I wonder if Spencer Anoliffe White realized how many lives his initial effort would touch, when he registered the original 1st Wellington Scout Troop with The Boy Scouts Association Australia NSW Section on the 14th July 1915 ?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With 16 brave young lads initially registered to the Troop having duly passed the Tender Foot test, and taken the Scouts Promise in the presence of Mr. White, they would now meet at Dr Savages establishment on Thursday nights at 7pm.
1st Wellington was followed sometime later by a second Troop (2nd Wellington Scout Troop)
From a very humble beginning Wellington Scouts, we believe shifted from Dr Savages, to the local Civic Hall until it burnt down, then to the Anglican hall -The Dance Academy building in Percy St where my Father Geoff Hawke attended as A Cub Scout in 1943 to it's current local on the corner of Pierce & Gisborne st in 1946. The current local was an old Army Building that was gifted to the Scouts along with a sizable chunk of ground by a local family.
On Saturday 23rd of June 1984 Chief Commissioner Bert Gardiner MBE RD Officially opened the new structure with the Scout Troop forming a Guard of Honor for him. Much work and fundraising had to occur for this to be possible.
I started my own Scouting journey as a young Cub Scout at Nightcliff Darwin on the 22ndof June 1976 , continuing onto Scouts in Casino NSW until 1983 . On the 2nd of February 2011 I resumed my Scouting life by taking up the position of Akela with the 1st Wellington Cub Pack and then Leader In Charge of the 1st Wellington Scout Group. You can say it really is a family affair now as My father (Geoff Hawke ) was a Cub & Scout in the 40's , Myself back as a Leader ,My Son Thomas Hawke has been to A Cuboree with me at Cateract Scout Park as A cub Whilst I was Pack co ordinater for The Golden West Region in 2014 .
My role was Quartermaster for The Golden West Region for our last Jamboree. My Daughter Sophie came over from Guides and attended a Jamboree at Maryborough in QLD (the best time of her life ) , Sophie has now gone up to Venturers ,Tom is a Scout
It is now 2016 , 1st Wellington despite the odds still remains & has just celebrated it's 100 year anniversary with past & present leaders ,ex youth members attending and joining in scouting activities ,revisiting the past through our spectacular collection of memorabilia ,our hall and grounds were thrown open to the general public to help us mark this milestone and as a group we are still trying to get kids from all over to get out there and have fun.
In my Fathers day, the Scouts would set up canvas tents with stringy bark poles and cart all their gear across the river in canoes to camp on a local property using only the basic gear and cooking with wood fires. These days we have to deal with WHS issues and too much paper work, our gear may be a little easier to use, but at the end of the day our principals are still the same, to get boys & girls of their bums and out into the bush, to teach life skills & leadership to our youth .
I believe in the positive values ,structure and social interactions with Scouts from all over the world is invaluable to the growth and development of young children .
In a small town like Wellington (pop 5000) it is important that we support each other, Our Scouting Group help out at most events that the community ask us to. Australia Day, Clean up Australia Day , Anzac Day , Springfest ,The local Show and a host of other events as we are needed.
Enquires to Danny Hawke (Akela & LIC 1stWellington Scout Group)
0419207194
