1961-1965.

July 29, 1961

Scouting history was made in the Huon Valley last week when 5 members of the 1st Huonville Troop gained their First-Class badges.

The District Commissioner (Mr. N.G. Stilwell), who made the presentations, can recall only one previous First-Class badge being gained, and that was awarded to Mr. Ron Sharp of Geeveston many years ago. Mr. Stilwell said the boys' outstanding work included a bush journey over a compass course. The scouts who gained the badges were Wayne Carman, Peter Green, Darrel Wilcox and David and Graham Kibbey.

September 1961

New Huonville hall nears completion

As a result of combined efforts a fine new hall is nearing completion at Huonville. Centrally located and designed to provide for both scouts and guides, the hall is to be opened by the Chief Scout (Lord Rowallan) on October 7.

Help has also been given in a variety of ways by teachers and pupils of the Huon High School. More than £800 has been raised by the scout and guide committees and from donations from business firms in Huonville and Hobart, as well as from private residents. Probably one of the most notable efforts in this direction was the collection and sale of kindling wood and bottles by the scouts and guides, resulting in £100. In addition to the cash donations, substantial assistance was given by Mr. Tutton of the Standard Case Co. and Page Bros. Huonville, in providing most of the timber and by Mr. Gill Page in preparing the timber. Also among the donations was a cheque from Davies Brothers Limited for £100 and the provision of glass by Lansdell Glass Pty. Ltd. Electrical equipment has been supplied and installed by local tradesmen.

An all out effort by Moonah and Huon Apexians and the scouts, guides, cubs and brownies last Saturday leaves only a few jobs to be done before the opening.

Commenting recently on the project, the group scoutmaster (Mr. Wilcox) said that but for the remarkable assistance of the Huon Council, Apexians, business firms and private individuals, the establishing of such a fine asset to the community would not have been possible. Special thanks also were due, he said, to the children themselves for the way in which they worked, both on the job and at the fundraising.

Since November, 1959 when the Huon Council granted permission for the erection of the hall on council ground in the recreation area close to the center of the town. Work has been pushed ahead by a band of willing volunteers. Constructed of timber and measuring 60ft by 40ft with three 20ft by 10ft rooms along one side, the hall will adequately provide for the needs of both organisations for many years, and is a credit to those who worked so hard to obtain it.

The foundations were poured in January 1960, and work went ahead slowly until November of the that year when Apex came to the assistance of the community. Apexians from Lindisfarne, New Norfolk, Moonah and the newly formed Huonville club worked on the project for two days. Since that time Huonville members have continued assisting, and without this help the hall would not have been finished for some time.

October 1961

Governor Opens New Scout Hall For Huon Valley.

This is the fine new hall at Huonville for scouts and guides throughout the Huon Valley opened recently by the governor (Lord Rowallan). The hall, valued at more than 3000 pounds was put up for about a 3rd of the cost because of the generous response by voluntary workers, who included boys and girls, teachers at the Huonville high and area schools, and members of the Huon and Moonah Apex clubs. A stall on the opening day reduced the existing debt to about 120 pounds.

"Use this building as a place of influence of all that is best in life," the Governor (Lord Rowallan) said at Huonville on Saturday when he opened a new hall for scouts and guides.
On arrival the Governor and Lady Rowallan inspected a guard of  honour of 150 scouts, guides, brownies and cubs from Huonville, Franklin, Geeveston, Channel districts and Hobart. The Huon Valley Pipe band added to the colourful scene. The Governor was met by the Deputy Commissioner of Scouting (Mr. Hugh Brand). and the Huon Commissioner (Mr. G. N. Stilwell), and Lady Rowallan by the Acting State Commissioner for Girl Guides (Mrs. K Holmes), and Divisional Commissioner for the Huon (Miss Betty Frankcombe).
Huonville Troop Leader Graham Kibbey acted as A.D.C. for the Governor, and Guide Diane Morey was attendant to Lady Rowallan. Introducing the Governor, the warden (Mr. T. A. Frankcombe) said that scouting had gathered momentum tremendously since Lord Rowallan had come to the State. Lord Rowallan said it was a great day because the Huon had achieved its ambition in creating a hut which could be used to build the great tradition of scouting and guiding. Lord Rowallan said the Queen, opening on July 12 a house in London to which scouts all over the world had contributed, had referred to the family of 9,000,000 brothers , and 5,000,000 sisters in the two movements, "Some day I feel sure you will know what it means to be a member of this great family," said His Excellency. The Governor paid tribute to the many who had helped voluntarily to build the hall and told the scouts and guides that it was their responsibility not to let these good people down. 

The Governor after unveiling the plaque commemorating the opening ceremony, presented a thanks badge to Mr. Stephen Smith. Mr. Stilwell expressed appreciation to the men, helpers who over two years had worked hard to build the hall on which £300 was still owing. Mr. Brand said since Lord Rowallan had come to the State, scouting had received a marvelous "lift" and members could show their appreciation by becoming first class scouts and guides. Following a brownie " flyup" ceremony and a cub investiture in the new hall. Governor and Lady Rowallan, accompanied by scout and guide officials, inspected the 41ft tower and rope monkey bridge established by Huonville scouts under Scout Masters V. Carman, L. Wilcox and N. Kibbey. The party also inspected the guide camp and gadgets, and the scout camp kitchen. Stalls were well supported and raised £178 towards the building fund.
The Warden of Huon (Mr. Tom Frankcombe), the Scout Commissioner for Huon (Mr. Geoff Stilwell), the Governor (Lord Rowallan), who is Tasmania's Scout and Patrol Leader Graham Kibbey, who acted as A.D.C. to the Governor for the day, at the opening of the new Scout and Guide Hall at Huonville. Huonville scouts also built this 41ft. tower and using the rope suspension principle, gave boys trips to the top.

Left: A keen movie photographer, the Governor ( Lord Rowallan) took several shots of scout activities after he opened the new Huonville Scout  and Guide hall at the weekend. When this picture was taken, the Governor was filming scouts operating a 41ft tower and rope bridge, while his A.D.C. for the day, Troop Leader Graham Kibbey, looked on.

 

Right: This rope monkey bridge built by Huonville scouts under instruction from scoutmasters Lawson Wilcox, Nigel Kibbey and Viv Carman was the center of attraction when the new Huonville hall was opened. The picture shows 2 scouts walking the rope to meet in the center of the bridge. 

 

 

Members of the 1st Huonville Troop are keen on compass treks. Here our picture shows Kerry Medbury (left) and Peter Kibbey leaving the town with packs, for a hike by compass from Swamp Rd, Franklin, across hilly country to Glen Huon.

Vice-Regal cameraman
(Right) A keen movie photographer, the Governor (Lord Rowallan) was in his element as Chief Scout taking pictures of scout activities at Huonville.

 

 

 

There are scout badges from many parts of the world on this camp blanket which Huonville scouts P. Dazeley, K. Medbury, H. Roberts, R. Richardson and Cubmaster C. Carman are admiring.

 


January 1962

 

Scout masters N. Kibbey, B. Ward, Cub mistress Mrs V. Carmen, scout masters L. Wilcox and V. Carmen.

 

 

Successful field day in the Huon

Cubs had their full share of the fun and games at the recent Huon and Channel field day held at Huonville. In this picture some of the younger cubs are lined up waiting for the start of a 3 legged race.

This would be strenuous work on a hot day – scouts contest a tug-of-war on a field day at Huonville.

Scouts and cubs from Huonville and Woodbridge joined in the 1st field day held in the Huon district last Saturday. The event was such a success that it is planed to hold similar field days in the area annually. Provision will be made in these plans for troops in other districts, particularly from the city, to take part. About 50 scouts and cubs from various districts under scout masters N. Kibbey, B. Ward, L. Wilcox and V. Carmen and cub mistress Mrs. V. Carmen. Began proceedings with a parade and flag break, followed by prayers and an opening address by the commissioner for the Huon, Mr G.N.Stilwell. During the day scouting events included tent pitching, rope work, billy boiling, a compass trail and other bush craft tests. The cub section included a wool trail, a treasure hunt and novelty races. Scouting in the Huon is making rapid progress, and numbers are increasing.

February 1963

  SCOUT LEADERS INVESTED

  Mr. Ian Hunter was invested as District Scout Commissioner for Huon and Mr. R. Turnbull as District Commissioner for Kingborough at a field day at Huonville on Saturday.

The ceremony was performed by the Chief Commissioner for Tasmania (Mr. G. Hall). Mr. Hunter succeeds the late Mr. N. G. Stilwell, who gave almost a lifetime to the movement. Mr. Hunter, who came to Huonville in 1958, joined the organisation in Elwood (N.S.W.), in 1933. He became a patrol leader in 1934, a troop leader in 1938, and was invested with his assistant scoutmaster warrant in 1939, just before enlisting in the R.A.A.F. Mr. Turnbull has been a stalwart in the movement in Kingborough for some years. Following flag break at 10 a.m. at the Huonville scout and guide hall, the big program, in which more than 100 scouts participated in, Included a swimming carnival, a tug o' war, blind patrol calls, compass walk, and tent pitching and billy boiling contests. Huonville gained the most points for patrol work, the results being: Huonville 234, Margate 180, Blackmans Bay 178, Woodbridge 129, Kingston 129. Last night scouts, guides, cubs, and brownies attended a church parade at St. James' Church of England, Ranelagh, where the service of  Thinking Day for the late Lord Baden-Powell was conducted by the rector (the Rev. Hugh Hadrill).  

At a special inauguration ceremony at the Baden Powell Hall at Huonville, an additional cub pack was formed by splitting the original pack and taking in a number of lads on the waiting list. The packs were named the Stilwell pack in memory on the late Mr. N. G. Stilwell, District Commissioner for the Huon, and the Heckscher pack in recognition of the work over 15 years for the movement by Mrs. N. E. Heckscher. Our picture shows Mrs. Heckscher (second from left) and Mrs. Stilwell presenting to the cubmasters Mrs. P. R. J. Carman and Mr. Harry Clouson, two small engraved plagues to be fitted to the flag standards of the new packs.

 

September 1963 

(Left) Huonville cubs played their well during Bob for Job week. This picture shows Tony Roberts and his brother Peter sweeping up leaves in a garden in the town during the drive for funds.

(Right) There were healthy appetites at the Lea last weekend. Among those who enjoyed a meal in the open were Tony Baker, Garry Sheppard, Lee Paul, Peter Kibbey and Warren Harrex.

 

                               New District Commissioner.

 Mr. Ian Hunter, who before he went to the Huon in 1958 was closely associated with with scouting at Eastwood in N.S.W. from 1933 to 1940, and resumed his interests there on his discharge from the R.A.A.F., was installed as the new District Commissioner for the Huon Valley at a field day for scouts at Huonville. He is pictured with Troop Leader David Kibbey just before flag break.

October 1963

 

 

Scouts and Cubs around Mr. Terry Connor and the transmitting and receiving set he lent for the exchange of messages with Scouts in most Australian states and New Zealand.

 

 

 

Group scout master Lawson Wilcox, Don Finlayson (organizer of the Jamboree of the Air) and Mr Ian Hunter (Huonville, Commissioner for the Huon).

Huonville Scouts’ Jamboree of the Air

(Below) The commissioner for the Huon (Mr Ian Hunter) pointing to places on the map of Australia with which radio contact was made. 3 of the 40 Huon scouts who participated in the jamboree of the air are (from left) Warren Harrex, Neil Kirby and John Bull. Huonville scouts turned their hall into a transmitting station, with the aerial on 2 towers constructed for the event.

             

October 1964

Dedication Service.

Eighty scouts, guides, cubs and brownies attended a dedication service at St. James church at Ranelagh recently when a room attached to the parish hall was dedicated to the late Mr. G. H. Stillwell of Ranelagh who was District Commissioner for scouting in the Huon. The church was filled to capacity for the dedication service which was conducted by the Rev. P. J. E. J. Hawks, chaplain of Monash University in Victoria and a former rector of St. James. The late Mr. Stillwell was secretary of St. James church and rectors warden for many years.

November 1964

Scout membership increasing.

Cub packs and Scout troops in Huonville and Ranelagh are enrolling new members rapidly. A Christmas picnic will be held at the Picton River and 9 scouts will attend the Victorian Jamboree in the new year. At the bi-monthly meeting of the 1st Huonville scout group committee held in the Baden Powell hall on Tuesday, November 17, the group scout master reported that an increasing number of cubs were awaiting enrolment. There are already 2 full packs of 24 boys each in the Heckscher and Stillwell packs. 6 of these would be leaping up to scouts at the Christmas break-up. Scouters  have a full group with several boys entering senior scouts next year. On December 4, a social evening will be held in the scout hall and a leaping-up ceremony will be held to enable parents and friends to attend. On Saturday, December 12, the Christmas breakup will take the form of an outing to the Arve Valley and a bbq picnic will be held at the Picton River. The Christmas picnic is always a very popular event and parents are invited to attend. Nine scouts who will be attending the Jamboree in Victoria will spend the coming weekend at the Lea camp near Kingston. They will leave with their scout masters for Victoria on December 31. It was decided that, at a meeting to be held on November 30, to invite representatives from Cygnet, Cradoc, Franklin and Geeveston to re-form the district associations to include these centres. The position of District Commissioner rendered vacant by the transfer to Victoria of Mr. Ian Hunter, several months ago, is still vacant.

July 1965

Successful Year for Huonville Scouts.

The Annual General Meeting of the 1st Huonville Scout Group Committee was held in the Baden Powell Hall at Huonville on Tuesday July 20th. Mr. A. H. S. Robilliard was in the chair. The annual report showed a full and interesting year. The group has 10 senior scouts, 31 scouts and 48 cubs. During the year 2 scouts, Graham Kibbey and Peter Green were awarded their Queen Scout Badges which were presented at a ceremony at Government House. The group scoutmaster Mr. Lawson Wilcox reported that the Bob-a-Job project realized £123/14/1 and thanked the public for their support. 78 Beaver Badges were awarded during the year and 15 pennants were awarded to the troop. 2 scouts have done instructors courses for cubs- H. Roberts and R. Richardson. Peter Green received a provisional warrant as acting scout master. Election of officers :- President, Mr. A. Robilliard. Vice Presidents, Mrs. N. Heckscher, Messrs S. Smith, J. Skinner and D. Wellington. Secretary, Mrs. P. Skinner. Treasurer, Mrs. P. Rumney. Auditor, Mr. R. Dell. Tributes were paid to acting District Commissioner, Group Scout Master Lawson Wilcox, scout master V. Carman. Akelas Mrs. V. Carman and H. Clausen for their interest in scouts and cubs, and to the social committee for their support. It was decided to write to the trusties of the Baden Powell hall regarding the lining of the ceiling in the hall before consideration was given to some form of heating for the building. Meetings are held monthly and the next meeting will be on September 28th 1965. Among the activities for the year have been attendances at church parades, social evenings, a swimming carnival, weekend camps, the Anzac day march and the Jamboree in Victoria. At a social at the Baden Powell hall, Senator Marriott presented the Australian flag to the troop. In February, a district association was formed which includes Geeveston, Cygnet and Huonville. Mr. E. Lane, General Secretary of the Tasmanian Branch of the Boy Scouts Association attended and addressed the meeting. Mr. A. Martin, Field Commissioner visited the Huon for 4 days. The office of District Commissioner for the Huon is still vacant following the resignation of Mr. Ian Hunter who was transferred to the mainland more than 6 months ago.

October 1965

Scout News.

At a social evening held in the Baden Powell hall recently, in the leaping-up ceremony, Three scouts leapt to senior scouts and five cubs to scouts. The guest of the evening was Mr. W. E. Burgess, Southern Area Commissioner from Hobart. Films were shown to cubs, scouts and parents. Super was provided by parents. Prior to a meeting of the district scouts association held at Geeveston in the Guide hall, Mrs. R. H. Geeves (Geeveston) was invested as cub master, by (Akela) Mrs. V. Carman of Huonville. Mrs. Geeves will be in charge of Geeveston. Mr. A. Robilliard presided at the meeting attended by members from Huonville and Geeveston. The District Commissioner, Mr. L. Wilcox reported that 2 members from Geeveston and 2 from Huonville had attended the annual meeting in Hobart. A weekend camp at Grove, to be held on December 11th-12th, will be attended by 300 scouts from southern Tasmania. Help will be needed to prepare the camp site which has been made available by Mr. J. A. Parsons. There is urgent need for a scout master, as the number of cubs and scouts has increased. A list of films from HQ is available to scout groups. Those who attended the annual meeting saw the film of the World Jamboree in Greece. Jamboree of the Air: The 8th World Jamboree of the Air was held at the B.P. hall, Huonville. A weekend camp was held and 24 scouts camped under canvas in the charge of D.C. Mr. L. Wilcox, scout master Mr. V. Carman, cub master Mrs. V. Carman and Mr. M. Clauson. During Saturday morning, the scouts erected a 60ft antenna with ropes and poles. Contact under radio operators, Mr. Terry Connor and Mr. and Mrs. Mike Jenner of Hobart, was made with all Australian states, New Zealand and King Island. There were over 50 contacts altogether. During the weekend, many interested persons visited the hall and much enthusiasm was shown.

November 1965

Scout and Cub leaders needed at Huonville.

At the meeting of the 1st Huonville Scout Group committee, held at the Baden Powell hall, on Wednesday November 3rd, the president expressed the urgent need for personnel to train as scout and cub leaders for the Huonville group. reports from the scout master and cub master showed an increasing number of boys wishing to join. the group is in need of a senior scout master, a scout master and two assistants for cubs, to enable boys on the waiting list to enroll. any person interested, please contact Mrs. P. Skinner. Huonville. a working bee will be held on Saturday, November 27th, starting at 9am, on the site of the scout camp on Mr. J. Parsons property at Grove. parents are asked to attend. another working bee to oil the outside of the hall, and also to line the ceiling in readiness to install heating for the winter, will be held shortly. plans for heating the hall were discussed, and a recommendation was made, from the group committee to the trusties of the hall, to quote the cost at the next meeting, which will be on Wednesday February 16th 1966. the district commissioner attended a monthly meeting of the southern scouts council in Hobart on November 5th. wolf cubs will celebrate Golden Jubilee Year, next year and (Akela) Mrs. V. Carmen, presented the program for the activities of the year. on December 16th and 17th 300 scouts from southern Tasmania will hold a weekend camp. the Christmas breakup will take the form of a barbecue picnic.