Australian Rover Moot

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Australian Rover Moots are the major national Scouts Australia outdoor event run by Rovers Scouts.

Contents

Activities include off-site excursions, overnight hikes, and acts of service.

History

A moot is a gathering of Rover Scouts (generally called Rovers); The Old English word "moot" means assembly or gathering. It was named by Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting Movement in a letter to Percy Bantock Nevill who was charged with coordinating a gathering of rovers at Royal Albert Hall, London in 1926. [1] The 1928 moot in Birmingham with now-Acting Chief Rover Commissioner Neville had 1500 rovers in attendance. [2]

World moots

The first World Rover Moot was held in 1931 at Kandersteg, Switzerland. The late-1939 Third World Rover Moot in Monzie, Scotland was attended by a number of Australian rovers, [3] [4] including one who had the honour of piping up the flag on the castle keep. [5]

World rover moots have also held in Melbourne, in 1961 (7th World) [6] and 1990–91 (8th World).

Inaugural Australian moots

Within Australia, various states initiated their own moots, and in time, districts within a state.

The Frankston jamboree saw a moot opened by Lord Baden-Powell at 3.30 pm on Saturday 12 January 1935, and continued until about 3.30 pm the following afternoon. [22] [23] Supplying one's own rations, reports were tabled, the meaning of rover service examined, a Rovers' own speaker, the 'future of a rover', and conference presentations from a number of Australian states and countries such as Ceylon, India, and British Malaya. [22]

A joint Victorian and South Australian "Rover Easter Moot" was held in early-1948 in the Grampians, as preparation for the Melbourne 1948–1949 Pan-Pacific Boy Scout Jamboree. [24] The moot included hikes and informal discussions.

Australian Capital Territory held a moot in mid-June 1982 at Canberry Fair, expecting up to 350 rovers (many from NSW and Victoria), to celebrate the fiftieth year of rovering in the territory. [25] An 11–13 June 1988 ACT moot expected 120 rovers, with activities including iron-man, iron-woman, campfires, and fancy-dress bush dance. [26]

National moots

National moots were established in 1951. They have since been held every three years, typically lasting from nine to eleven days each, and are run by each state on a rotating basis.

List of Australian Rover Moots

No.NameLocationDatesParticipantsNotes
1Jubilee Moot Oatley Park, Sydney, New South Wales26 December 1951 to 1 January 1952700 [27] This was the last official function for the State of NSW's jubilee year programme. [27] Activities included open-air movie films, archery, gold-panning, cliff rescue demonstrations, decorated vehicle competition, and bush cricket matches. [28] Contingents attended from New Zealand and New Guinea.
22nd Australian Rover Moot Warburton, VictoriaDecember 1957 to January 1958
33rd Australian Rover Moot Barney Gorge, Queensland28 December 1959 to 2 January 1960 [29] 180 [29] : 6 Recent rains created challenges as the site could only be accessed by 4WD. [29] : 5  Activities including hiking the 1,358 metres (4,455 ft) Mount Barney, swimming, wide games, spear throwing and boomerang throwing, and a campfire. [29] : 10  At the conclusion of the moot, there was a supper-dance at the Brisbane City Hall, with rangers from the Girl Guides. [29] : 8, 13 
44th Australian Rover Moot Numinbah Valley, Queensland28 December 1969 to January 1970 [30] 269 [30] : 14 Each moot group consisted of 15 rovers and one rover scouter. There were also 16 camp showers, a telephone to Moot HQ, a twelve-bed hospital, electrical power, a large waterhole floodlit at night capable of holding 300 people, and opportunities to visit the Gold Coast beaches. [30] : 14  There was also a moot scarf and every participant got two moot badges. [30] : 14 
55th Australian Rover Moot University of Western Australia, Perth, Western AustraliaDecember 1971 to January 1972The moot was opened by the Governor-General. [31]
66th Australian Rover MootSydney, New South WalesDecember 1974 to January 1975
7It's a Moot Point, 7th Australian Rover MootYABAMAC Scout Camp, Upper Plenty, Victoria28 December 1977 to 7 January 1978 [32] c. 250 [33] Rovers were organised into 12 moot crews. [33] On 29 December, crews 1 to 6 did a sports competition, with crews 7 to 12 on 30 December: Badminton, darts, table tennis, volleyball, tennis, and basketball. [33] Tours were conducted of Melbourne and surrounds, an air activities day, service of cleanup of a local cemetery and working at a tramway museum, New Year's Eve celebrations of the attending states and countries (including 24 New Zealand rovers, 3 Canadians, 6 Indonesians, 2 Japanese, 6 Malaysians), four-day activities including coastal tours and hikes, and wrapped up with a discussion on new ideas for rovering, and the sports competition play-offs. [33]

Also the 1st Asia-Pacific Rover Moot. [32] YABAMAC was the Yarra-Bateman Area Memorial Activity Centre; [32] The site was destroyed in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. [34]

88th Australian Rover MootBaden-Powell Park, Samford, Queensland [35] December 1980 to January 1981Also the 2nd Asia-Pacific Rover Moot.
99th Australian Rover Moot Gowrie Park, Tasmania29 December 1983 to 8 January 1984860Also the 4th Asia-Pacific Rover Moot. A special postage postmark was created for the moot mail.
10Bound for South Australia, 10th Australian Rover MootWoodhouse scout campsite, Piccadilly, South Australia29 December 1986 to 9 January 1987 [36] 900 [37] Activities included parachuting, gliding, hiking, scuba diving, and abseiling. [37] This was also a "World Invitational" moot, with contingents included from Canada, Indonesia, Japan, New Guinea, New Zealand, and Nordic countries; who also staged cultural displays. [37]
11Get caught in the ACT, 11th Australian Rover MootCamp Cotter, Canberra, Australian Capital TerritoryDecember 1989 to January 1990Also the 6th Asia-Pacific Rover Moot.
12Go West and Discover, 12th Australian Rover Moot Woodman Point, Perth, Western AustraliaDecember 1992 to January 1993Also the 7th Asia-Pacific Rover Moot.
13the aNSWer, 13th Australian Rover MootCataract Scout Park, Appin, Sydney, New South WalesDecember 1995 to January 1996Also the 8th Asia-Pacific Rover Moot.
14YeaMoot, 14th Australian Rover MootMafeking Rover Park, Yea, VictoriaDecember 1998 to January 1999Also the 10th Asia-Pacific Rover Moot.
1515th Australian Rover Moot Landsborough, QueenslandDecember 2001 to January 2002Also the 12th Asia-Pacific Rover Moot.
16Tassiemoot, 16th Australian Rover MootNational Rowing Centre, Lake Barrington, Wilmot, Tasmania [38] December 2004 to January 2005600 [38] Included five-day expeditions, and a Rover Youth Forum. [38] About 100 Queensland rovers attended. [39]
17AussieMoot, 17th Australian Rover MootCataract Scout Park, Appin, Sydney, New South Wales [40] 30 December 2007 to 12 January 2008Moot theme was 'endless opportunities'. [40] The event included a five-day expedition, as well as on-site and off-site activities. [41] The event also hosted the 4th Australian Rover Youth Forum. [40]
18Ozmoot, 18th Australian Rover MootWoodhouse scout campsite, Piccadilly, South AustraliaDecember 2010 to January 2011 (13 days)303 [42] Activities included house boating, water skiing, and hiking Kangaroo Island. [42] The moot also hosted the 5th Australian Rover Forum at the Woodhouse Activity Centre on 11 January 2011. [43] Originally 600 rovers expressed interest in attending, which created financial pressures (noting Victoria's SurfMoot a few weeks later attracted 800 rovers). [42]
19WAM (Western Australian Moot), 19th Australian Rover MootWoodman Point Recreation Camp, Fremantle, Western Australia30 December 2013 to 10 January 2014 [44] 464, and 125 staff [45] [46] [47] Mascots were Kev the Quokka and Nikki the Numbat. [48] Expeditions included scuba diving at Pelican Point and Rottnest Island, rock climbing, caving, sky diving, and the 'Rotto Rampage'. [49] Service activities included cleaning up the East Perth cemeteries. [50] Participants included contingents from Canada, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, and Sweden. [46]
20The Moot, 20th Australian Rover MootMafeking Rover Park, Yea, Victoria27 December 2016 to 6 January 2017600 [51] Over twenty expeditions across Victoria and Tasmania, including water activities, hiking, kayaking, and house boating. [51] [52]
21CBR Moot, 21st Australian Rover MootCanberra, Australian Capital Territory30 December 2019 to 10 January 2020 [53] 516, [54] 110 of which were internationalCBR is the abbreviation of Canberra, and also stood for 'Creating Better Rovers'. Also the 13th Asia-Pacific Rover Moot. Originally planned for Camp Cotter, the venue was moved to Trinity Christian School for Phase 1 (pre-expedition) two days before the moot started: [54] A second part (expeditions) of the moot was cancelled due to uncertain fire conditions with the January bushfires (and the moot tagline quipped as "Continually Being Relocated"). [55] [54] Activities were to include mountain biking, a Riverina experience, diving, and an Amazing Race style expedition. [53] The base fee was A$900 to attend. [53]
22AIM (Apple Isle Moot), 22nd Australian Rover Moot Forth, Tasmania31 December 2022 to 8 January 2023 [56] 520 rovers, 80 staff [57] Activities included local food tours, 4WD tours, giant board games, disc golf course, cultural activities, Cradle Mountain hiking, and scuba diving. [57]
23Way Out West (WOW) Moot, 23rd Australian Rover Moot [58] Woodman Point Recreation Camp, Fremantle, Western Australia31 December 2026 to 10 January 2027The expedition component will see participants going afar as Esperance and Broome. [58] The base fee is A$1000 to attend.

Competition

The Eastman Trophy, presented by the Eastman Rover Crew, Palmerston North, New Zealand, in January 1978, is presented to the winner of a state-versus-state competition run during a moot. It is made of wood. [46]

The 2010–2011 Ozmoot activities included 10Ten cricket, water melon rugby, chariot races, and four-way tug-of-war. [42]

The 2013–2014 WAM events included chess, tug-o-war, and a relay race. [49]

The 2019–2020 CBR Moot activities started with a scavenger hunt on opening night. [59]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Rover Moot". The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) . No. 19, 317. Queensland, Australia. 17 July 1926. p. 13. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "Boy Scouts". The Queenslander Illustrated Weekly . Queensland, Australia. 11 October 1928. p. 57. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "World Rover Moot". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 31, 549. New South Wales, Australia. 11 February 1939. p. 22. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "Boy Scouts International". The Mercury . Vol. CL, no. 21, 376. Tasmania, Australia. 1 June 1939. p. 3. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Attended rover moot". The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate. No. 4499. New South Wales, Australia. 1 November 1939. p. 7. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "Irresponsible lighting of fires". The Broadford Courier. Victoria, Australia. 19 January 1962. p. 4. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Boy Scouts". The Newcastle Sun . No. 3096. New South Wales, Australia. 7 November 1927. p. 3. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ ""Rover Moot"". Sunday Times . No. 2353. New South Wales, Australia. 29 September 1929. p. 7 (Coloured comic section). Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  9. ↑ "Rover Moot". Queensland Times . Vol. LXXII, no. 14, 392. Queensland, Australia. 3 May 1932. p. 6 (Daily). Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ "The Rover Moot". Queensland Times . Vol. LXXVIII, no. 16, 060. Queensland, Australia. 13 May 1938. p. 11 (Daily). Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  11. ↑ "Rover Moot Camp Site Inspected". The Queenslander Illustrated Weekly . Queensland, Australia. 18 May 1938. p. 41. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  12. ↑ "Rover Scouts Moot". The Australasian . Vol. CXXIII, no. 4, 116. Victoria, Australia. 26 November 1927. p. 66. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "Rover moot". The Age . No. 22, 660. Victoria, Australia. 21 November 1927. p. 12. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  14. ↑ "Rover Scouts Moot – Empty Police Barracks". The Herald . No. 15, 758. Victoria, Australia. 19 November 1927. p. 32. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  15. ↑ "Scouts and guides. Great rover rally". The Age . No. 22, 632. Victoria, Australia. 19 October 1927. p. 13. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  16. ↑ "Boy Scouts". The Argus (Melbourne) . No. 26, 893. Victoria, Australia. 25 October 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  17. ↑ "First Rover Moot". The News (Adelaide) . Vol. XVIII, no. 2, 713. South Australia. 30 March 1932. p. 1. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  18. ↑ "Boy Scouts Association". The Advertiser (Adelaide) . South Australia. 22 September 1937. p. 14. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ "Boy Scout Notes". The Advertiser (Adelaide) . South Australia. 6 November 1947. p. 11. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  20. ↑ "News and notes". The West Australian . Vol. XLII, no. 7, 651. Western Australia. 8 December 1926. p. 8. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  21. ↑ "They conducted the first Rover "Moot" in Western Australia: Rovers (Senior Boy Scouts) who recently went into private camp at Crawley, where, in the Governor's presence, they were presented and attested as rovers". Western Mail (Western Australia) . Vol. XLII, no. 2, 133. Western Australia. 16 December 1926. p. 6. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  22. 1 2 "Rover Moot". The Age . No. 24, 881. Victoria, Australia. 11 January 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  23. ↑ "Scenes at the Rover Moot". The Age . No. 24, 883. Victoria, Australia. 14 January 1935. p. 11. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  24. ↑ "Prelude to Jamboree". The Age . No. 28997. Victoria, Australia. 3 April 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  25. ↑ "What's on". The Canberra Times . Vol. 56, no. 17, 061. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 June 1982. p. 7. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  26. ↑ "Local briefs". The Canberra Times . Vol. 62, no. 19, 230. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 May 1988. p. 8. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  27. 1 2 "First nation-wide rover moot". South Coast Times and Wollongong Argus. Vol. LI, no. 99. New South Wales, Australia. 13 December 1951. p. 24. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  28. ↑ "Jubilee Rover Moot". The Propeller . Vol. XLI, no. 2125. New South Wales, Australia. 20 December 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Totem". State Library of Australia, Journal, Totem. Boy Scouts' Association, Queensland Branch. January 1960. p. 16. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  30. 1 2 3 4 "Scouting in Queensland (Vol. 8, No. 11)". State Library of Australia, Journal, Scouting in Queensland. Boy Scouts' Association, Queensland Branch. December 1969. p. 16. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  31. ↑ "Vice-Regal". The Canberra Times . Vol. 46, no. 13, 005. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 30 December 1971. p. 2. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  32. 1 2 3 "Briefly". Jamboree Daily. Victoria, Australia. 5 January 1977. p. 3. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  33. 1 2 3 4 "Scouting in Queensland". Scouts' Association of Australia, Queensland Branch. March 1978. p. 14. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  34. ↑ "The Upper Plenty History Exhibition". Upper Plenty Community Victoria Australia. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2025. (1980–2014 PDF)
  35. ↑ "Chronology". Scouts Queensland. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
  36. ↑ "Goolwa Scouts". Victor Harbour Times . Vol. 74, no. 3, 472. South Australia. 5 December 1986. p. 26. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  37. 1 2 3 "Many attend Rover's moot at Woodhouse". Hills Messenger. No. 686. South Australia. 21 January 1987. p. 5. Retrieved 18 August 2025– via National Library of Australia.
  38. 1 2 3 "Report to the nation 2005". Scouts Australia. 2005. pp. 4, 12. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  39. ↑ "96th Annual Report 2004/5". Scouts Queensland. 2005. p. 16. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  40. 1 2 3 "2008 The Year of the Scout. Report to the nation 2008". Scouts Australia. 2008. p. 16. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  41. ↑ "Australian Rover Moot". ScoutWiki Network. 19 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  42. 1 2 3 4 "Report to the nation 2011" (PDF). Scouts Australia. 2011. p. 2. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  43. ↑ "Final Recommendation Report of the 5th Australian Rover Forum" (PDF). Scouts Australia. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  44. ↑ "Victorian Rover Scouts Yearbook 2014". Rover Scouts Victoria. Yearbooks. Scouts Victoria (Victorian Rover Scouts). 2021. p. 16.
  45. ↑ Scouts WA 2014 Annual Report, year ending 31 March 2014. Western Australia: Scouts Western Australia. 31 March 2014. p. 5.
  46. 1 2 3 "wam2014.com.au". X (formerly Twitter). 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  47. ↑ "Department of Sport and Recreation 2013/2014 Annual Report" (PDF). The State of Western Australia (Parliament of Western Australia). 2014. p. 32. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  48. ↑ "Welcome". WAM 19th Australian Rover Moot. Scouts Western Australia. 6 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  49. 1 2 PETERS, Brad (15 January 2014). "WAM2014 — some scattered recollections from a year later". Brad Peters. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  50. ↑ "Annual Report 2013–14" (PDF). The National Trust of Australia (WA). The State of Western Australia (Parliament of Western Australia). 2014. p. 20. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  51. 1 2 "Youth leading adults supporting. Annual report to the nation 2017". Scouts Australia. 2017. p. 9. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  52. ↑ "Annual Report 2016/17". Scouts Queensland. 2005. p. 22. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  53. 1 2 3 "CBR Moot". CBR Moot. Scouts ACT. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  54. 1 2 3 "Challenging fun adventurous inclusive. Annual report to the nation 2020". Scouts Australia. 2020. p. 2. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  55. ↑ "2020 Annual Report" (PDF). Scouts ACT. July 2021. p. 28. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  56. ↑ "Apple Isle Moot". Apple Isle Moot, Tasmania 2023 - 22nd Australian Rover Moot. Scouts Tasmania. 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  57. 1 2 "22nd National Rover Moot". Scouts Australia. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  58. 1 2 "Way Out West Moot (WOW 27)". Way Out West Moot. Scouts Western Australia. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  59. ↑ "CBR Moot documentation". CBR Moot. Scouts ACT. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
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