Stateline. ABC TV. Oct 13th.

At least they are not running around in black shirts. For that, I am thankful.

Agree, new scout uniform is hideous, in fact it’s an abomination. Also for Australia is not even logical. It’s made of a heavy material of a dark navy blue colour, now how intelligent is that for a hot Australian summer ?
Actually it also costs more than the old, as the shirt, with the old, was generic across all sections. Now the new one has colour coding across the shoulders specific to each section. yellow for cubs, green for scouts etc. So now as the kids have to move between sections, they have to buy a new shirt each time. So how dumb is that ? Obviously the people in charge of scouts have no concept of reality or what really goes on at the youth level and what the costs are. Poor really. Idiots !!
Rob.

oh my god.

the new uniform is hideous.

a polo shirt ?

I agree with Thumper about the Stateline timeslot(s). I rarely get to watch it, but I do read the transcripts sometimes. Another repeat would be good, at a later evening time.

Buzbie I understand that each Scout group can charge their own fee amount and there is some variation? I was a bit shocked at the cost at the time, as I was expecting a few dollars a week in subs, some kind of a one-off charge. More along the lines of what you describe.
However you are right about the current uniform – I would have had to buy the old uniform as my experience was about four years ago. However the new uniform is considerably cheaper than the old one. Change of uniform story here http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/27/1088274626108.html?from=storylhs
I think this is a good move. Current uniform prices here http://www.scoutsupply.com.au/UniformPriceListOrderForm.pdf

Did anyone watch this? I missed it. Who is Tania Parkes and what did she have to say for herself?

I’m in scouts, and it doesnt cost that much, i think..its about 30 dollars for the uniform, and about 20 dollars a term for fees.

but in a way, i agree, the cost of scouting is pretty expensive when it was suppose to help disadvantaged families..

A joining fee, a weekly fee (around $20 I think) and the local group also charged a term fee which I recall was pretty steep, to cover insurances etc. Plus a pricy uniform. Just to get him started was around $200. I am working now but at the time I was a shellshocked sole parent on benefit, and even $20 a week was a lot to justify out of the kitty! (Still is really, god knows I’m not much better off! But that’s another story . . .).

Interestingly, lots of things that used to be free or a nominal charge are a lot more expensive – a local Canberra choir of some note was free when I belonged – we fundraised – yet now charges a rather pricey term fee; school sport has acquiesced to more costly club sport, probably for want of parents with spare time.

When I was a scout it was free (except perhaps for a trivial annual registration), or, is my memory failing me.

Are you just talking about the costs of camping etc..?

My son had a friend who wanted him to join Scouts – do you realise just how exie it is these days?? It was beyond me!

All the more ironic considering it was founded with the aim of helping disadvantaged youth and not middle classes.