Spooky scouts have a scare!

There was spook-tacular fun at the 113 Scout Hall in Burnside recently – and a treat for volunteers too.

Local district commissioner Eddie O’Rourke dropped in to surprise leaders Nigel MacDonald and Graeme Hamilton, thanking them for completing 40 years of adult volunteering service with the Scout Group.

Former leaders, members and parents were on hand to make it an evening to remember.

Graeme joined as a Cub Scout back in 1971 and Nigel joined a year or two later when his family moved in to the area. Both enjoyed moving through Scouts and Venture Scouts and then aged 18 they applied to become leaders, securing their appointment in October 1981.

As well as a certificate from the district, chair of the group executive Adrian Hilton presented these longstanding leaders with an engraved quaich to say thank you for giving over 2000 weeks of voluntary service to help develop local young people and help them gain “skills for life”.

Meanwhile the sections all had amazing parties and everyone dressed up including the leaders. After pass the parcel, the Beaver Scouts rounded their evening with an indoor campfire, singing a few scary songs; while the Cubs went dooking for apples in the form of a team relay game and then had to bite sauce-covered doughnut off a rope without using their hands.

The Scouts took the level up a bit by erecting pulley systems and raising members upside down to dook for apples from a water-filled dinghy before working as a team to reach the doughnuts, on a fun night for all.