doesn’t it look pretty though though!

Before

Well the whole story started a few years ago but finally the day was here and work got started!

During

After

We love our new country style retaining wall and fence

(Photo credits B.Wilson and D.James)

It was almost three years ago our committee first applied to the Queensland Governments Gambling Community Benefit Fund for help in renovating our hall. Our hall, a post world war demob naval building, was first established on site back in 1940’s. Since that time it’s been extended, raised and put through its paces by literally thousands of scouts – we recon its probably in better condition than the generations of scout leaders it seen in its time though 😉

Any ways after a few midnight knocks on commissioners doors to get signatures and a few resubmissions to the gaming fund (where it was often judged meritorious… but not high enough in the queue) it was finally successful, just a few group committees ago.

COVID threw a spanner into the works, and just as the grant was about to expire we were successful in getting an extension and now works begins in earnest.

Enter Brad and sidekick Paul from Custom Constructions (who has probably repaired every other floor in Holland Park renovation rescues) who is now taking of fixing the flooring. Our floors are something of a *cough* work of art comprising of a least 3 different timbers all in multiple widths making up something of mosaic to entertain the toes. All supported by bearers  in most but not all areas that will also see Brad’s attentions. So this week its up with the worst of the boards and down with replacements. Next up is floor polishing before work starts on the outside (but more on that another time).

Big thanks to Brad (0414730833) for making us a priority and to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund