Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria Bob Taylor, Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato, Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia Reg Williams, and Cardinia Shire Mayor Graeme Legge open Gilwell Park’s new environmental education centre. 53908
By Russell Bennett
LOCALS and scouts alike will benefit from Gembrook’s new half million dollar Environmental Education Centre at Gilwell Park.
The centre was officially opened on 19 September in front of hundreds of people who had earlier witnessed an awards ceremony recognising the state’s top scout leaders.
Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia’s Victorian branch Bob Taylor spoke about the new building’s significance.
‘This will be one of 10 world centres of excellence,’ he said.
‘That just lets the world know that this is such an important place.’
Local tradespeople constructed the building using locally sourced, re-useable materials.
The centre will deliver education programs on the local environment to both schools and community groups.
Gilwell Park has often been strictly seen as a scout property but the project is aimed at opening locals’ eyes to the resource.
‘We are very keen for Gilwell to be used more,’ park business manager Bill Oakley said.
‘It’s a tremendous resource and we want to see schools and locals come here and wander through the ground ‘ get back to nature.’
Chisholm TAFE students lent a helping hand and used the project as a training exercise. Several volunteers were also involved in the building work.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato said the project had a definite focus on educating and building skills for local youth.
‘In terms of the TAFE involvement, the project developed skills of local young people so it fits very, very nicely,’ she said.
The students’ involvement was in conjunction with the project’s major funding partner, the Federal Government’s Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), which provided $374,000 through a jobs fund grant. Additional funding was provided by State Government, the scout association and Scouts Australia.
‘This project goes beyond scouts to the wider community but that really enhances the scouting program,’ Cardinia Shire Mayor Graeme Legge said.
‘Council has held Gilwell Park in high regard and high esteem for its contribution to scouting over the years.
‘To add this facility and what it stands to benefit the local community is just fantastic,’ he said.
The opening exhibit at the centre displays some of the local area’s environment, farming, mining, and forestry stories.
