Group Leader

Gary’s Speech

Good afternoon dignitaries, current and past Scouting members and families, family and friends,

If you were to have told me, back in August 1979, that I would be standing here, some 40 years on, having served as a Leader with the one Group, 10^th Caulfield, I would’ve told you that you’re a bloody idiot and to stop meddling with hallucinative substances. Yet here we are, some 40 years on and so much the richer for the amazing journey that I have been fortunate enough to have travelled.

Now, just to paint the right picture. I was a Cub and a Scout at a now defunct Jewish Group. I loved my time in Cubs and fondly remember doing the Grand Howl at our meetings. It was when I moved up to Scouts, when I was 10 ½ years old, that my take on Scouting took a turn for the worst. I was a very small and quite immature young boy and I recall it being such change from the nurturing environment that was Cubs to a “You’ve gotta do badgework otherwise your Leaders and your Patrol won’t be happy” atmosphere.  Now, let me tell you, I hated homework and to think that I was willingly going to Scouts to get more homework was not ticking any boxes.

I remember vividly when I went on their End of Year Summer Camp at Gilwell Park. It was summer and true to Victorian form, was cold and wet. It poured down on the first night of camp and I ended up half out of the A-Frame tent and was subsequently soaked and freezing. Also, back in those days, there were no creature comforts like toilets. Rather, you dug your own Kybo (a temporary toilet constructed for use when camping) and a hessian barrier was placed strategically around to endeavour giving those doing their business some sort of privacy as they were bearing down whist trying to avoid falling into the trench that was, for the time being, the Werribee of Gilwell. Issue was that the hessian had seen better days and there were more holes than there was hessian. Nonetheless, it was a place that I would involuntarily end up frequenting throughout the 10-day camp because, you guessed it, I ended up with diarrhoea. So much so that I was named Kybo Kid at the end of camp awards!

I guess the straw that broke the camel’s back was when we went on a Bunyip Hunt. Remembering that I was a small, naive 11-year-old that believed pretty much anything I was told. Seeing the older kids whittling spears in readiness for the impending ”kill of the hunt” was enough to send this 11-year-old into meltdown. No matter how much I pleaded not to be exposed to this killer of the outback, I ended up being dragged along by my Scout Leader. I was dragged because I wouldn’t let go of his leg, so much so that I was sure I was drawing blood from my vice like grip on his leg. So, we’re walking along, in the pitch-black darkness of the surrounds of Gilwell Park until, what I thought was a rustle in the bushes was in fact the older Scouts darting into the unknown with spears drawn ready to take down this behemoth. Next minute, all I saw was this monster, with bright red eyes, bound out of the wilderness and completely knock over the Leader that I was surgically attached to. Little did I know that this monster of the bush was in fact one of the older Scouts who had taped two torches, with red cellophane over the lens, to his head in what was a well-planned and orchestrated attack. I was so traumatised that I had to sleep in with the Leaders that night because I was inconsolable. The damage had been done and I had been scarred for life and that was my last hurrah as a youth member in Scouting.

Fast forward 7 years to July 1979. My adult involvement all started with a simple “What do you do on Thursday nights?” question by Lester Oviss who I had only recently come to know through our work in Cabinet Making. At that stage Scouting hadn’t been mentioned and I thought he was eluding to going out on a regular basis to the pub or the like. But then it came, the “Why don’t you come and look at what we do at Scouts?” The ensuing few weeks of hounding by Lester was always met with similar responses containing numerous expletives that, to our younger audience, all meant “thanks but no thanks. Scouting is definitely not for me!”.

His “I won’t take no for an answer” attitude paid off because he finally came and picked me up and took me to a meeting. It was at that point that I then realised there was such thing as Scout Groups and great Scout Groups. I was hooked and two weeks later was in uniform and had signed on the proverbial dotted line.

Now, 40 years on and my highlights are almost too numerous to mention. Some of my most memorable times were, after 22 years as a Leader, the first of my own children, Ben, finally joined as a Cub. He was followed by my second son, Robbie, a few years later. They both went through Cubs and Scouts and, although they are no longer members, always hear what’s going on at 10^th Caulfield because I basically never stop telling them.

I have been on many camps and events including around 30 Annual Camps and 9 Australian Jamborees. As you all know, I have recently returned from a life changing event, The World Scout Jamboree that was held in West Virginia, USA. Over 45,000 Scouts and Venturers from 169 countries aged 14 – 17 years of age along with around 10,000 adults attended the pinnacle event in any youth or adult members Scouting life. It was my first foray into international Scouting and this was the brainchild of Matt Minski, a three-time WSJ attendee. I thank him and all of the current and past families who generously contributed allowing me to realise what has just been a dream over the years. Although a WSJ is a very expensive event, it’s worth every cent. Words and pictures just don’t do the event justice. Most days I was pinching myself saying “is this really happening? Am I really here?”. I now have a whole new Scouting family of 36 youth and 3 Leaders from all corners of Australia who I only met in Washington DC, 4 days prior to the Jamboree commencing. Again, I was a part of their life changing experience and this is why my role in Scouting is so rewarding.

I’ve made many life-long friendships during the last 40 years; my closest friend, Simon Langer, was in actually fact a Scout when I first started. We became mates when we met at some simcha (joyous event) when he was in his early 20’s and have been great mates ever since. His oldest son, Joel, recently went through Scouts too.

My greatest fear is overstaying my welcome. I have always reminded the various Leaders that I’ve seen come and go through the Group, to tap me on the shoulder should they feel I would be better off to move on or change positions. Whilst I have been offered District and Region roles, it is the Scout section where my heart lies. This is the age where you can make the most impact on a young person’s foundations in life. I have seen many young people, Leaders and adult supporters come and go through these doors over the years and I derive gunsa naches (much joy) when I cross paths with a former Scout and all they want to do is relive their memories.

Although my body sometimes struggles to keep up with my, what some would refer to as a teenagers mind, I still thoroughly enjoy what I do in Scouts and the fact that I can still mix it up with the youth of our community keeps me going. I have a great support crew in my Leaders and wider Scouting community and they’re the ones who make me look great. Without them I couldn’t do what I do.

To see a young person, smile and enjoy what they’re doing because they want to do it and you were part of helping shape their journey is priceless. An organisation that builds resilience and confidence and empowers its members to make well informed decisions that determine their destiny is what Scouting is all about. We encourage camaraderie and belief in oneself all in a safe and non-threatening environment.

To coin a slogan, Prepare for Adventure, Prepare for Life.

It is great to see so many faces today. Some current and many from the last 40 years. I thank you all for coming today to share in what we should always have, simchas (joyous occasions).