BB Communication
Kia ora
Keep calm and carry on!
With the spread of Omicron we have entered a phase where it appears there will be a wide circulation of the virus and symptoms across our land. The Queen contracted Omicron on a Sunday and was back doing her weekly call with PM Boris Johnson by following Wednesday. Not bad for 95!! I am absolutely sure her advice would be expressed in the image below.
I am fit and healthy and personally tested positive for Covid-19 last week and have isolated at home for 10 days. The symptoms, while unpleasant, have resembled a bad cold/light flu and took about 5 days to pass. So if the Queen and I can get through it, there is hope for us all!
We are working very hard to present a uniform option and provide existing leaders, boys staying in their units/section a uniform free of charge and would encourage all leaders to ensure they have filled out the form in the link below so we can quantify this number.
In this Bugle there is a key message from our President, Richard Harkness.
Let's carry on in to 2022 with confidence and hope.
Mike Brewer - National Director
0274 967 537
Presidents Appeal 2022
Thank you for the continued support, prayers and encouragement received over the years, and more particularly in recent times. This being despite the challenges we all face since Covid and Government protocols have impacted on our daily lives. Without you, our ministry to so many boys and families around the country would not be as effective as it is today. That said, we need your help again.
We were blessed by the huge generosity shown two years ago, when we had the 2020 President’s Appeal – and this helped us get through an incredibly bleak financial crisis. Unfortunately, since then it has been difficult to get all our groups up and running again, and back to full strength. Further, many of our great funders are equally struggling, especially where their business activities are no longer financially viable. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all these folk who have been such great supporters and are now in dire straits themselves.
Firstly, we ask that you join us in seeking God’s heart and blessings in such tough economic times – a call to prayer as a priority.
Secondly, we would ask that you prayerfully consider making a gift to help change lives, impact our communities, support struggling families, including solo parents, and the lads who really need something positive and adventurous in their lives right now. It is highly disturbing to see the significant increases in screen time/on-line activities, obesity, male youth suicides, mental health issues/stress, youth crime, and a lack of good role models for lads and/or time with their father. We can make a difference. However, our financial situation has changed now that we are two years on from when Covid-19 hit, and our income streams are no longer sustainable for all the great work we do.
Our mission is as unchanged as it was in 1883, when Sir William Smith founded Boys Brigade in Scotland – advancing Christ’s kingdom amongst boys, and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.
We can continue to reach these young lads for Christ, with your help. Please pray for us, and help to investigate funding sources or ways to generate more funds. You can make a monthly contribution to BBNZ, or a one-off donation. Our online banking BBNZ account is: 06-0513-0005755-00. Please enter your name as the ‘Payee reference’. We need your email address too, as BBNZ is a registered charity and you will be issued a receipt to claim your donation tax credits. Please forward your response (which will be kept in strict confidence) by email to info@bb.org.nz or post to ‘The Boys’ Brigade in New Zealand, PO Box 100 983, North Shore, Auckland 0745’.
In closing this President’s Appeal, I am again reminded of how Matthew 6:33 encourages us to seek God’s Kingdom first, and all these things (our needs) will be given as well. God bless you richly.
Our new look
Further to the branding information sent out in the last Bugle and our development of the suggested new uniform, we need to quantify the numbers required.
We would like to know how many existing leaders and boys would need a new polo shirt if we are able to raise funds to supply a free polo to everyone. Please click on the link below to give us your information and that of your boys.
We now have a brand guideline document for our leaders to use in developing any resources requiring logos, correct colours, letterhead, business cards etc. Please contact us at the National Resource Centre if you have any queries at all.
Queens Award 2021/22
A parent perspective
Queens Badge presentation at Govt House Wellington Feb 2022
Despite having worked for BB ICONZ for almost 20 years and being involved in the development of programmes and badges, pointing our young men towards earning their Queen’s Badge, this was the first time I have experienced the full Queens Badge presentation.
It was a proud day for us as parents to see Isaac, the youngest of our large family and his ICONZ mates go forward to receive this award from Dame Cindy Kiro the Governor General.
We lined up in our cars at the rear gate of Govt House under a very heavy security presence, because of the Covid protests in Wellington. After presenting our vax passes and placing out face masks on and being checked off the guest list, we took a short walk amongst the grand gardens, a formal lake that looked more like a swimming pool, we were ushered to the Ball Room by uniformed staff. Next, the award recipients gathered outside the main door then paraded in and sat down.
Right on time, the Governor General, Her Excellency Dame Cindy Kiro entered the room and was introduced by one of her aids dressed in the uniform of the NZ Army. While we did stand for her entrance we didn’t sing the National Anthem, shake hands or anything else normally associated with the ceremony, because of the risk of Covid. After a short welcome by Her Excellency, we were treated to some additional welcome speeches from the GB commissioner and our own BB New Zealand President, Richard Harkness.
The badge recipients were called up one by one to receive their certificates by our Executive Officer Leigh-Ann Bailey who also read out lists of their badge achievements and lengthy community service endeavours. They went forward, received their certificates, stood a metre from Dame Cindy, were photographed, then returned to their seats. Other than the person speaking at the podium, masks remained firmly on faces throughout the proceedings except for one informal photo which may or may not remain unpublished!
The evening programme was a formal dinner at a restaurant on the Wellington waterfront with host of ceremonies Richard Harkness. The excellent standard of speeches from all who spoke including our own Isaac, who acknowledged his supporters, He shared a great story of his NLDC experience, thanked his mentors and me as his leader and his dad which was a proud moment. Richard commenced his speech with lame jokes and continued with lamer and the lamest jokes, surprisingly entertaining. We were further inspired by the GB commissioner, three other Queens Men & Women followed by our guest speaker Ivan Wong Kee who was nothing short of outstanding.
Overall, participating in Queen’s weekend with our son and several of his mates, who I have had a part in mentoring, was one of the proudest days in my life as a parent and member of BB New Zealand. Furthermore, it is appropriate as a parent and a staff member to acknowledge the hard work in planning the whole event by Elizabeth Dickens from GBNZ, and our own Leigh Ann Bailie and Mike Brewer to mention just a few. Finally, the long term sponsorship by the Maerewhenua Trust of BB New Zealand, NLDC and other events benefits all our recent Queens Men and so many more. Their financial help and the major contribution of many BB officers & leaders must not go without acknowledgement and sincere thanks.
Stu Thompson, Queens Man’s Dad , Tauranga 😊
National Photographic Competition
Deadline 29th April 2022
Great news, we have extended the deadline for the competition into the first term of 2022. Entries will now close 29th of April 2022 which will include the opportunity for photos from Easter Break and ANZAC Day. Due to the disruption of Covid in Term 4 in 2021 we have decided to allow this extension to gain more entries.
Thank you to those who have submitted their photos already. We have had a quick glance at them, and they are awesome!! A sample of these above. So get out there and snap away for 2022!
$1,000 Cash Prizes
Click on the buttons below for more details.
Bush Leadership Course
The inaugural Echo Bush Leadership Course was held at the Michael Stead Lodge, Kauaeranga Valley on the Coromandel Peninsular February 2022. The location is spectacular, the lodge able to sleep up to 24 with great facilities which didn’t involve roughing it too much! Apart from the snoring from the National Director which we are sure will become infamous! There is Gas cooking, fridge, LED battery powered lights, showers, and toilets that flush, this is rare in a bush location. We are most grateful for the support from Maerewhenua Trust and their generosity in developing our young men and their leadership skills and abilities. In addition, the BB Northern Regional Trust for their assistance and their custody of the lodge.
There were 6 participants on the Echo BLC with 2 from Christchurch, 2 from Manawatu and 2 from Tauranga, plus Stu Thompson – Program Director and Mike Brewer – National Director for BB New Zealand. Adventure Specialists facilitated the course and displayed a superb knowledge of the bush curriculum and the ability to engage our group to take up leadership scenarios and implement learnings in a practical environment. Thanks to Tim Wills, the Adventure Specialists CEO who took the time to attend for the first 2 days and we all benefited from his vast knowledge and some great stories of the outdoors. And it is not very often you meet someone so passionate about weather!!
The content of the course covered many relevant leadership skills and practical aspects that our Echo guys could teach their groups across the BB New Zealand movement. The level of confidence and competency among the group was noted by the facilitators and truly heartening. If we can build and expand this group to help us lead BB units, the movement will grow from strength to strength in the future.
Funny to finish!
