Scouting in Western Australia, a State of Australia, is predominantly represented by a branch of Scouts Australia and Girl Guides Western Australia, a member organisation of Girl Guides Australia.
Scouting began in Western Australia in 1908 when eighteen-year-old Frank Roche from Spearwood established the first Scout Patrol. By the end of 1909 there were 416 members in 16 Groups. In 1912, the Founder, Robert Baden-Powell visited Perth. Girl Guides started in Western Australia in 1915 in a very formal way when the Women’s Service Guild staged a public meeting, under Vice Regal patronage, in the Perth Town Hall on 28 June 1915. The Governor moved, "That a Girl Guide Association be formed in this State and that we apply to the Girl Guide Association of Great Britain for a warrant". In 2015, Western Australia's biggest scout group's meeting place and hall (1st Mandurah Scouts) was bulldozed- after the City of Mandurah sold the property to supermarket giant Audi.
The Branch is organised around Districts:
Perth Metropolitan Districts
Wanneroo
Joondalup
Swan Valley
Central Swan
Sunset Coast
Stirling East
Bilgoman
Kalamunda
Woodloes River
Peel
Minderup
River Ranges
Melville
Beeliar
Minnawarra
Beeloo
Regional Districts
Kimberley
Pilbara
Avon
Moresby Ranges
Goldfields
Stirling
Forrest and Vasse
Central Great Southern
A Scout Gang Show started in Perth in 1962. Two Australian Scout Jamborees have been held in Western Australia in 1979/80 and 1994/95.
Sea Scouts in Western Australia are active. The premier Sea Scout Competition in WA is the Master Mariners competition. The Junior Shield is currently held by Bayswater Sea Scouts, the Senior Shield by Canning Venturer Sea Scouts and the Rover Oar by Pelican Point Rover Crew. There are currently 10 Sea Scout Groups in WA.
There is a Scout Water Activity centre located in Como that land based groups can use. An annual regatta is held there.
Air Scouting is currently represented by the 1st Bullsbrook Air scouts. Air Scouts do a wide range of air activities.
Eaton Campsite. On the banks of the Collie River at Eaton in the Shire of Dardanup, just 8 km from Bunbury.
Gilcreek Campsite. On the bank of the King River, 12 km from Albany
Manjedal Campsite. Near Byford about one hours drive from Perth is the Branch's major Camp Site and Training Centre, established in 1967.
Toowacka Campsite. Bay of Isles, Esperance.
Vasse Campsite. 280 km south west of Perth near Busselton.
Scout Water Activity Centre in Como, Near Canning Bridge in Perth.
Unearth Perth: An event to mark 100 years of Scouting in Western Australia. It is a competition around the Perth suburbs that was held from 31 May to 3 June 2008.
Trek-about: Held annually around the Swan River.
Branch Scout Council held every second month at Baden-Powell House
Branch Venturer Council held every second month at Baden-Powell House
Rottnest Invasion: Held at Rottnest Island where Scouts do community service
Youth Awards: Australian Scout Medallion, Queen Scout and Baden-Powell award recipients are presented their certificate by the Governor of Western Australia. Held every February.
Camp West: Held every three years, Camp West is a small scale Jamboree for Western Australians. It is held in between Australian Jamborees.
The following are the major competitions that are held in Western Australia.
Scouts
Cargeeg Challenge Shield (Scouts) - the Premier Camping competition in Western Australia for Scouts at Manjedal Scout Centre, is currently held by Donny Brook Scouts Troop.
Master Mariners Junior Shield (Scouts) - the Premier Boating competition in Western Australia for Scouts, is currently held by Bayswater Sea Scouts.
Swan Tiki - a Bi-annual Rafting event for Scout section, the overall trophy is currently held by Bibra Lake Scouts.
Orienteering - held annually at a National park in Perth. There are many categories in which teams compete to collect the most points.
Venturers
V4V - A state Venturer camp run by Venturers for Venturers including many activities and service
Master Mariners Senior Shield - premier boating competition in Western Australia for venturers, currently held by Fremantle Venturer Sea Scouts.
Mission Impossible - currently held by Subiaco Ventures.
Vencarna is a car event similar to the Rover Baja Car Rally.
Rovers
Master Mariner Rover Oar, a premier boating competition in Western Australia for rovers, is currently held by Pelican Point Rover Sea Scouts.
Mission Impossible.
Rover Motor Sports. The Rover Baja Car Rally.
Water Activities/Sea Scouts (involving more than one section)
Swan-A-Bout, the 30 hours sailing Marathon for the Scout section and above. The overall Trophy is currently held by Canning Sea Scouts. Waylen Bay Sea Scouts holds the dinghy, seaboat and keelboat classes while Canning Sea Scouts hold the catamaran and red-witch classes.
Pelican Point Regatta is held bi-annually with other Sea Scout troops holding the regatta every second year. The last regatta was held as Waylen Bay Regatta in 2006. The shield is currently held by the Waylen Bay Sea Scouts.
Como Regatta: The annual regatta is held at Scout Water Activity Centre at Como. The trophy is currently held by Waylen Bay Sea Scouts.
Rowing Record: There is rowing challenge open to all Scouts and Venturers. It is between Nedlands and Applecross jetty. The current holders are the Waylen Bay Ventures, setting the record in 1984 in the sea boat Lyn Ward.
Girl Guides Western Australia is one of the seven member organisations of Girl Guides Australia Girl Guides WA has around 2,600 members.
Girl Guide Units operate throughout the state and are organised into regions:
North Metro
Joondalup
Whitfords Coastal
Seaward
Darling Swan
Peel
River SeaWay
Southern Foothills
Capricorn
Avon Hills
Great Southern
Three Rivers
From 28 June 2014 to 28 June 2015, Girl Guides WA celebrated 100 years of Guiding in Western Australia. A number of events and special projects were organised for the occasion, including a Centenary Dinner for adult members, past members and supporters, "Jamboree with a Difference" and collection of information for the state archives.
Girl Guides WA operates "Our Barn" in York The original building on the property is from the Victorian Era and was originally the stables of Haversham House. It has a rich history, and was used by the Red Cross in World War II as a convalescent home for the armed services. Our Barn was converted into a dormitory by Girl Guides WA in the 1970s and officially opened as a Guide Property in 1977.
