A small contingent of fifteen ACT youth and leaders attended the NSW Agoonoree on 28 September – 1 October, held at Glenrock Scout Camp (near Newcastle). This is an annual camp organised by NSW, for about 200 special needs youth and leaders with activities ranging from giant crosswords and horse racing, water filters, fishing, barrel rolling, Scouting history, a disco and campfire. The volunteer Leaders, Venturers, Scouts and Cubs joined in to help out with caring and supporting attendees with special needs and participating with the activities with them.

Sunday saw us travel to a nearby wildlife park where we fed camels and kangaroos, milked cows, rode ponies and stayed away from the cassowaries and crocodiles. We managed to fit in a few hours at the beach on Monday morning before heading on home.

The Agoonoree is usually held over the September long weekend. Friday is usually just meeting for dinner and to get to know (or re-acquaint) with other attendees. With the long travel distances around NSW and schooling requirements, some of the attendees arrive quite late into the night.

Saturday is spent going around base stations (like Cotter Shield) for activities, although less challenging than other camps maybe to suit the abilities of the youth members - some of who can be 60 years old! A great variety of activities is well planned by the camp leaders and every step is taken to ensure the youth members all get something out of every base. Every leader does not allow any Scout or Guide to be omitted and of course everyone cheers (carers included) every result - good or bad.

Sunday is an offsite day when a local, well managed attraction is visited by the camp, usually with some special activity arranged and a BBQ lunch.

Monday is usually been a wind-down day, sometimes with 'Olympics' style games (every youth member is ensured of a 'medal' somewhere) or as in this instance, some time at the beach. Each youth member is required to be attended to by a nominated carer who knows them - as the camp leaders cannot be expected to know each child's care needs.

The ACT Contingent included quite a variety of people. John and David Cameron have been going for each of the past seven years, Paul Murphy has been flipping burgers in the kitchen for six and David Burr has attended six QLD Agoonorees previously. Maddie, Michael, Eve, Caitlin, Doug, Addison, Cameron and Marla were all attending their first but not last Agoonoree and we are hoping to team up with others to bring the event to the ACT in coming years.