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The majority of this section is transcribed from a log book
that was started in 1950 by the Akela of the
1st Essendon B pack, which is what we started life as.
Each link below will take you to a different entry from the log book.
1st Essendon ‘B’ Pack
was opened on Tuesday evening at St. Aidan’s Hall April 18th 1950
by Mr. Carver, (Vicar of Christ Church and St Aidan’s). A good number of
Parents were present and Akela from 2nd Glenroy with several of her
Cubs came along to help us out. After the official opening games were played and
Parents joined in resulting in a very happy evening for all.
The Pack attended the service at St.
Paul’s Cathedral for St. Georges Day on Sunday 23rd April. Tuesday
25th April (Anzac Day) a service was held at Queen’s Park and both
Packs attended after which we hiked to the caves for the afternoon.
Saturday 20th May the
Pack went for the day to the paddocks behind the aerodrome and played football.
On the way home we went and looked at the planes.
Sunday 28th May was our
first Church Parade and there was an excellent attendance. Monday 12th
June both Packs combined and went for the day to Reid’s Hill where we made a
Council Rock. During the lunch break at the Quarries, Mr. Stafford kindly took
the Packs over and showed them hoe the Quarries work, much to everyone’s
enjoyment. While at the Council Rock it was decided to have a Camp Time one
Saturday. Saturday 25th June was the day arranged for it. The Packs
met at 4 Hollyrood Ave., bringing with them wood and lanterns besides food and
clothing. Mr. Stevenson and Mr. Watts arrived with a car and we were all to
stack a number of the heavy packs in the car. These were left for us at Reid’s
Garage where we found a quantity of wood for our fire. We all had a wonderful
time, the leaders doing the main of the cooking as St. Aidan’s had Church
Parade the following morning and we were trying to keep our uniforms clean. The
time went all to quickly, and on coming to the road were met by Mr. Stafford,
Mr. Sell and Mr. & Mrs. Jeffery. We were all taken home per cars or truck,
thus putting a perfect finish to what we thought had been a first class outing.
Our thanks to all who helped us on that day, in making things so much easier for
us. Church Parade the next morning and we all managed to look spick and span.
At a Picture Sight on 30th
June there was a good number of Cubs from both Packs.
B. Langley
(Akela)
On Tuesday night the 18th July at Cubs, we were told by our Lady Cubmaster, that we were going to have a football match. It was to take place on the following Saturday afternoon. There were four pack playing which were 1st Essendon “A” Pack, 1st Essendon “B” Pack, 2nd Glenroy and the 9th Essendon Pack. The old wolves decided that we would play four matches.
When Saturday afternoon came we met at the North Essendon station at 1.30 p.m. After obtaining our tickets and were on the station along came the train. We ran along the platform to find Kim. When we found her we all jumped in and away we went. On arriving at the Glenroy Station, we marched up to the 2nd Glenroy Cub Hall, where 2nd Glenroy and 9th Essendon were waiting or us.
It was very warm when we arrived at the schoolground where we were to play football. There we stripped off and got into our football togs. The 1st Essendon “A” and “B” pack divided into two teams and so the football match began.
Andrew Twiner’s team was beating 9th Essendon easily. In the end 9th Essendon managed to get 1 goal to 1st Essendon 9 goals 17 points. On a field next to ours, Graeme Small’s side didn’t score to 2nd Glenroy 5 goals 3 points. At half time we all ate oranges.
When we started again Andrew Twiner’s side were 5 goals 6 points to 2nd Glenroy 3 goals 1 point. The 9th Essendon Cubs who were 11 goals 3 points beat Graeme Small’s side who were 9 goals 11 points. When we had finished our football match it was time to go home; we were all disappointed, but happy after such a wonderful game. We caught the train to North Essendon and then we all departed after a happy day.
John Jeffery
On
Tuesday night the Pack was told that there was to be a bazaar, up at Glenroy on
the 29th July. Well, Saturday came we met at North Essendon Station
at 1:30 PM. After getting our tickets, then the train came. Everyone got in and
away we went. On arriving there we walked to the hall. We formed a guard of
honour, for the official party to walk up. Soon they arrived, and at last we
could go in. The official party opened the bazaar. There were lots of stalls, a
hoop-la, cake-stalls, afternoon-tea, spinning-wheel, and even a fortune-teller,
most of the people were at the hoop-la, one cub of 2nd Glenroy got
some glass-ear-rings. Some were at the cake-stalls, and some at the
spinning-wheel. Then Akela assembled 1st Essendon and told us that we
had to go home. Soon we reached Glenroy Station, and walked up to the far end of
the station. Then along came the train, and we hopped in and away we went. On
arriving at North Essendon Station we were dismissed and went home tired but
happy.
On Saturday the 19th
August Packs A and B met at St Aidans Hall at 10.30 am for a kite flying outing.
We hiked to the back of the aerodrome where we left our bags and lunches under a
tree. When we began to fly our kites there was hardly a breeze blowing and most
of the kites wouldn’t fly, others ducked and dived, and some flew quite good.
Then we had our lunch. My kite string got tangled up and Akela and I untangled
it. Karr took Keith Pyke home on Akela’s bike and some cubs flew Karr’s
kite. The wind was much stronger now and most of the kites flew much better.
When some o the cubs flew Akela’s kite it got caught in a tree and she had to
leave it there. Some of the cubs whose kites were broken threw stones at it to
try and knock it down. Akela judged my kite the best flyer on the day. At about
4.15 pm we assembled or Grand Howl and left our spot for home after a grand day.
Graeme Small
On Tuesday the 5th
of September, we had a visit from Mr Lourdes Group Scout Master 2nd
Jesselton Troop from British North Borneo. John Jeffery welcomed him on behalf
of the Pack
He showed us some interesting
pictures of the Sacred Mountain and the Orchid. Also the huts they live I on the
water, sometimes they fish there too.
Then he showed us a game they
play over in Borneo.
He gave the sixers a stamp
each, and he gave his autograph to another cub too. During the evening we found
out that it was his Birthday, we all wished him many happy returns of the day.
Akela said he could be the Baloo of the pack.
Before the meeting ended
Barry Fraser told him how much we had liked having him with us, and we went home
after having an enjoyable and most interesting time.
Owen
Judd
On
Saturday morning 16th September we attended sports practice at
Woodlands Park for sports to be held at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday. We
had running high jump and long jump practice. Akela Rikki and Kaa were there and
also our Borneo friend Baloo. He gave us some very important and useful advice
on the long jump and high jump and I think that I the cubs take notice of has
been told to them we should win some events at the sports meeting. After going
through our practice we finished a most interesting morning and broke up at 12
noon.
On
the 7th of October cubs of various packs challenged each other in
sports at the Moonee Valley Race Course.
They
events were very interesting. Our pack did very ell although we didn’t have a
scout troop with us.
These
are some of the cubs who helped to make our success. Neil Stripling who won the
under 12 75 yard race and the under 12 high jump. Barry Mathews and Robert Ellis
won the under 11 Siamese race which was 50 yards and I was lucky enough to come
second in the under 11 50 yard race and second in the under 11 broad jump.
Then
our disappointment came, yes it was the rain. It poured down, people ran here
and there looking for shelter.
Luckily
a few of the mothers had been kind enough to come with a car and we didn’t get
very wet.
We
had a bit of a tussle getting our clothes but we were soon dismissed.
The
following Tuesday we were told that we had gained the place of third.
Ray Matheson
On
the 7th November which was Melbourne Cup day the cubs of 1st
Strathmore Pack went to the caves, we were to meet at Akela’s home at 10.30
am. It was wet and miserable when we started off. However when we eventually
came, much to our surprise we saw three boys of about 14 years of age who we
think had guns and were firing about twenty yards from us. In a few minutes time
we saw two of them carrying the third out of a cave.
After
that excitement we then put our belongings in a cave, when we started our lunch,
John Gloster and Ray Matheson began going around mixing different kinds of soft
drinks with their’s. They had about ten drinks when they finally finished.
After lunch it began to fine up so we had a game of hide and seek. As soon as we
had had about three goes each we decided it was time to be making tracks for
home. On the way home Baloo said he would buy a bottle of soft drink at the shop
because it was very hot, but before we got there we had reached a tap and filled
our bottles and we were satisfied with that. However, when we came to the shop
the Pack bought some sweets instead. Then we caught the bus to Essendon station,
from there we caught the tram home. We had had an enjoyable day but were tired
out after it.
John
Morgan
On
Wednesday the 25th of April which is Anzac Day the cubs of Strathmore
met on the corner of Glass St an Mt Alexander Rd at 9.15. Then we got a lend o
Mr Sells truck and he drove us straight down to Monee Ponds Memorial Hall. Many
other cubs were there and we all marched down to Queens Park for a Memorial
Service. After that Riki left us and went home. Then we caught the tram to
Essendon station and from there we took a bus to Ogilvie St and walked to the
caves. As soon as we arrived we had lunch. After that Geoffrey McBean showed us
Kaa’s hide out. Akela then called pack pack pack and told us we were going to
have a game of hide and seek. We had about three goes each when we finally
finished. Later on Denis Sell and some other cubs went down to the river, on the
way back some silly boys threw stones at them. One came up to the cave and
pushed some stone down. Akela spoke to them very severely.
After
that excitement Akela read us a thrilling story. A little while after we went
over the hill to be taught a new game called tunnel rounders. One of the cubs
didn’t want to play but Akela told him he must join in. After that we played
tigge. Then we decided to make tracks or home. Aftere an enjoyable day.
Keith
Pike
We
were told by Akela to meet at Napier Park on the 29th of April to
have a football match. Time passed on, then came the day of the match, and we
all met at Napier Park to play. First Rikki got two teams worked out and told
them which end to kick to. Then the match started. At first the other team was
winning easily, but when our team disagreed against having all the poor players
against all the good players and got two more decent players we were satisfied,
the game then continued and we were winning easily when the first quarter
finished. When the second quarter started one of the players went back to his
own side. They caught and got the lead rapidly then, by the end o the second
quarter they were winning again. The next quarter we got the player back again
and we increased our total, I think we were very close to them, but not winning,
meanwhile Black Plume came along and helped us out. The last quarter was the
final. Rooker came along and umpired the game. The results were very close one
side was 39 goals to 37 goals. Rikki stopped the game and told us when to come
next, then she dismissed us. We then went home after as enjoyable and tiring
day.
On
Friday night 27th of April, the Scoutmaster told us that there was a
service of Baden-Powell at Queens Park. Our Scout troop met at the corner of
Napier Park.
We
had to walk there, so when we arrived we sat down for a rest, then we went over
to the other Scouts.
The
cubs marched in first, the scouts, the girl Guides were there too. An older
Scout came around giving out hymn books to sing with.
There
was a band there, and it was the same band that was at the Anzac day service.
Then the service began.
We
all sang the hymns, and some older Scouts and Guides spoke through the
microphone. When it was ended the cubs and a few scouts went around to where the
swans were. A kind man gave us some bread crumbs to give to the swans. When we
finished giving the swans the crumbs, Denis Sell threw some brown paper into the
swans and thought that they would think it was brown bread.
Then
we had to walk up to the Essendon Station. Skipper and us were just in time for
the bus. Then we arrived home after an enjoyable afternoon.
Robert
Fraser
Our First meeting at Strathmore State School
We met up at Strathmore State
Scholl in the playground at 9 O’clock on May 5th.
It was not a very nice day,
but we had a very good meeting. We started with the Grand Howl, then had scarf
inspection and after some other work we played several games. Having so much
space we were able to play, Rounders, Wack ‘em, Breaking through the walls,
and then went back to do some star work before Akela dismissed us.
We all thought the morning
meeting was very much nicer than the night meeting especially during the winter.
On the 7th of May
1952 “A” Pack went to their Council Rock, after meeting at the Strathmore
School, we hiked all the way with Akela, singing most of the time.
When we got there we took our
places on our own rocks, Akela also took her place on her rock at one end.
Akela asked if we were hungry
and we all said “Yes” so then we decided to have our lunch.
After lunch we all went for a
run around, then Akela called Barry Young and myself to do some star work, and
while we were doing it Keith Pike and Geoffrey McBean fell in the creek.
Akela then took us
mushrooming, we collected two bags of mushrooms and gave them to Akela.
Then we had a game of Cowboys
and Indians, one of the boys fell down the cliff, just like you see in the
pictures.
After the game we all got our
things together then we started home, we did come home as fast as we went, but
we did have a very good day.
Dennis Sell
The
Combined Essendon District Sports for Cubs was held at Woodlands Park on Oct. 17th
1953 at 1.30 p.m. I think this function must have been one of the first o its
kind held on the newly-planted grass reserve of Woodlands Park.
It
was a most happy after noon; ideal weather, a good entry from the packs and very
good organization by the leaders.
Akela
must have had a “headache” choosing her starters for each race, as she had
so many to choose from, but the fact that we won the shield for the second time
in succession shows that Akela made a good selection. This shield will be placed
on the totem pole.
Our
attendance on the day was excellent (90%) and Akela said that the behaviour was
good.
Every
boy who took part did his very best; some were successful and some were not but
all were triers and Akela looked very pleased as she accepted the shield and
received the congratulations o the District Commissioner.
Ronald
C Eddy.
On
Sunday the 15th November the Essendon Boy Scouts Girl Guides held a
Field Day at Rowallan Camp. It was a warm sunny day and we enjoyed the ride up
there as we passed through some very beautiful country. The camp is situated
near Riddle at Katherine Valley and was presented by the Rotary Club of
Essendon. Buildings have been erected such as Dining room and Dormitories also
part of the creek has been made into a Swimming Pool.
Guest
for the afternoon was Lieut-Col L. K. Farquhar who, after taking the salute at
the march past in which all the Guides Scouts and Cubs joined, presented a Flag
to the Skipper. After the Ceremony we were able to explore the beautiful
surroundings and we helped by collecting firewood.
We
are very grateful to the Essendon Rotary Club for making available such a
wonderful Camp.
Peter
R. Groves
On
the afternoon of Sunday 21st February 1954 at St John’s
Presbyterian Church, we attended a service in remembrance of the birthday of
Lord Baden Powell- founder of the Scout Movement.
The
pack met at the corner of Bulla and Keilor Roads at 2pm.
Akela
had timed our meeting nicely and we did not have long to wait for the tram.
When
we arrived at the church, we went and sat down under a tree, as the service did
not commence until 3.30pm.
Doug
Small was chosen to carry our banner into the church, where it was placed in the
Sanctuary during the service.
We
were very interested to hear about Lord Baden Powell’s lie from one o his
friends. When the service ended, the banners were returned to the different
packs.
There
were about twenty of our pack present- it was a most enjoyable afternoon.
Brian Shields.
On
Saturday the 22nd of March Akela told us to meet the next Saturday at
Woodlands Park for a Going up Ceremony.
The
27th of March was a nice day for the Ceremony. The pack formed a
circle and Akela inspected us, then we played several games “Treasure Hunt,”
“Whack ‘em,” “Fish Stew.”
Then
Akela told us to assemble near the bridge where the ceremony was held.
The
Grand Howl was done by the cubs after which Tom Dowling, Robert Mincke, Alan
Matheson, Daryl Johns, Ronald Eddy, John Beck and Kevin Benefield shook hands
with the Cubs and passed over the bridge to be accepted into the Scouts.
The
pack meeting finished with a prayer and after shaking hands with Akela we were
dismissed.
Colin O. Jones
Our Camp at Rowallan
On
Saturday the 1st of May 1954, we met in front of Mr Sells opposite
the school to catch the bus which was taking us to our camp at Rowallan. Before
leaving we went over to the school ground to have some games.
As
we took our seat in the bus, Rikki gave us song books so we could sing songs on
our trip.
Singing
songs and looking at the scenery it seemed no time before we reached the railway
crossing, just over the crossing we stopped at the general store where Rikki
bought lollies for us all. From then on the road was very rough to the camp.
On
arriving we put our things in the dormitories where we were to sleep that night.
We
had a look around the grounds, then Bagheera showed us the pipeline and told us
not to play near it, and after playing a game of “challenge” we visited the
Scout Camp further down the road.
On
returning to our camp we had our lunch which we all enjoyed. After lunch we
changed into our old clothes and went for a hike with “Bagheera” and
“Rikki”, during our hike we crossed a stream and gathered wild flowers for
the dining room, on our return we had tea and “Bagheera” lit a fire in our
dormitory.
The
“Sixers” had arranged plays for their “Six,” which we acted in the
dining room. Skipper played the piano accordion and sang two songs.
We
then went to bed which ended a very enjoyable day.
Brenton
Ross
We
were up bright and early on Sunday morning, our first job on rising was to fold
our beddings and blankets, we then went to the bathroom to wash and comb our
hair ready for breakfast.
We
had a very nice breakfast consisting of “Weeties,” egg, bread and butter,
and cup of milk, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.
Rikki
gave each “Six” a task to perform, and “Blue Six” had to clear and clean
the tables after breakfast.
We
then played games before leaving for Church Parade which lasted about half an
hour.
After
Church Parade we visited the Scouts Camp and played games until it was time to
return to our camp for lunch, which we all enjoy very much.
When
lunch was over we went down the pipeline to the Girl Guides Camp, where we
played games until it was time for us to hike back to our Camp, have afternoon
tea, and prepare for the trip home.
We
left Rowallan at about four o’clock and regretfully climbed into the bus for
our journey home, which finished a very enjoyable and happy week end.
Dieter
J. Retz
