Jeff Huddlestone
The Scouting motto is ‘be prepared’ and fourth generation Scout, Colby Ind, is living up to it as he prepares to attend the 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea.
A member of the 1st Mount Gambier Scout Group, Colby will attend the world wide Scout event in SaeManGeum, from August 1 to 12.
Under the theme of ‘draw your dream’ the event also marks the centenary of the Korean Scouting Association.
Colby will be among around 50,000 participants from more than 180 countries for the once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Colby said it was a vibrant feeling when he received the acceptance email.
“You have to achieve stage five of camping, bushwalking and bush craft,” he said.
He said he would experience two days of touring before the 10-day World Jamboree began and was looking forward to the cultural and language experiences as well as all the Scouting activities on offer.
“You can do as little or as much as you want and you have a buddy,” he said.
Colby said he was feeling good about representing the region.
“It’s the 1st Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast district we’re holding up high,” he said.
“They know who you are from your patch and shoulder, so you need to show that you’re the best out there.”
Mount Gambier Joey Scout leader Fiona Rocco is helping Colby prepare for his journey and said applicants had to reach certain competence levels to qualify.
Once accepted, she said it cost around $5000 for each Scout to attend and participate in the event.
“Then we’ve got the next two and a half years to fundraise, fundraise, fundraise,” she said.
“It’s not cheap to send them.”
Colby recently earned an Australian Scout Award and now would like to work towards earning the King Scout Award.
The 14-year-old said he was proud to carry on his family tradition within the Scouts.
His great-grandfather was a King Scout; his grandfather, Des, is a life member of the 1st Mount Gambier Scout Group; his father, Chris, is the Lone Scout District Commissioner and; his mother, Kylie, is assistant District Commissioner of the Limestone Coast.
Colby’s brothers, Shaun and Travis, are also heavily involved in the organisation.
“My great-grandpa did the exact same things that we’re doing, Scout law, Scout promise and working to earn the peak awards, all those years ago,” Colby said.
“There’s that family connection, although I never met him.”
He said the best thing about Scouting was making life-long friends.
“You meet people and stay in contact with them. I have so many Friends in Adelaide who I met at state events,” he said.