My Family has quite a history with Scouting.
My father was part of the Group Committee at 6th Albury Scout Group, and my
mother a Brownie Leader in Mooroduc (Mornington Peninsula) and in Wodonga
for 12 years.
My two elder brothers learning through Cubs and Scouts and my elder sister
moving through Brownies, Guides and Ranger Guides.
Although not often spoken about, I did attend
about 18 months of Brownie meetings while my mother was Brownie Leader.
Finally, I escaped and was invested into the
1st Wodonga Cub Pack in 1981. I enjoyed my time there, earning all three
Boomerangs and a generous handful of merit badges.
Due to some slip of the mind, I don't remember
why I didn't continue with Scouts, however I do remember that I was only
there for two or three weeks.
After a very persuasive few months, a friend
convinced me to join his Venturer Unit over my local one. By some miracle my
parents agreed that it was worth the 30km car trip down the Kiewa Valley
Highway to Kergunyah each Sunday evening.
I was invested in the 1st Kergunyah Venturer
Unit 1988, however about 6-12 months later, the Unit was closed due to lack
of numbers and I transferred to 1st Wodonga.
Ironically, I ended up at 1st Wodonga, where I
was originally a Cub, Scout.
After Venturers, natural progression took me to
Rovers.
I had a brief experience with the Wodonga Rover Crew in 1991-2, and again in
1994-6 with the resurrected Bundara Rover Crew.
After a Sunday roast with a friends' family in
late 1994, the daughter [later a hairdresser in her mum's shop] asked for
the umpteenth time if I would like to be an Assistant Venturer Leader. I
finally cracked and so began my time as AVL and VL at the 1st Kergunyah
Scout Group. During that time, I completed my Stage One, Stage Two and Stage
Three Leader Training and all-but finished my Stage Four with the Victorian
Branch.
While a Venturer Leader at Kergunyah, I was
privileged to witness many adventures tackled and challenges quashed
including:
