Belair Scout Group

Last updated Saturday, 9 August 2008, Ver. 8

About Us

The Group

Belair is a member of the Highlands District, which consists of Aberfoyle Park, Belair, Blackwood, Eden Hills, and Flagstaff Hill. Highlands District has been very successful over the years with only Uralla Scout Group closing.

The Group produces a Newsletter quarterly called the KARAYAWI meaning Smoke Signal.  The first Newsletter was produced in February 1966 but to accomplish this the committee had to purchase a fordigraph, at the cost of thirty pounds. Originally it was sold for the new currency of 5c, but later it was decided to issue it for free, as Scouters had trouble collecting, as it was not reaching every family. Today it is sent by e-mail to all the scouts in Belair.

In 1953 when The Belair Scout Group started the state neckie was worn, which is green in colour and didn’t distinguish Belair from the other scout groups.  This was common to most scout groups so at Jamboree’s and Cuborees’s you could not easily recognise different groups. The leaders never really thought of changing the neckie for The Belair Scout Group until 1995 when they decided to make a Belair neckie. As other groups a black neckie was chosen with two coloured tapes. The blue tape represents the Highlands District and Burgundy was chosen for the second tape as the Group colour.  Other colours within the District include, green and yellow for Flagstaff Hill Scout Group, red was Blackwood Scout Group, and yellow was Aberfoyle Park Scout Group. 

 

The badge of Belair which is on the neckie displays the near by television tower which was thought to symbolise where Belair Scout Group is, trees as Belair is located in the hills, and Adelaide City which can be seen from Belair. Once all these elements were put together the shape of the badge was decided upon by the group leader Joe Putman to be a long nose triangle shape. Now all leaders and youth from 1995 proudly wear the Belair Neckie.

 

The Scout Hall

It all began in 1953. The 1st Belair Scout Group was established, however  there is no exact record where the group was conducting their meetings during this period.

During this time suitable land was found with a very small building on it at Downer Avenue, where Belair Scout Hall is currently situated.

In 1960 two pounds was paid to the Mitcham Council to lease the Downer Avenue Reserve from 1960 to 1961.  During this time the planned extension to the hall was deferred because the loan application from The Scout Association was rejected. A quote from Mr. R A Raseigh of 720 pounds had been accepted and the incoming committee had to consider the next action. At this time Mr. West had submitted an alternative quote for 550 pounds from Cyclone, with easy terms for payments. He advised that if the concreting and timber floor laying were done by volunteer labour the cost would be even less.

George Waye in 1961 formed the first Parent Committee. George was on and off the committee until 1984 as he was a valuable asset and was missed when not on the committee.

In 1962 Council approved the extensions but again money was still a problem. The Scout Association approved a loan for 250 pounds and with 700 pounds already in the bank the parent committee have decided that the extensions could proceed. Work proceeded during July of 1962 on the extensions with a working bee, the floor in the loft was laid which we now know as Noels Nook, The paint was donated by Mr. Carroll’s firm and the nails were donated by Mr.Chester, although we have no record of the relationship these two gentlemen have with the Belair Scout Group.

In 1963 the hall was ready for its internal lining. A suggestion was pine bark and a Mr. Gray was authorized to spend twenty pounds to purchase the pine bark. 

In 1964 a new committee set out plans to improve the hall. Drainage around the hall was a high priority, as was paving, the parking area and provision of an open fire place. A concrete kerb was thought necessary on the north side of Downer Avenue from the main road to the start of the carpark area which the council again had to be approve.

1965 showed that a lot had to be done to the Scout Hall. A quote was received from the Mitcham Council for 210 pounds for new drains behind the Scout Hall and to seal the car park. Discussion regularly arose about an open fireplace in the hall and a quote for a 100 pounds was received but they resolved to get another quote.  However, no fireplace in the hall was ever built.

The Senior Scouts merged with Eden Hills in 1966 so a proposal was put to erect a small hall behind the main hall. It was estimated to cost 260 pounds for the materials, so a plan was to be submitted to Mitcham Council.

Mr. Sanders met with the Council Engineer at Downer Reserve. It was determined there was no room behind the hall for the proposed structure and due to the location of the drain. The western side of the hall was considered ok, but again problems arose and they erected a structure in front of the hall as a temporary measure.

So by 1980 another committee (Colin Rogers, Brian Weelton, Phil Thompson) was formed to look at resurfacing the main hall floor. Apparently the front of the hall had dropped making a new wooden floor impractical. The alternatives were to rebuild the hall or have a concrete floor but an architect advised that the best approach was to excavate the floor for clearance and then replace it with a wooden floor.

In late 1983 early 1984 George Waye scrounged the doors and frames through Vic Carpenter, who supplied a lot of materials for the Belair Scout Hall, to construct the scout dens. The doors and frames originated from the R.A.H.

The Belair Scout Hall is a collage of history. In the seventies there was one shed out the back where the Venturer Den and storage shed now stand. George hand mixed the concrete for the floor of that original shed and in 1982 we added another shed to the original shed to provide a Venturer Den. George also laid the concrete floor of the new Venturer Den.  By this time the Venturers out grew their den and at the same time Belair Scout Group had built a fleet of canoes and a trailer to transport them. So another extension was added to the shed to house the ever increasing amount of equipment that an active and fast expanding Scout Group needed. The Quartermasters store was shifted which allowed the Venturers more space again. George again laid the concrete of the last shed extension.

As the years went by a lot of things have happened to the hall. The toilets have been upgraded to female and male when females joined the scouting movement, and the Bottle shed was knocked down and rebuilt.

The parent’s committee minutes are available from 1961, so a very good history is available from then till present day.

The Bottle Run

George Waye started the bottle run at Belair Scout Group as he did a lot of paid and unpaid work at the Scout Recycling Centres around the metropolitan area and his close association with the manager of the Recycling Centre.

Ever since then the bottle yard has gone through many hands. Parents get involved in helping one Sunday every month. They will get up early and drive around the streets of Belair, Blackwood and surrounding areas collecting bottles. They then bring it back to the Scout Hall for sorting and placing in bags originally but now in wooden crates. From 2004 to present Anne Painter is our current bottle drive coordinator and do a tremendous work with her husband Jim. From 2005 the Belair Scout Hall has a brand new big shed so the bottle yard is now under cover. 

Along with the construction of the bottle drive shed, a shed was constructed to house an aluminum dingy which is used at the annual Roonka family camp.

The People

As the years go by a lot work has been accomplished at the scout hall and numerous changes made.  For all this to be accomplished a lot of people in the in the Belair Scout Group have worked very hard.  There are people who are  leaders and some are helpers.  Noel Sage, Quarter Master (Ex Group Leader Belair) looks after all the equipment which the group owns. Trevor Bowden has donated his time as leader and as a parent to help with the hall from electrical items, to carpets in the scout den area to the security cameras which guards the hall.

Then there is our Group Leader, Mr. Joe (Super Balloo) Putman, who has been with the Belair Scout group from 1995 who unfortunately decided this year to call it a day and pass over the reins, after many years of effort and sweat, into maintaining the Belair Scout Group as the success it is today.

As we know the hall was named after George Waye in 1984 for all the work he has done for the Group from 1960 to present day. If not for George Waye and his band of helpers the hall would not be standing. The Belair Scout Group is now negotiating to purchase the land from the Mitcham Council which is a big achievement, considering the actual reserve was leased for two pounds in 1960.

The Group Leaders:  (Group Scout Masters known back then)

 

The first Group Scout Master for the Belair Scout Group at the new Hall was never recorded so unfortunately so I can not say who it was.

 

1963 till 1966 Mr. Hunter was (Group Scout Master).

 

1966 till 1967 Mr. Wally (WITCHETTY) Tichborne was (Group Scout Master) He took on the position of Scout Master in 1961 and later became Group Scout Master and then he relinquished this position at the end of 1966.

 

1967 till 1970 Mr. Harry Bakker was (Group Scout Master) but he took leave of absence from the 10^th April 1969 he then returned to his position on June 1969.

 

1970 till 1974 Mr. Harold Crouch was (Group Scout Master) but he took leave of absence from July to September 1972. He then returned to his position in October and gave notice that he intended leaving the Group Scout Master position December 1974.

 

1975 till 1976 Mr. Allan Lydiard became the new name of Group Leader of Belair Scout Group in January and half of 1976.  After his term as (Group Leader) he then became District Commissioner of Highlands from 1976.

 

Mid 1976 till Mr. Chris Bradford became (Group Leader) he took over from Allan Lydiard unfortunately there is no record to how long he served.

 

Cub Pack Leaders:

1961 Mr. Smith was the first (Cub Pack Leader) he left at the end of 1966

 

1966 Mrs. Glad Smith was (Arkala) for Tuesday Night Cub Pack.

Glad took on Cubs when Bob (Husband) was always out cubbing as Assistant Commissioner for Wolf Cubs and Warden of Uralla Cub Camp.

 

1966 Mrs. Jan Herridge was (Acl) for Tuesday Cub Pack, Jan was presented with a traveling clock on her retirement as a leader.

 

1966 K. Neil was (Arkala) on Wednesday Night Cub Pack, his Wood Badge was presented in June 1967 at the departure function for Jonathon Chester who is attending the 12^th World Jamboree. His resignation was mooted in June 1969.

 

1966 Mrs. Erica (Baloo) was (Acl) for Wednesday Night Cub Pack, Erica was absent in latter part of 1967 due to sickness.

 

1967 Mr. Bert (Bagheera) Bakker was (Acl) for Wednesday Night Cub Pack, Bert is the son of Harry.

 

1967 Mr. Andrew (Kaa) Crouch was (Acl) for Tuesday Night Cub Pack.

 

1970 Ralph Badman was (Acl) for Tuesday Night Cub Pack, Ralph Badman resigned at the end of 1977.

 

1970 M. Wright was (Arkala) for Wednesday Night Cub Pack but took four months leave at the beginning of 1971.

 

1970 Mrs. Elizabeth Wallis was (Arkala) for Wednesday Night Pack she became Arkala after attaining her Wood Badge in 1971, Elizabeth then resigned at the end of 1975 due to increased family commitments.

 

1972 Andrea Clark was (Acl) for Wednesday Night Cub Pack Andrea then became Arkala for Wednesday Night Cub Pack form 1976.

 

1974 Malcolm King received his Wood Badge in 1974 he was (Acl) for Wednesday Night Cub Pack then he went Thursday night Cub Pack as the inaugural Arkala, he finished up around August 1977.

 

1975 Brian Tonkin was (cadet leader) for the newly formed Thursday Night Cub Pack.

 

1975 Jill Little was (Arkala) for Tuesday Night Cub Pack resigning at the end of term 1 in 1979.

 

1975 Margaret Patterson was (Acl) for Thursday Night Cub Pack she was described as an experience leader Cub leader, Margaret then took over as Arkala on the Wednesday Night Cub Pack as from the beginning of 1976.

 

1975 Mark King was (Acl) for Tuesday Night Cub Pack, a warrant application was lodged in July 1975 he resigned at the end of 1978.

 

1975 Ian Edgar was (Acl) for Wednesday Night Cub Pack, Ian was and Ex Senior Scout at Belair.

 

1977 Mollie Bradford was (Arkala) as from 1980 which night is unknown she was Awarded he Wood Badge in July 1981.

 

1977 Maree Gebhardt was (Arkala) for Thursday Night Cub Pack from term 3 leaving in July 1981.

 

1978 Anita Little was (Arkala) for Tuesday Night Cub Pack as from May 1979 Anita became unavailable in 1980 due to studies Anita resigned in May 1981.

 

1979 Tim Carr was (Acl) for Wednesday Night Cub Pack he was awarded his Wood Badge in July 1981.

 

1979 Ray Field was (Acl) for Tuesday Night Cub Pack.

 

1980 Chris Zaraglia was (Acl) for Wednesday Night Cub Pack.

 

1980 Margaret Parsons was (Acl) for Thursday Night Cub Pack she then became Arkala from February 1981.

 

1980 Jim Ball was (Acl) for Tuesday Night Cub Pack.

 

1981 Rebecca Evans was (Acl) for Tuesday Night Cub Pack.

 

1981 Cheryl Batchelor was (Acl) for Thursday Night Cub Pack.

 

1981 Elizabeth Wickham was (Acl) for Wednesday Night Cub Pack.

 

Scout Leaders and Masters: (Scout Masters were Leaders In Charge)

1961 Mr. McDougal, Mr. D. Hannaford, Mrs. Smith and Mr. Etheridge were all (Scout Masters.)

 

1966 Mr. Barry Smith, Mr. De Vries and Mr. David Bayly (Currently David is District Cub Scout Leader from 2005) were (Assistant Scout Leaders.)

 

1967 Mr. H. Baker was (Asl) previously was Scout Master at 1^st Beulah Park Troop.

 

1969 Mr. Frank Tonkin was (Asl) for Monday Night Scout Troop. Initially this Thursday Night Scout Troop but they changed it to Monday Nights from the 26^th of October 1970. Frank took on Monday Nights from June 1969 he was intending to resign at the end of 1976.

 

1969 Mr. Arthur Baker was (Scout Master) for Friday Night Scout Troop. He took leave to under go major surgery and was out of action for several weeks, unfortunately he passed away on Thursday 27^th of November 1969.

 

1972 Mr. John Chester was (Asl) for Friday Night Scout Troop, due to his university studies he had to resign.

 

1972 W. Julian and Mrs. Moore were both (Asls) but which scout troop is unkown.

 

1973 Mr. Trig Rendall was (Asl) but resigned in April 1973.

 

1974 Mr. B. Corbett was an (Asl) to which scout troop unknown he resigned on October 1974.

 

1975 Mr. Warwick Little was (Asl) for Friday Night Scout Troop he eventually took over as Venturer Leader from January 1975.

 

1975 Mr. Mark Jackson was (Asl) for Friday Night Scout Troop, Mark is an Ex Senior Scout from Belair.

 

1975 Mr. Trevor Wright was (Asl) for Monday Night Scout Troop.

 

1975 Mr. Richard Annear was (Scout Master) for Monday Night Scout Troop.

He started as a helper then he received his Wood Badge on 27^th June 1978, he finished with the group at the end of 1978.

 

1977 Mr. Ian McGory was (Scout Master) for Friday Night Scout Troop the troop restarted on the 18^th November 1977 he was still there at August 1980.

 

1977 Mr. Simon Taylor was (Assistant Scout Master) for Friday Night Scout Troop.

 

1979 Mr. Duncan Kirkley was (Asl) for Friday Night Scout Troop.

 

Senior Scout Leaders: (Venturer Leaders)

1966 Mr. Max Warthold was a (Senior Scout Leader) Max led the Senior Scouts he began as Eden Hills Scout Leader in 1958, starting with two boys. He then started the Senior Scouts, and saw seven members achieve their Queen Scout Award. Max later took Belair Seniors and had high hopes that nine members would become Queen Scouts.

 

1970 Mr. Trevor Cock was (Senior Scout Leader)

 

1970 Mr. P. Wright was (Senior Scout Leader)