Woody Woggle
The present design of the Queensland Contingent Woggle was first produced in 1970. Jack Edwards was given the task to design and manufacture the woggle. The timber Jack selected was "Mulga"; Jack enlisted the services of Toby Brown from Charleville to gather the shoots of this tree known as the "Wonder Wood of the Australian Wilderness". From this wonder tree comes the Queensland Contingent Woggle; unfortunately because of its size we are unable to show the rich colours of the mature tree.
However its simplicity of design and its highly polished finish make it a woggle which will do Queensland proud, one that truly depicts Woodcraft in Scouting and on which many will treasure and wear when the 20th Australian Jamboree is but a memory.
AJ2004 marks the 9th occasion this Woggle has been produced and as per the other Jamborees the Woggle will be wrapped in Christmas paper. Jack states that this is to ensure that no one can be selective when getting their woggle. Each one is different; there are changes in the grain, the bark and even the length and diameter making each Woggle truly unique.
For the 19th Australian Jamboree it was decided that the Woggle would become the logo for the Jamboree. The character designed became known as Woody Woggle; Woody proved a hit and has been retained for AJ2004.
Timber for the Woggle - The Mulga Tree
The Legend is "The Desert Manna Tree" which indeed it truly is, for in times of drought many hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep, and camels have been able to survive on the leaves and small branchlets, provided bore or well water was available for drinking.
It grows on the sand hills, stony hills, claypans and ridges of the vast inland in the great quietness of the Australian bush even in areas with an annual rainfall of under 150 mm. It braves the fierce hot blasts, the desert dusts and sand storms, which are prevalent. In dry years, when the temperature soars, sometimes reaching 170o, while other shrubs perish in the long droughts, this tree flourishes. Its outer bark is hard and rough and the tree has a large root system. Also it is called the inland steel, from it the aborigines made spear points, boomerangs, waddies and other weapons.
How the Woggle is made
There are several steps in the making of the Jamboree Woggle and it is a process anyone can follow. The making of these could be slotted into the weekly program maybe on a father Scout night. Follow the following steps and you wont go wrong.
- First gather shoots of Mulga
- Once dry cut to length of Woggle
- Drill ¾ inch (20mm) hole, can use other sizes that are close.
- Rough sand - face and ends
- Fine sand
- Round sand on drum sander
- Bevel edge of hole to take sharpness out
- Blow dust off Woggle
- Dip in shellac (beetle wings and metholated spirits, not to thick)
- Stand on end to dry for 5 minutes then flip to dry other side
- Rub down with 220 grit paper
- Place sticker on face
- Paint estapol gloss all over inside and out and over bark
- 2nd coat over front and back
- Final coat on front only
When estapoling slide all Woggles on a length of dowel to help the drying process.
Jamboree Activities
Jamboree activities are a mixture of on-site and off-site activities that seek to challenge the participants, reinforce Scouting values, provide valuable and new experiences, and most of all, be great fun.
Activities for the 2007 Australian Scout Jamboree included:-
- Circus Skills
- Bush tracking and navigation
- Canoes, rafts and swimming
- Go-Karting
- Plenty of mud activities
Where is Cataract Scout Park?
Cataract Park is about one hours drive south of Sydney close to Appin which is east of Campbelltown. Check out the next page for a statelite image from Google Earth. Read more...
