19th PAN AUSTRALIAN CAMP 13 – 22 JAN 2017 BOYS’ BRIGADE AUSTRALIA

From the PAC 15 Chaplain Back in PACed Gear 1o there was an article about influential people, specifically about the PAC 15 chaplain Rhys McFadden and how he had influenced me in regards to being a BB and my outlook as a Christian. In June I was surprised to find a message from Rhys hidden in an unknown messenger folder that he sent in May. With his permission I have included it below.

G'day Ben,

I just picked up an article you wrote reflecting on PAC15 regarding influential people in the PAC 19 promotion and I am totally humbled with the kindness you extend to me in all you recalled. I have reflected on PAC15 many times, for me it was perhaps one of the highlights/mountain peak experiences of my journey with God so far and it was the 470 young men that made it special for me. They deserved the best and I gave them the best I had...I am totally

grateful to God for the opportunity to serve BBA and that He blessed it so richly for us all.

I still remember young Beno Cowan (the young fella from Lismore/Casino way) who was wrestling with Leukemia, and the amazing responses of these young men to the Boxing Day Tsunami crisis. I still connect with Dan Dean the young fella from Boronia who came up with the idea to take up a dedicated offering, and the generosity of a bunch of young fellas who gave all they had available...amazing! and there are a number of others I still connect with. I remember the young guys who shared their cut lunch with a homeless guy in Hyde Park...and many, many more stories. God was, and is so good to us all.

-Rhys

It’s amazing how God used PAC 15 and Rhys to impact lives 11 years ago. Rhys’ letter had me thinking about what God has in store for Campers at PAC 19. I know the experiences at PAC 19 will impact and help shape campers lives for many years to come. –Ben. H

PAC 19 State Liaison Officer Contacts Q LD – Ben Harth. bbqldpac slo@brigadeaustralia.org SA – O llie Jac kson. bbsapac slo@brigadeaustralia.org N SW – Rhys N ewman. bbnswpac slo@brigadeaustralia.org VIC – C raig A very. bbvic pac slo@brigadeaustralia.org TA S – N icholas Eduljee. bbtaspac slo@brigadeaustralia.org W A – A ndrew Twine. bbwapac slo@brigadeaustralia.org

A C T – Ron Vandergugten. bbac tpac slo@brigadeaustralia.org

19th PAN AUSTRALIAN CAMP 13 – 22 JAN 2017 PACed Gear. Issue 16. July 2016

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What’s so special about being a

camper with 19 in your ID? We are

glad to announce that campers who

end up in the 19 Club get a $19 dollar

credit at the camp café. That will

come in handy when you want

slushies’ for those hot days. Who

will be Camper 219?

Sdkjfalk sladkjfhsl camper No239 also

get a $19 credit at the café for being

the first camper to have finished

paying their camp fee.

The PAC 19 Café will be ultimate

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hangout for chills during camp.

Grab a copy of the camp newsletter, or chat with you mates

or leaders about spiritual and life matters. You might be able to

challenge them to a game of air hockey, table soccer, cards or any

number of games.

It has you covered for the essential

on those hot days. Slushies and

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other cold drinks as well as snack food. It also has the real important

gear fro sale that you may have forgotten to pack when you came

to PAC. Items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant and

sunscreen plus other useful items.

.

PACed Gear Top Tip: “If you’re on an expedition and have forgotten your spoon, it is acceptable

to drink your breakfast. It’s called improvisation.”

Don’t use this this reasoning at home. I did once and I had to make my bed and

my sisters bed everyday for a week.

Registration and camp fee DEADLIN E 30 N ov 2016

I think Bilbo celebrated his 111st birthday under this tree

Nestled in the middle of the PAC 19 Satellite campsite at Glengarry, is a very special building. From the outside it looks like it could be a cabin. But it actually houses the new Boys’ Brigade Queensland History and Memorabilia Centre.

There is something fascinating about seeing the history of the organisation we are apart of. Even the young juniors at a recent Battalion camp found the displays interesting.

It’s incredible to see how Boys Brigade has changed over the years. There is even a room dedicated to Pan Australian Camps. If you’re around Glengarry on the 13 August 2016, visit the open day and see the museum for yourself.

QCCC, PAC 19 Tent site WEC CABINS LEAP OF FAITH

19th PAN AUSTRALIAN CAMP 13 – 22 JAN 2017 PACed Gear. Issue 16. July 2016

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There was concern at the lack of cabin fans. Ben informed us that the weather around Tamborine Mountain is usually a moderate 24 degrees at night. I don’t think heat will be an issue.

QCCC is ready to deliver good tasty food in one of its many spacious dinging rooms.

The area for tents looks fantastic. The committee is working on big tents with 6 campers each with air mats similar to PAC 17 and 18. I think some of us are having serious thoughts about opting for tent accommodation instead of cabins at PAC 19.

Campers can lock in their accommodation preference when they have paid $600 of their camp fees.

Stephanie led us to the Massive 600 seat WEC Auditorium. This will be the main venue for full camp worship and meetings

If you want more information about the site have a look at PAC gear 10, or go to http://www.qccc.org.au/tamborine/

Ben took us on a quick bush walk to show us one of the best views of the Scenic Rim region before leading us to our first destination: onsite activities.

Sam from Vertec Adventure was waiting to give us a taste of what PAC 19 campers would experience. There are currently over 30 activities available on site including abseiling, survivor challenges, geocaching, giant swing and much more. We got to try a leap of faith to hit a big orange ball, mountain bikes and Archery.

But wait, there’s more. QCCC is installing even more activities and are on track to have them finished and running in time for PAC 19. Good News for the Alphas Gauntlet activity.

The cabins are great. There are 287 beds available for campers. Most of the cabins come with ensuite facilities and some even have verandahs.

The ‘Gold Coast Adventure’ story in the previous Edition of PACed gear had a companion video. This story also has a companion video. Actually it will have two. One about the QCCC facilities and one about the QCCC activities and some of the Tamborine Mountain Activities. The videos follow the same group of boys from the Gold Coast Special (with few new additions) as they continue to discover South East Queensland. These videos, and others can be sound on the Boys Brigade PAC 19 Facebook page and YouTube channel

It became clear that as the day wore on we became more like a similarly named motoring program full of payouts, tired cars, challenges and just simply having fun with mates.

QCCC is a bona fide conference centre. You could already imagine campers kicking a ball around on the grass, or groups scattered around under the trees for their morning devotions.

QCCC Client Liaison Stephanie Philpot, and Ben West (QCCC staff member and 4th Gold Coast Boys Brigade Officer) arrived to start our tour.

A group of PAC veterans got a first hand look at PAC 19 home base.

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Harrison having his bike adjusted Sam

Jamie preparing for his leap of faith

The WEC auditorium

19th PAN AUSTRALIAN CAMP 13 – 22 JAN 2017 PACed Gear. Issue 16. July 2016

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This was Gold Coast Weather, January 13 – 22, 2016.

Just before PAC begins, everybody suddenly wishes they were a meteorologist and could predict what the weather will be like on PAC. You never know what the weather could be.

No record of Tamborine Mountain temperatures were available on the Bureau of meteorology website. That is why we have included reports from nearby stations and not Tamborine Mtn itself. Locals know that Tamborine Mountain it can get quite hot during the summer days, but is still cooler than surrounding areas; and you should always be ready for rain. Of course this should be taken as a guide only.

This was Gatton (station closest to Glengarry) Weather, January 13 – 22, 2016.

This was Beaudesert Weather, January 13 – 22, 2016.

13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd

Rain 0 0 0 0 .6mm 0 0 0 0 0

Max Temp

36.5 35.5 34.9 25.2 30.5 30.5 33.6 36.1 36.2 37.1

Min Temp

19.2 16.3 17.4 17.9 16.6 16.3 15.1 16.2 16.0 17.9

13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd

Rain 0 0 0 2.6mm .2mm 0 0 0 0 0

Max Temp

34.9 34.1 32.9 25.1 28.0 30.2 31.8 34.3 35.1 35.1

Min Temp

19.6 16.7 18.1 17.0 13.8 14.6 15.8 17.3 16.7 17.9

13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd

Rain 0 0 0 .2mm 0 .4mm 0 0 0 0

Max Temp

29.9 30.3 30.6 26 28.3 28.8 27.8 29.7 30.5 30.5

Min Temp

22.2 21.2 22.3 18.7 19.4 19.7 20.0 19.3 20.7 22.5

Camper number update as of 25th July 2016.

The race is on. Who will be camper number 219?

QLD NSW VIC TAS ACT SA WA Int’l Total

84 45 33 4 5 0 13 4 188

PACed Gear Top Tip: “It is a proven fact that

campers who have a hot breakfast have a 91%

chance of surviving a drop bear attack.”

The state contingent badge challenge is still on. Come up with a design that can be turned into a cloth badge that will represent your state at PAC 19. Your State Liaison Offer will be responsible for helping to choose the winning design from each state. Don’t worry if you can’t come up with a design on a computer. Draw it; paint it, or what ever you can do to come up with a design. It doesn’t need to be perfect. This was my initial attempt. Ben H