SCOUTS DON'T NEED DRUG LINK

THE tragic death of a young Sydney man during a three-day dance party at the
Cataract Scout Park, near Appin, has once again thrown the spotlight on the
widespread use of drugs at such venues.

It is widely known that these so-called rave parties serve as a launching
pad for drug and alcohol abuse and that amphetamines and the designer drug
ecstasy top the shopping list.

Partygoers interviewed by The Illawarra Mercury after the man's death on
Sunday estimated up to 90 per cent of the 6000 revellers were on some form
of drug during the event.

Yesterday, NSW Scouts Association chief executive Peter Olah defended the
decision to lease its largest campsite for the event, saying he was
confident the decision had been right.

Yet in light of the tragic events that unfolded on the association's
property last weekend, it is difficult to understand Mr Olah refusing to
rule out the possibility of the association hiring the campsite for more
rave parties.

Perhaps it was naivety on the scouting movement's part that it accepted
promoter descriptions of the three-day event as a music performance and arts
festival.

But the movement risks tainting its squeaky clean image and sending the
wrong message to its young members should future hire of its property have
such disastrous consequences.