Credits and intertitles are in book form with each new title a newly turned page.
Initial Intertitle tells of the planing of the Jambourette and construction of the site.
...nearly 100 scouters working at Motukara assembled at a Scout’s Own to ask for God’s Blessing in the task which lay ahead. How liberally that blessing was, and how much happiness came to the 2,300 boys present, will be apparent in this film.
Scout leaders constructing large marquee tent. Raising flag.
“The boys begin to arrive. January 5th 1954. They came from all parts of New Zealand..., they came from from Western Samoa, from Fiji and from Australia....”
Young scouts and there master under a NAC sign. Locomotive speeding past with boys out windows. Large contingent of lads on ferry pulling into [Lyttelton]. Exiting the ship with duffle bags and lemon squeezer hats. Samoan scouts perform war dance [Siva Tau]. Boys unloading gear at railway yards. Train arriving at Motukarara station [small yellow building]. Boys exiting train (elevated). Boys carrying duffles and gear along tracks. Entering make-shift Maori gates and past the sign: “Canterbury Jamborette”. Flags of different nations attending.
“The open spaces became a sizeable town, the fifth largest in Canterbury, complete with shops, fire department, post office, cinema, churches, hospital, bank, canteen and all facilities.”
Boys rigging tent, chopping wood and various activities. Fijian scouts sharpening stake with machete. Various camp scenes. Erecting a tall wooden tower.
Aerial views of the camp.
“The Big Day. With impressive ceremony the Jamborette is opened by Mr HR Lake, MP..., the salute taken by the Camp Chief, Sir Joseph Ward.” Scouts march under their flags beside race course.
“One of the biggest problems was feeding of so many hungry boys....” List of the quantities of food consumed. Scenes of food preparation and consumption.
“Memorable features were arena displays presented by Totara, South Canterbury....”
Elevated views of many and various historical re-enactments. A dozen Caucasian lads in grass skirts out side a miniature wharenui. Samoan production. Kava ceremony.
“The Chief Commissioner Major-General L.K. Lockhart arrives to spend several days at the Jamborette, and afterwards talks to the boys.”
Greeted by guides. Leaders perform haka in greeting. Lockhart addresses the scouts.
“In fleets of buses, the boys visited historic Akaroa and on one day there was a general exodus to Chrischurch where many boys took the opportunity of a swim in the magnificent Centennial Baths.” Boys outside the pools, swimming and diving.
“Gateways and tents displayed great ingenuity and originality.” Various entrances to camps.
“’Te Rau Hau’ the camp newspaper was issued daily to each boy in the camp and was eagerly.” Boy writting on typewriter. Printing off the paper.
Various camp chores, dishes, cooking burgers.Raising flag. Boys showering. Boys boxing. Shopping at camp shop. Various scenes. Play fighting.
“Western Samoa honour the camp chief with a Kava Ceremony. This is rarely seen outside of Samoa and is given only to high ranking chiefs.” The ceremony. Various scenes. Raising NZ flag, scouts outside the Teretere Auckland camp salute flag. Elevated view of prayer session.
“Visitor days brought tremendous crowds including Guides, Brownies and cubs, a total of over 20,000 persons attending on the two official visitors’ days. Guides, brownies, cubs and a Maori party each made their own contribution to the Janborette.” Visitors stream into camp. Greeting of the Maori contingent. Performances and displays.
“On Sunday there were big attendances at early morning denominational services taken by ministers of the various churches. These were followed later in the day by an inspiring combined Scout’s Own.” Mass service in the grandstand of the race course. Readings and sermons.
“At Woodend, just north of Kaiapoi, was built the memorial cairn, for which each contingent provided a stone as tribute to the father of New Zealand scouting, Lieutenant-Colonel D. Cossgrove. From the cairn on the day of its unveiling a torch was carried the 36 miles... and used to light a combined camp fire.” The cairn and its stones. Harriers carrying the torch. The bonfire lit from the torch.
“The Chief Scout and the Camp Chief carry out the closing ceremonies during which the Jamborette Flag... is lowered.... The scouts move past the dais arm in arm and a memorable occasion is at an end.” Closing ceremony. Boys arm in arm waving hats.
“Epilogue: And so into history passes the Canterbury Jamberorette with its sub camps... but memory will surely keep it alive in the hearts of all who were privileged to be present. THE END.”