ONE of the world’s largest youth organisations celebrated a milestone at Kerang on Sunday.
Close to 100 people – including current and former members – marked the centenary of 1st Kerang Scout Group.
Formed in 1916, the group has gone from catering for boys to spanning three identities in the 1960s before reverting back to the one entity.
Events at the Boundary Street hall reflected on the past, with those in attendance able to view various photos, uniforms, certificates, camp blankets and camp ponchos.
An emphasis was also placed on the present, with the current group of Cubs, Scouts and Venturer Scouts running activities to show former members what are popular events nowadays.
“We are overwhelmed to see so many people come and celebrate the achievement,” current group leader, Carmel Tyers said.
The notion of Scouting – inspired by Lord Robert Baden-Powell through the publication of his book, Scouting for Boys – developed in Kerang nine years after the first groups were formed in England and eight years after the first Scout groups were formed in Australia.
Local church minister, Rev. Roget helped create the 1st Kerang Scouts, which saw boys in their early teens practice the stories outlined in the popular publication – mostly through camps.
“Scouting is all about building independence and interdependence, teaching young people to stand on their own two feet and work as part of a team,” Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh said.
Scouting flourished in the following decades, with its heyday being in the 1960s, when the demand for Cub Scouts – catering for boys aged between eight and 10 years of age – and Scouts leading to the formation of three groups.
The main group held meetings in a hall at Cullen Street, with 2nd Kerang located at the former town swimming pool building adjacent to the Loddon River and 3rd Kerang operating out the relocated Beauchamp Hall, which volunteers moved to a vacant Boundary Street block.
“I grew up in Warrnambool, which had three Scout groups for a population of 18,000, so for Kerang to have three groups operating was a fantastic achievement,” Gannawarra mayor, Cr Brian Gibson said.
Three groups at one time
THE 1960s were the heyday of Scouts locally.
Former district commissioner, Peter Hoornweg said there was a group at Murrabit, three at Kerang, two at Cohuna and troops based at Leitchville, Quambatook and Boort.
There is now one group each at Cohuna and Kerang, although nationally the organisation has increased numbers.
A number of dedicated volunteers ensured the groups ran, with Olly Jane OAM – who had a 25-year association with the movement as a youth member and leader – one of the key people locally.
“Our friendships and social life revolved around Scouts,” he said.”
I had a lot of pleasure in meeting those who were a part of Scouts many years ago.”
The support Scout members received led to a number of participants gaining the Queen’s Scout – one of the organisation’s highest awards in the Senior Scout section, now known as Venturer Scouts.
“I have no doubt that Scouting helped give me a good foundation heading into adulthood and provided me with skills that I have used in my life ever since,” former Queen’s Scout recipient, Ken Jenkins said.
Popularity in the organisation dropped off from the mid-1970s, with 2nd Kerang and 3rd Kerang merging in 1975 and the two remaining groups becoming one in 1989 – with the admission of girls to the program one of the biggest changes since.
Despite the decline, 1st Kerang still provides programs for Cub Scouts, Scouts (11 to 14 years) and Venturer Scouts (15 to 17 years).
“Scouting is still strong as an organisation. Membership has gone up 30 per cent in the last 10 years, and whilst some groups have disappeared, others have been formed elsewhere,” past chief commissioner, Bob Taylor said.
“Once you have been a Scout you tend to put back into your community.”
