We are lucky to have a fantastic traditional Scout Hall that our children can participate in Scouting at. It is important that we keep this clean, tidy and maintained for us and the local community. Hall maintenance also allows us to rent out the hall, giving us the opportunity to earn income which helps maintain the hall for our children's scouting activity, buy new equipment, etc.
Thank you for your help with this!
Even if the weather is bad and the lawns cannot be mown, the Hall must still be cleaned!
Please mow and trim the following areas:
This will take about 2 hours for one person (if the grass is cut regularly). We have many mowers, so make it a family affair.
To do the edges on the front footpath, a shovel (left hand side door of garage) turned sideways used like an axe, makes an excellent clean line.
Don't cut the grass too low. This will make mowing easier and avoid hitting rocks on the ground. The mowers are set to the 5th notch from the lowest setting, please do not alter.
All mowers are 4-stroke motors.
There are two cans of standard unleaded petrol (NOT E10, as this wrecks the fuel lines and seals) and a container of 4 stroke motor oil. Either 95 or 98 RON fuel is fine too - just nothing with ethanol. PLEASE NEVER use Ethanol blend fuel as it destroys the fuel lines.
4-stroke mowers do not need to have oil mixed into the petrol. The mowers do not have a fuel on/off switch. All mowers have a primer button that will need to be pressed a few times before they will start (until you can hear or feel fuel pressure).
Instead of oil in the fuel, the mower has oil in the crankcase that lubricates the motor. Just like a car, there is an oil dip-stick on the top or side of the mower. Please use the dip stick just like a car.
Please ensure the oil level is at the correct level before and after each mow. Do not overfill the oil reservoir. Only use the 4-stroke oil in the mowers!
Our whipper snipper has a 2-stroke motor. It has a slightly complicated startup procedure (see sticker) but when followed carefully it will reliably start.
2-stroke motors require 2-stroke oil to be mixed with 95/98 RON unleaded petrol in the ratio of 50:1. The fuel can is marked "2 stroke / whipper snipper". DO NOT USE 4-STROKE OIL or ETHONOL ULP!
The mowers have catchers which are numbered to corresponding mowers. Please use catchers, to avoid creating piles of grass clippings, over the yard. Put the grass clippings into one of 2 Green Waste (green lid) wheelie bins.
If the grass is long, raise the cutting level to avoid the cut grass fouling underneath the mower.
Please remove any grass from under the mower after you have finished. This will avoid the base plate, wheel axles, and blades from rusting. Avoid lying the mowers on their sides - see "Inspecting Underneath the Mower" below.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the form of a set of earmuffs and facemask are kept with the mower if needed. We expect appropriate footwear to be worn and common sense to prevail at all times.
ONLY DO THIS WHEN THE MOWER IS NOT RUNNING AND THROTTLE SET TO STOP! For ultimate safety, pull the spark plug lead off.
Never turn the mower on its side to inspect/clean underneath. This allows oil into the carburetor, which dirties the spark plug and air filter and make it nearly impossible to restart. Experience is an expensive trip to the mower repair shop is a real possibility.
To get under the mower, push the handle down toward the ground, so the front of the mower rises (spark plug up).
If all else fails, the mower operating instructions are in a sealed plastic bag on a rope hanging from the rafters in the right garage.
Like with the lawns, constant attention will ensure this is a quick and simple process.
Please ensure the following:
If you finish any product or something needs fixing please let our Hall Supplies volunteer XXX know before the next family on the roster is up.
We understand that sometimes family conflicts and commitments will occassionally inhibit you from participating in the roster.
If you know ahead of time that you cannot contribute at your rostered time, then it is your responsibilty to find an alternative.
One easy way is to post in the Discord #parent channel to see if you can find another family willing to swap rostered dates with you.
Once organised, please email details to
mowing@1stboroniascouts.org.au.
If you are unable to find an alternative for your rostered dates, we ask for a $150 levy for each occassion. This can be deposited into the Scout Group account and please email the receipt to mowing@1stboroniascouts.org.au. We use this money to pay our older youth members for mowing so the hall can continue to be hired and used. For interested Scout or Venturer youth, please watch for messages in your Discord! It is first-come, first-served! Parents are responsible for supervision of their children when mowing and cleaning.
| Account Name: | 1st Boronia Scout Group Committee |
| B.S.B.: | 032-184 |
| Account Number: | 370-060 |
| Bank: | Westpac |
| Amount: | $150.00 |
| Description: | Mowing Levy <your-surname> |
Please put "Mowing Levy" and your surname in the EFT description.
Mowers, whipper-snipper and cleaning products are provided. Petrol and oil are also provided. Please let us know if anything (petrol, oil, cleaning products) needs replenishing. (Please read attachment on tips). On this download (PDF), there are detailed explanations on usage of the mowers, but a quick summary:
The keys for the hall are in the key lockbox at the front of the Hall. The lockbox code will be included on the roster email or text our Mowing and Cleaning Coordinators (details below) if you don't have the email handy. Return the keys and lock the lockbox after mowing and cleaning is complete.