Community & Business
16 August, 2024
Operation Nighthawk comes to town
On the weekend 1550 Scouts, Venturer Scouts and Leaders camped at the Pittsworth Showgrounds to participate in the annual Operation Nighthawk.
Nighthawk attracts Scouting members from all over southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, from Bundaberg to Kyogle, Kingaroy to Chinchilla and all places in between.
The Group Leader from Pittsworth Scout Group, Stacey Schultz said Nighthawk is a must do event on every Scout’s calendar.
“This year was a special Nighthawk as it was in our hometown,” she said.
“Nighthawk is a night hike where participants navigate between bases to complete an activity at each base scoring points in an attempt to be the winning team.”
Some of the activities included mapping, star navigation, first aid, construction and fitness, team building and a Milo base with food and hot drink.
Mrs Schultz said the Pittsworth Scouts and Venturer Scouts did themselves proud, tying for 9th position out of 110 teams, and tying for 49th position out of 65 teams respectively.
The Millmerran Scouts also participated and tied with Ormeau for 50th position.
Scouting is a youth led organisation which is adult supported, so many of the youth take on varying roles and responsibilities.
For Operation Nighthawk, Pittsworth youth members conducted the opening and closing parades in front of 1550 plus people.
Since its inception in 1982, Operation Nighthawk has grown to be one of the largest scouting youth activities in Queensland, and quickly fills to capacity every year.
The only other event that is larger than Nighthawk is a Scout Jamboree.
The next Australian Jamboree will be held in Maryborough in January 2025 and several Pittsworth scouts will be attending.
Nighthawk 2025 will be held in Clifton.
