HENRY RYMILL AWARD

The Henry Rymill Award is the South Australian name for the National Rover Service Award and is the highest good service award that Rovers can award to supporters of the Rover Section.

The Henry Rymill Award is a good service award, which can be awarded to members of the Rover Section, the Scout Association, or people outside the Scout Association. The Henry Rymill Award is awarded to people that have provided excellent service, support and dedication to the South Australian Rover Section, over an extended period of time.

An extended period of time is considered to be of approximately six years duration of active and effective service to the Rover Section. This time can effectively be reduced or extended in respect of the individual’s situation. For example six years serving on an Event Committee, or three years serving on the Branch Rover Council Executive and three years serving on an Event Committee, of exceptional level of service and commitment.

Nominations are forwarded to the Branch Commissioner for Rovers. Any Rover Unit or Event Committee may nominate any person or Rover for the Henry Rymill Award. The decision to make the Award can be made by either the Branch Rover Council, or by the BRC Executive, or Branch Commissioner for Rovers, where confidentiality is required. All parties must be convinced that the recipient is worthy of receiving the Award.

The Henry Rymill Award includes a certificate and a cloth badge which is worn in accordance with the Scout Association’s Policy and Rules. The Award is presented whenever a successful nomination is made and approved.

Henry Rymill CBE was a past Chief Commissioner and Rover Commissioner (from 1932) in South Australia. Passing away on 8th January 1971, Henry Rymill CBE had been the Chief Scout of South Australia since 1936. The Rymill training centre at Woodhouse, Stirling, was named after him in 1973. Henry was a dominant force in establishing Rovers within South Australia.

GEOFF SCHNAARS AWARD

The Geoff Schnaars Award is a good service award given to Rovers who have provided excellent service, support and dedication to the South Australian Rover Section. It is awarded by Rovers to Rovers during any yearly period for service throughout that year.

Any Rover can nominate another Rover for the Geoff Schnaars Award. No award is made if there are no nominations, or if the nominees are deemed not to be of an appropriate standard. The Geoff Schnaars Award is named after a popular ex-Bloo Rover and Project Commissioner for the Sub-Aqua Scout Group, who died in a car accident.

Geoff was a Cub, Scout and Venturer at Fulham Group and later became the first Unit Leader of Bloo Rovers. Whilst a Rover he was also a Cub Leader at Fulham and, later, a District Scout Leader. Geoff was also an exchange leader with the Boy Scouts of America.

Before his job as Works Manager of Adelaide Fibrous Plaster Works, Geoff was a Lieutenant in the Tank Regiment of the Australian Army.

Nominations are forwarded to the Branch Commissioner for Rovers (usually prior to the AGM). Where more than one Rover has been nominated, the Branch Commissioner shall consult with Bloo Rover Unit about the nominations.

The Geoff Schnaars Award is a Trophy, and is usually presented at the Annual General Meeting of the South Australian Branch Rover Council or at the Academy Awards.

TED WHITWORTH AWARD

The Reverend Ted Whitworth enlisted in the Royal Air Force in World War 2 and served in Great Britain and India. From 1929 until 1959 Ted was a Scout Master in all sections of Cubs, Scouts and Rovers. He migrated to Australia in 1959 to take up a teaching position at Prince Alfred College, where he remained until his retirement in 1982. Ted was Group Scout Master at Princes, and was later Eastern Area District Commissioner, and District Commissioner of the Collegiate District (comprising the Eastern Area Colleges Scout Troops). Ted was also pivotal in the creation of the Eastern Scouts Building Fund. In 1979 Ted was made a life member of the Scout Association, and in the same year was ordained as an Anglican Priest. Ted was an active Freemason for over 53 years, and was a founding member of Lodge Baden-Powell.

The purpose of the award is to encourage service to the Scouting movement and the community, and the award is made on the recommendation of the SA Branch Rover Council to the Unit which gains the highest number of unit hours in completing service projects within Scouting and the community.

The Award is presented annually by the Baden Powell Lodge 222 at a uniform night at their Masonic lodge.

UNIT BLEED AWARD

The Kullari Unit bleed trophy is presented annually by a representative of the Red Cross to the Rover Unit who has made the most blood donations to the blood bank in the previous 12 months.

Donating blood is an easy way of performing service to the community. It only takes a small amount of time, but you may save someone’s life. The Unit Bleed Award is friendly competition designed to encourage more Rovers to donate blood. Now is a good opportunity to encourage Unit members to pursue this award and help the community.
For more information on donating visit the Red Cross web site at www.giveblood.redcross.org.au