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Topics Amongst Scouts
Progress of the Movement
GERALDTON NOTES
(By "Tenderfoot")
Scouters and guiders of Geraldton
met recently to discuss and plan a
service to be held on the guides'
"Thinking Day"—that is the Sunday
nearest the birthdays of the late Lord
Baden Powell and Lady Baden Powell.
It was unanimously agreed to conduct
an open air service, to which the pub-
lic would be invited, on the afternoon
of February 25th, 1951. This day will
terminate the scouts' "Good Turn
Week," which is held to mark the
birthdays of the late Chief Scout and
Lady Baden Powell. At the meeting
referred to the subject of more exten-
sive co-operation between scouts and
guides was discussed and plans were
made for the future.
The 272nd W.A. Group put last
week-end in under canvas, the camp
being in charge of Group Scoutmaster
M. Cope-Proctor. For the majority of
the boys it was their first experience
in camping and, despite double gees
and strong winds, all enjoyed them-
selves. Much valuable outdoor scout
work was done. The Bulldog Patrol
under C. Meyers, won the camp compe-
tition by one point from the Kooka-
burra Patrol, of which Patrol Leader
J. Hadley was in charge.
Members of the local Association
held a well attended meeting on Wed-
nesday of last week, the chair being
occupied by Mr. J. Bradford, and a
considerable volume of business
received attention. The treasurer (Mr.
C. S. Eadon-Clarke) reported that the
financial position was sound. Several
new members were proposed and their
subscriptions and donations were
received. The secretary (Mr. E. Lan-
genschied) will be a busy man dealing
with the substantial body of corres-
pondence. Amongst other matters he
was asked to send to headquarters a
request that the chairman, the treas-
urer and the secretary be granted non-
executive rank in order to enable them
to wear uniforms on all occasions. The
view was taken at the meeting that the
more individuals seen in scout uniform
the better it would be for the move-
ment.
It is hoped to form a ladies' auxili-
ary (and to affiliate it with a similar
body in the metropolitan area), with
the object of raising funds for specific
Boy Scout causes. The local Associa-
tion has forwarded a recommendation
to the Chief Commissioner (Colonel H.
Wilson) that Mr. O. M. Jones be made
District Commissioner for the North
West District. The District Scout-
master (Mr. Truran) has been elected
as publicity officer and all troops and
groups in the area are being asked to
keep this officer posted with news and
reports.
Last week's local Association meet-
ing — harmonious in atmosphere
throughout—terminated in typical
Australian manner with a "cuppa,"
over which further ideas were
exchanged for the benefit of the move-
ment. This serving of tea will become
a regular feature at the conclusion of
Association gatherings.
It looks as if the 272nd W.A. Group
is doomed to revert to the old practice
of meeting under a street lamp. The
shed, which the Group used to rent, has
been sold and the boys have to find
somewhere else to gather. As a tem-
porary measure a well-wisher has
allowed the lads to meet in his garage.
Although the boys are grateful for this
good-hearted gesture, they need pre-
mises they can regard as a permanent
home, decorate themselves and take a
personal pride in.
To help the lads attain their desire
the parents' committee of the Group
held a masked ball last Friday night in
Geraldton. The Mayor (Dr. J. McAleer)
and Mayoress kindly gave the function
their patronage; Doreen Dawson pro-
vided an excellent floor show; and a
band of willing helpers worked hard to
prepare a delectable supper. But the
public support was very poor. Conse-
quently, instead of a substantial sum
being raised, the hopes of obtaining a
hall now seem more remote than ever.
It is regrettable that the public res-
ponse was so slight last Friday, especi-
ally when the scouts aim to make of all
who join them better material for
future citizenship, the scouters and
their supporters giving freely of their
time and energy to develop the youth
of the country. Incidentally, the pub-
lic are invited to attend meetings of
the local Association—the next is on
December 13th—or any scout function
and so help to make the organisation
numerically and financially strong.
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