On the lawns of Old Parliament House ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher today launched the latest Centenary of Canberra project, Scouts Australia’s hot air balloon and training program.
Chief Minister Gallagher commented that the program will see 100 Scouts and Guides aged between 16 and 25 years of age and primarily from the Canberra region trained to qualify as balloon pilots or crew.
“Scouts Australia’s ACT branch was successful in receiving a grant from the Centenary Community Initiatives Fund for the ‘Scouts Aloft’ Hot Air Balloon Training Program, in what is believed to be an Australian first,” the Chief Minister said.
Chief Minister Gallagher mentioned that balloon will feature Centenary of Canberra branding, and be used at community events across Australia, including the Scouts Jamboree in Queensland as well as National Youth Week in Canberra and other Centenary events during 2013.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that Scouts Australia is also participating in the Centenary of Canberra program through initiatives such as Dollars for Dili and Portrait of a Nation.