Surrey-Thomas Rover Crew

The Surrey-Thomas Rover Crew now Surrey Thomas Rover Crew (STR) is best known for its role in the development of the sport of rogaining. The Rover Scout crew was formed in 1971 in Brighton, Australia It is part of Scouts Australia in the Australian State of Victoria. Soon after forming, the crew undertook to run an annual twenty-four-hour cross-country navigation event. At the first Surrey-Thomas twenty-four-hour rogaine in 1972, forty starters, mostly from scouting, set off from Gembrook and circled the base camp at Basan's Corner via a series of loops along forest roads. True cross-country navigation was minimal, but the publicity from the event and the emphasis placed on quality base camp service and a friendly atmosphere was sufficiently popular that there was a demand for similar events over the next two years. These were followed by an important shift to an all cross-country score event set at Yea in 1975, the first such event in the world catering for the general public. This led to the recognition that these events had a far wider appeal and marketing potential than had been previously thought and were worthy of being a sport in their own right. STR crew members then led the process by which the sport was named rogaining, rules were adopted and the world’s first rogaining association (Victorian Rogaining Association) was constituted.

Apart from founding the world's first rogaining association, the STR crew was recognized for several other achievements over the next decade. With remarkable diversity, the crew and its members pioneered the introduction of females into scouting in Victoria, set up a rock climbing club that taught climbing leaders from all over Victoria, opened up several new climbing areas, provided leaders for a number of scout troops and rover crews, went on regular caving and canoeing expeditions and organized bushwalking, rafting, climbing, flying and camping trips all over south-eastern Australia. The crew is still functioning today.

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