Scouts starting Christmas celebrations early

THE 1ST Barwon Heads Scout Group has all hands on deck until next weekend, delivering and handing over festive joy to raise important funds for equipment and a new facility.

Based out of its original Scout Hall on Seaview Avenue, the local Scout group is sending dozens of Christmas trees out into the community as part of its annual Christmas fundraiser.

Group treasurer Pip May said the fundraiser is a terrific way to gather financial resources and raise the profile of the Scouts in Barwon Heads in the process.

“We have a long waiting list that we can’t do anything with, due to the state of our hall unfortunately,” Ms May said.

“Our hall is two Nissen huts, they’re just terrible, terrible things, quite possibly the worst Scout halls in Victoria.”

Fundraising collected by the 1st Barwon Heads Scout Group goes into the club’s ‘building fund’, but Ms May said the Scout group is in discussion with Council and various local politicians in attempt to get grants approved.

The Christmas Tree fundraiser is the Group’s largest fundraiser of the year, closely in front of the Scouts and Schools Super Raffle that raised $3,000 for the club last month.

“We’re aiming to raise more from the Christmas Tree fundraiser, we’ve earmarked 130 trees this year, but each year that number gets bigger and bigger,” Ms May added.

“This year, our trees are a little smaller, around four to five foot trees, but they are perfect for houses and locations that are in need of trees that take up less space.

“It’s exciting for us to be able to work on something ‘Christmassy’ for a couple months, and on the days where the Scouts are delivering, it’s really a lot of fun to do at this time.”

Deliveries will begin tomorrow (Saturday, December 10) and will resume for the last time a week later (Saturday, December 17).

To avoid the delivery fee, trees can also be picked up from the Scout Hall on Geelong Road East either today (Friday, December 9) or next Friday (December 16).

Trees can only be delivered to residences inside the borders of the Surf Coast Highway, Boundary Road and the postcode of 3227.

For more information head to the 1st Barwon Heads Scout Group’s Facebook page.1st Barwon Heads Scout Group treasurer Pip May said all funding will head towards a new Scout Hall.

Residents can head to Barwon Heads Scout Hall today and next Friday to claim their tree.