The 1st Seymour Scouts is participating in Scouts Victoria’s Monster Raffle, a fundraising event where participants can win prizes while supporting Scouts and schools in Victoria.
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The Seymour group is raising money to renovate Scouts Hall in Chittick Park.
Seymour Scouts assistant leader Stuart Ferguson said the Monster Raffle fundraiser was to help run their programs, but other members could also do their own fundraising.
“The Scout members, individually, they can also raise funds for themselves to either go on to Jamboree or maybe for a new uniform,” he said.
“Each of the other youth members, they’ll be given their QR codes soon to be able to raise funds for themselves.
“It’s one they (Scouts Victoria) do every year, so they’ve got huge prizes.”
This year’s first prize is a Haval Jolion SUV; second place gets a three-day Uluru adventure, including a flight for two people, and there are prizes for third to fifth place.
The raffle will be drawn at 11am on Thursday, November 28, at Victorian Scout Centre in Mt Waverley.
The 1st Seymour Scouts was ranked 15th for most tickets sold in the raffle as of March 19.
The funds raised in the raffle will help fund immediate repairs to the hall.
“At the moment, upgrade the toilet facilities most immediately because it’s about $19,000 in total, so it’s rather expensive,” Mr Ferguson said.
“Then, just all the other little incidental things, like buying equipment.”
The leftover funds will be awarded to some Scouts who can’t afford to go to the National Jamboree in Queensland in 2025.
The jamboree, to be held in Queensland next year from January 6 to January 15, will unite thousands of Scouts, Venturers, Rovers and leaders from all over Australia.
Mr Ferguson said the event would be an excellent opportunity to learn about the great outdoors and other life values.
But, the cost is around $3000 per member.
“The current group leader, she was saying to me that she could never afford to send her kids there,” he said.
“The best value for money was the local district camps we have.
“I think about five of them (members) will definitely go ... some do want to go there but can’t afford it.
“They are looking at others doing other fundraisers, like other sausage sizzles and the like, but we’re trying personally to fundraise so that they can go.”
The Seymour Scouts regularly go on adventures, whether on a hike, a camp or even a trip to a museum.
Bailey-Rose Lippert is one of the group’s newest members, and she highlighted her experience with the group in the past year.
“Overall, it’s been very good,” she said.
“Even if when we go out, it’s really fun, like the hikes we go on.
“The other night, I learnt a new knot.
“I’ve just learned more ... first aid and things like that.”
Ms Lippert has learnt how to make stretchers using the knots she has been taught and even put proper bandages on her friends.
She said the warm welcome she received upon joining had made it easy to make friends.
“Everything’s so good,” she said.
“How inclusive they are and how friendly and everything like that.