BB New Zealand Communication
Kia ora
Winter is officially over and the clock have gone forward!! Long days and unpredictable weather tell us Spring is underway.
In this edition we have a report from our President, Richard Harkness on the Snow Camp held at Mt Ruapehu earlier this month. Thank you to Richard and all those who volunteered their time and effort to stage this event. Judging by the photos they certainly braved the elements and showed great tenacity and had a great time.
We have over half the units who have ordered and received their new Polo Shirts as we continue the uniform appeal to have everyone sporting the new brand by the end of the year. We have provided the link to order below and ask leaders & administrators to complete orders and submit by the end of October so we can accomplish the goal. We would also like to reconcile the uniform subsidy needed to balance the books for the end of the year to keep our beloved treasurer happy (Thanks Ken Morris for the wonderful job you do).
We are in the process of building the new website and resources for leaders and volunteers. The website will also act as our front window into our movement, so we are working very hard to put our best foot forward and have something the boys, leaders and volunteers will be happy to refer to and use regularly.
We are due to release a Beta Version (First cut) on October 4th to our Leaders via a nationwide Teams call (Microsoft version of Zoom) and will invite them to share the web link with the wider BB Movement. We will also invite feedback on the website and look to an official launch by the end of the year. The site has been largely built using volunteer contribution, and I would like to personally acknowledge Phil Yeaman from BB Windsor Park ICONZ who has done an exceptional job. He has put up with constant requests for changes and tweaks! Thanks Phil, you are a fine example of one dedicated to the Movement and the objective.
"The advancement of Christ's Kingdom among Boys' and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tends towards a true, Christian manliness."
Mike Brewer - National Director
0274 967 537
Stay Sure & Stedfast - Hebrews 6:19
BB Snow Camp 2022
Two weeks ago we had a great snow camp up at Mount Ruapehu, and we enjoyed using all the gear that Maerewhenua Trust helped us purchase. The spirit of adventure, expedition and outdoor pursuits is continually being passed on to our young men. We had a group of 18 in a lodge that sleeps 24. Room for more but . . .A few lads withdrew when they realised they had NCEA Mock Exams straddling that very same weekend. And two injured lads pulled out last minute (soccer and basketball injuries). That said, God blessed us richly, kept everyone safe, and all had a most excellent alpine experience.
We hired ice axes, toboggans etc again. And Scripture Union Adventure Lodge was a fantastic base camp for Mt Ruapehu alpine training with Sean Matier.
Great meals cooked by Robyn Matier and Heather Harkness!
Alpine training assistant Jake Matier (BB Iconz Queen’s Man) worked hard in the ice axe training and ice slope demo. Jake used all the great mountain climbing gear that Les Bouterey helped us acquire last year with MT funds. Great resource.
Jack Wilson (BB ECHO Bush Leadership Course NZOIA) flew up from Christchurch to help run the outdoor trails and bush safety/risks training sessions. Another big thank you to Maerewhenua Trust for helping Jack's travel expenses! Fantastic.
Josiah Dixon (BB Exec Youth Rep) looked after Health and Safety, RAMs form and mountain lodge compliance. As well as gear checks and lodge clean up type activities. A huge help!
Great mountain experience and alpine training. And the snow dumping on Saturday mid day was so heavy, that visibility diminished and we made a judgement call to go back down early, (based on the Strike 3 approach we learnt from Les Bouterey in 2021 Snow Camp) a wise call. The weather got worse, icy roads, thick snow, very cold, etc. Then off to the hot pools - and alpine trails the next day for those not skiing and snow boarding.
These opportunities for our BB Delta and Echo lads are incredible experiences in the bush and alpine environments, God's creation, and all the more possible because of the generous support from Maerewhenua Trust!!
In Zimbabwe we would say, "Tatenda maningie" - thank you x millions!
Shalom
Richard Harkness - BB President
Queen Elizabeth Memorial Service
Many thanks to John Burgess Leader Upper Hutt ICONZ to help organise and support representation of BB at the memorial service for Queen Elizabeth in Wellington 26th September. Thank you to Thomas Clark for representing the BB Movement at the service.
And of course this means our Queens Badge will change to the Kings Award next year and end a legacy of a lifetime. More on that later.
John Burgess, Tim & Thomas Clark
Please join the Founders Day Webinar on our BB Teams call Tuesday 4th October at 6:30pm - 7:30pm (we will try to stick to 1 hour!)
Most of you have replied to the invitation sent to your email, but if you haven't seen the invitation or not yet replied, please let me know. I can resend of send you a fresh invitation so you can access the presentation.
BB Webinar to update leaders on progress with Branding, Uniform, Website & Health & Safety Portal. Also looking ahead to next year and national events to celebrate 140 years since BB was established.
AGENDA
- Prayer
- Website - Introduction and Tour of the BETA Version
- Uniform update and deadline for subsidized orders
- Health & Safety Update
- 140th Celebrations
- CATAC - March 2023
- National Expeditions - South Island Stewart Island/North Island Wanganui River
- National BB Camp - Findlay Park Waikato - 1st - 6th October 2023
- General Business
- Close
BB at NZ Forum on the Family
I recently had the opportunity and honour to present a President's Award to Alfred Ngaro in recognition of his contribution to the community. Alfred was involved with BB Te Atatu and credits many habits to his formative experience with our movement. Click on the link to see a few minutes in front of an 800 strong audience, and interestingly how many people stood up who had been involved with BB over the years.
Friendly Faces in Wellington
Richard has been a busy boy, not only at BB Snow Camp 2022. He also caught up with Brenda and Roger Watkins, Richard Bruce, Joe Fecteau. Thanks guys you do a great job in Island Bay!!
TRIBUTE
We pay tribute and honour Mrs Nell Relf who passed away in June of this year with the family holding her memorial service in Rotorua on Saturday 24th September.
Stu Thompson attended on behalf of BB and acknowledged her lifetime commitment and enduring legacy to the movement.
BB New Zealand are grateful to the Relf family for the ongoing commitment to host and manage Camp Relf at Lake Rotoma and the generations who have benefited from this camp in the past and who will continue to in the future.
Have a BB Story to tell?
We want to hear from you if you have a story and photos you would like to share across the movement. Simply click on the link below and send me an email with your story! Simple! And don't forget top attach the photos.
Funny to finish!
