AFOFSAG

 Seventeen Australians will be attending the ISGF World Conference in Austria 21-26 August 2008. Most participants have included "tour" time onto the beginning or the end, and they start leaving Australia early August.

Australians are taking advantage of the variety of accomodation offered including the Trend DZ hotel (pictured). A busy 5 days are planned by the Conference committee with discussion and general sessions, although we may find observers slipping off occassionally to enjoy the beauty of Vienna and surrounds.

The ASOFSAG/NJC AGM will be held at Pennant Hills NSW on 26 October. It is the "Changeover" when the NJC base is changed from Queensland to NSW for the next 3 years. At the AGM reports of what happened at the World Conference will occupy the "Guest Speaker" spot.

Hope to see many Trefoil Guild, BP Guild and St George's Guild members at Pennant Hills!

We reported on Jan's efforts to be selected for the Paralympic Equestrian team and now are thrilled to report her success.

All Trefoil Guild  will be cheering for Jan, one of our members, as she competes 7,9 1nd 11 September.

Finance, badges, uniform caps and scarves are among the things Trefoil Guild members have sent to countries such as Cambodia and Mongolia who are building their Guide organisations. Young Australian Leaders also spend time in the countries to help with training and the setting up of administration systems.

Recently it was a thrill when a Trefoil Guild member had the opportunity to experience Cambodian Guiding at a central Promise Ceremony for Rangers, Guides and Dragonflies

An eagerly anticipated event in New South Wales is the mini gathering held at Jindabyne. It is an opportunity for the organising Trefoil Guilds to exercise their imagination at the formal dinner on Saturday night. 

 This year a Guild was asked to provide a bride and two bridesmaids. Another Guild was to provide the groom and two groomsmen. The event was the wedding reception for Al Capone and Mae with the State Trefoil Guild Adviser taking the part of Al's Italian mother.

 The wedding party were amazingly dressed with the gangster guests bringing their violin cases and guns etc. The two groups at the wedding party sparred brilliantly... Almost as if working from a script. What a night!  The jokes from the theme carried on for the rest of the weekend.

Twenty-nine B-P Guild members of Karawa Sub-branch enjoyed their time at Heaven in the Hills, and voted that they go back again next year. The accommodation was excellent and very beautifully presented and comfortable – positively swish!. They had gatherings and meals in The Shed, and Saturday lunch at King Ludwig’s Restaurant overlooking the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains. Because of the unpredictable weather, the planned picnic at Little Yabba Creek was moved to The Shed. They had to watch out for the cheeky birds, who at any given opportunity, were trying to steal their food. There were quite a few wallabies around as well, and the views of the bush and the valley below were fantastic.

The members even provided their own entertainment!

St George’s Guilds of former scouts and guides are sponsoring the Australian Government’s official Organ Donors Register and encouraging people to sign up and ‘Help Save Lives”.

 The Guilds Good Turn project was officially launched last year by Ryde City Mayor Clr Ivan Petch and officially endorsed by then Prime Minister John Howard at Cox’s Road Shopping Mall North Ryde.

Guild members are manning stalls at Cox’s Road Mall where they are providing information about the Organ Donor Register and issuing the official application forms for the Register.