International Jamborees: 1936 Report Australia
1936/7 Australian Jamboree/Corroboree
26th December 1936 to 4th January 1937 / Participants 4,000 / South Africans 8
In 1935 the leaders of the South Australian Scouting Movement began discussing a suitable 'gesture' for the centenary of South Australia's European Colonisation in 1936. As a result, a six day camp of 4 000 Scouts dubbed the 'Centenary Corroboree' was held in the Belair National Park near Adelaide and Scouts from across the Commonwealth (including South Africa, Sri Lanka, the Solomons, Rabaul and Nauru) attended.
The South African Contingent consisted of only 8 Scouts under the leadership of Scoutmaster C. Groom and they were the first to wear the Springbok emblem on their uniform to an overseas event.
The Contingent was away on tour for five months from the 18th November to 5th May. They sailed from Cape Town on the 21st November 1936 onboard the 'Blue Funnel' liner Anchises with the voyage taking 30 days, arriving in Adelaide on the 12th December. Prior to the Jamboree they saw various centenary activities like the 'Pageant of Progress' float procession, and visited the 'Proclamation Tree' under which Capt. J. Hindmarsh proclaimed the state of South Australia.
Back – Ken Cullingworth 15 – Scoutmaster C G D Groom
Middle – Joe Harrison 15 – Heinz Ebert 15 – Richard Dey 15
Front – D Cooper 13 – Dale Osterloh 11 – A Dey 12 – Carl Osterloh 13
From Scout Richard Dey's scrapbook it was recorded that their tour included: -
- Sydney - Blue Mountains National Park with its spectacular mountain views including Katoomba and the Jenolan Caves (similar to our Cango Caves) and Campbelltown.
- Brisbane - River cruise, Camping in Closeburn, Ipswich Park.
- Tasmania - Hobart, Climbed to top of Mount Wellington, Deloraine and Winyard.
- Melbourne - Shrine of Remembrance, Camped at 1st Toorak Troop.
The Jamboree or Corroboree (the word means Dance) as it was called, was situated ten miles from Adelaide, right in the heart of the Mt. Lofty Range. The camp site was a most picturesque one, the magnificent old gums that were dotted about it giving it a typical Australian setting.
The Scouts arrived at the campsite on the Saturday and the Corroboree was officially opened on the Sunday afternoon by the Governor of South Australia.
The Jamboree took the form of various formal parades and speeches by Civic and Scouting dignitaries and the Arena was home to a number of pageants, many of them relating to early Australian history.
The general fraternisation encouraged the swapping of all sorts of Scouting items and being summer, there was plenty of swimming in the camp swimming pool. There were organised excursions to Victor Harbour, Henley Beach and a guided tour of the Holden (GM) motor car assembly plant.
In the afternoons the camp was open to the public and the Cubs also had a day to show their talent, with a march past, an arena event and a picnic. On the last Saturday the Girl Guides had their day with arena displays, speeches and march past.
One of the outstanding features of the Corroboree, which included the public, was the huge campfire concert that was held in the special arena, which had hills on two sides, on which seating accommodation was provided for several thousand persons.
The closing ceremony was on the Sunday afternoon 3rd January.
On the 27th April they set sail from Melbourne for the homeward voyage to Cape Town.
S A Scout Heritage