General News
15 August, 2023
Scouts hit by floods, heatwave and storm
"Be Prepared" is the famous Scouts motto – but few could have imagined the challenges four Wimmera youngsters and their leader have had to overcome in the first few days of a trip to Asia. Darren Nuske, originally from Pella and now living in...
"Be Prepared" is the famous Scouts motto – but few could have imagined the challenges four Wimmera youngsters and their leader have had to overcome in the first few days of a trip to Asia.
Darren Nuske, originally from Pella and now living in Horsham, thought he and his wife Fiona were packing their son off for the adventure of a lifetime at the 25th World Scout Jamboree in South Korea – until young Oscar found himself among thousands struck first by flooding and then by a heatwave.
Oscar and three other Wimmera teenagers joined more than 40,000 Scouts from 200 countries for the Jamboree.
It was always going to have its issues and be a test of both endurance and persistence - but no-one expected the turn of events which added a whole new dimension to the Scouts motto.
Heavy rain which flooded the site, collapsing tents and delaying entry to the Saemangeum campground by a day, was just the start.
After the downpours, the region was hit with temperatures of 34-38°C with almost 100 per cent humidity.
And, as if that wasn't enough in itself, warnings of an expected typhoon forced organisers to vacate the site and move everyone to Seoul.
Scout leader Andrew North and Scouts Lachlan North, Shivansh Bhutani, Oscar Nuske and Hannah were among an 800-strong Australian contingent that headed off to South Korea to attend the Jamboree from August 1 to 12.
Some countries, including Britain and the USA, pulled their Scouts out after the first few days because of the extreme heat, which had led to hundreds falling ill.
Some attendees said there had been insufficient shade, poor sanitation and medical services.
Mr Nuske, the 4th Venturer Horsham Scout leader, said some concessions were made for the remaining Scouts because of the heat, including air-conditioned buses replacing 10-kilometre walks, extra hygiene safety measures and the issuing of bottled water.
Eventually the risk of a typhoon - since downgraded to a tropical storm - was enough to force organisers to move the remaining participants.
The Nuskes said the Australian contingent stayed put until directed to leave.
By midweek 39,000 remaining Scouts were bussed to Seoul and placed in motel accommodation for the remainder of the Jamboree.
The exercise involved 900 buses with one leaving the site every 30 seconds.
"They coped well with the heat and, although internet access was poor, we were able to have some contact with Oscar, " Mr Nuske said.
"They're having the time of their lives."
The group arrived home in Horsham on Sunday.