Scouts in Gawler

**Fast Facts**
Type of organisation:	Community Service
Also known as:	Boy Scouts
Street name:	Holmes
Street suffix:	Street
Town or locality:	Willaston
Date established:	1909

1st Gawler Scout Group was established November, 1909, and has played a major role in the development of Gawler's youth for over 117 years.

Scouting in Gawler in the 1950s by David Kranz

Post War reconstruction My recollections are foggy about how scouting seemed to ‘fold’ after the War. Things had changed. Returned servicemen had a lot of catching up to do. We were poised to build the brave new world—houses, businesses, and families. The vision did not seem to include the half-built-would-be-Scout Hall that faced Victoria Terrace from the block next to the railway line. It stood, seemingly forgotten about since its abandonment for lack of funds or by declaration of war. There were no apparent efforts to rebuild the hall or re-establish a functional Troop until the early to mid fifties. All was not totally forgotten. A pre-war Rover Scout, Mr Les ‘Barney’ Duncan, dreamed of a new generation of scouts, and approached the Rotary Club for assistance to complete the Hall on Victoria Terrace. It is possible that his initiative was triggered by the fact that five or six lads had taken the initiative to become ‘Lone Scouts’. The Rotarians liked the idea of rekindling scouting, but delayed any decisions about building hall until a troop was established under the leadership of warranted scouters. At this same time I was working as a Senior Technician in the Kingston SE Repeater Station. I had helped in establishing a Scout Troop there. I was asked to lead it, but declined because I was seeking transfer to a similar position in Gawler so that our first child could be near all four grandparents. I did however act as Assistant Scoutmaster and was warranted on the 26th of April 1955. I transferred to Gawler in February 1956. It was not long after our return that I was invited to meet with two members of the Rotary club. I had not known them before moving to Kingston, so I asked around before the meeting. Bruce Eastick was the new Vet who had married Dawn Marsh. He worked around the clock, and replaced cars more frequently than anyone else. He had built a flash new house in Willaston. John Duncan was a go-getting pharmacist who had acquired and ‘energised’ Boswell Pearson’s sleepy Chemist Shop. He was a bit like Gregory Peck, but better looking.

I met with Bruce and John. Their approach was warm, professional, and persuasive. They outlined the proposal. They asked me to be the Scoutmaster. I was keen to be involved, but thought Barney should lead. I would be happy to assist. He was the prime mover. He had a longer history in scouting. Barney joined in later discussions. What emerged was that: I would be Scoutmaster; Barney would be Assistant Scoutmaster; by arrangement, Scouts could temporarily meet in the Army Barracks in Tod Street; Lone Scouts would be groomed to become Patrol Leaders; boy membership would be invited; a Rotary Club project team would take initiatives regarding a permanent hall and supply of camping gear, and provide ongoing support. There was synergy between all parties. My warrant was upgraded to Scoutmaster on April 23rd 1956. We were underway. The Rotary project team decided to acquire a ‘new’ hall rather than finish the building on Victoria Terrace. We met for some months at the Army barracks and established an enthusiastic Troop before the inspired Rotary team purchased what was to become the much loved, wonderfully functional home for the First Gawler scout Group. Bruce Eastick and John Duncan were key players in provision. They were fully supported by the leadership and generosity of the then President of the Gawler Rotary Club, Mr Harvey Kelly.

he new Scout Hall, The property purchased by the Rotary Club for conversion to the Scout Hall was then the stable and coach-house of the residence situated on the north-western corner of the East Terrace–Calton Road intersection. Its wonderful potential was transformed by the collaborative efforts of the scouts, their parents and supporters, and the Rotary club.

The assembly hall The old coach-house was repaved with a concrete floor. It was sufficiently spacious to accommodate six patrols of ten scouts assembled in horseshoe formation. The three old harness rooms on the eastern side were ideal for conversion to a functional office and storerooms The stable The stable was on the northern side of the coach-house. An open fire-place was built into the entrance to the horse-yard in stone. The manger was removed, and the heavy jarrah front rail was used to support a staircase into the old hayloft. This area was decorated with memorabilia from various excursions, and contained individual pine log stools that were adorned with rabbit skins or the like. The space was used for small group activities, chatting, toasting supper and a swag of creative sundry events.

The hayloft ,The original function of this area was to store sheaves of hay that would be pitched from a wagon through a door on the eastern end of the building. The hay would be dropped into the mangers below through vents in the loft floor. This area was set apart for six rather nifty patrol dens. The separating ‘walls’ were constructed with steel pipe off-cuts that were provided by scout Allan Bennett’s Father, Dick. They were secured to the tie beams of each roof truss. Each den was painted out in the colours of each patrol. Lots of learning, plotting, and who knows what, went on in these proudly adorned dens.

Play space I cannot recall who did the grading, surfacing, and floodlighting of the highly functional area on the western side of the hall. It was an ideal spot for games, practical stuff like tent erection. Memorial boardI was keen to keep a perpetual record of scouts who earned the ‘King Scout’ Badge. They had earned their ‘First Class’ badge and a set number of ‘Proficiency’ Badges — that had to include the ‘Ambulanceman’ Badge (at least (? 6).

This was the ‘record’.A three foot white square was permanently nailed to the ceiling. The King Scout removed his shoes and socks. Members of his patrol lifted him horizontally. Barney Duncan (who happened to be the printer at the Bunyip Office) would apply printer’s ink to a roller, and ceremoniously ‘paint’ the bare foot. The King Scout was then lifted vertically to ‘rubber-stamp’ the record of his achievement on the white-board.

In July 1940 Scoutmaster Reginald Charles Knaggs received a medal from the Commonwealth Chief Scout, Lord Gowrie, for 19 years of service to the 1st Gawler Scouts.^[1] Later that month he enlisted in the Australian Army to serve in WWII, and in November 1942 he died of illness whilst serving.^[2] ^[3]David Kranz, who was one of the scouts at that time, recalls the troop being informed of his death and the impact it had on them (see David Kranz).

Click here to view a Pictorial Movie Stream of 1st Gawler Scout Group.

Read about some of Gawler's Scouting history, as recalled by David Kranz, click here.

Please click here for photos of Scouts in Gawler.