Flinders Park Scout Group 4 Alice Street, Findon South Australia 5025 Phone: 8268 6151 (when hall attended) Website: www.communitywebs.org/~FPSG
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FPSG History | Leaders Profiles |  Bob  | Mark Fearenside  | Kevin Young |

64 Years of History of Flinders Park Scout Group In 1945 a local school teacher decided to start up the 1st Flinders Park Scout Group. He held a meetin in the local community hall and organised a committee of parents willing to help him start the group. The children met once a week in the community hall on Grange Road. When the Group was first registered, the then Chief Commissioner insisted that neckerchiefs were to be bottle green instead if the multi-coloured 'neckies' of interstate Scouts. In those days the Scouts uniform was khaki and navy blue for Cub Scouts. the neckies were allowed to be worn with a group colour badge in the apex. Originally Flinders Park chose blue and gold, but Scout HQ advised that those colours were already in use. A number of western suburbs sports clubs were using the colours of red and black and when HQ said those colours were available, they became Flinders park colours. The original colour patch was a red triangle with a black triangle centred in it. In the sixties, Scout groups were pressing for greater variation in the types of neckies, and colour patches were costlier and harder to get. Some groups therefore opted for the State Emblem for the neckie (as worn at Jamborees by SA Scouts). Eventually colour patches ceased to become available. Some groups produced their own and stuck with their tradition - others gave up. Some dedicated Mums at 1st Flinders park produced a variation of the original in the mid-seventies with a black strip through the red triangle, a laour intensive task and we were always wanting more. In the early eighties, computer produced badges were easily made, cheap and very identical, so the idea was to make a double tirangle (diamond) with each of the four sides representing the four sections (Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers). Black was chosen as a form of strength and solidarity for the edging, the corners were rounded, unlike other 4-sided badges, indicating a smooth continuity of membership in scouting. The original black triangle insert was stylised into the F and P, facing the same way as the old one. the fleur-de-lys was chosen as symbolic of the sun, and at placed at the top where all Scouts would eventually like to be. In 19?? the Committee took out a mortgage and bought a piece of land in Alice Street, Findon, then purchased a nissan hut from the Army and erected it on the property. This served as the Scout Hall for many years while the loan was paid off. In 19?? the Committee decided a bigger hall was needed to cater for the needs of the growing numbers of members, so they took out a bigger loan, engaged a builder, and built the current brick hall over the top of the nissan hut. The hut was not dismantled until the building was built and the floor ready to be laid so as not to disrupt meetings for too long. Now the loans have been paid off, the building is still standing and the children keep coming to join in the activities. Since the hall was built, Joey Scouts (6-8 year olds) have started, girls have been accepted into the movement and the uniforms have changed a couple of times, but the fun and learning that happened in 1945 still happens in 2005. Sixty years of serving the community by offering activities to the children in a safe environment, where they are happy and learning skills to make them better citizens of the future. Back to top Leaders Profiles Mark Fearenside - Joey Scout Leader Mark has been Joey Scout Leader for three years. He recently received a Certificate of Merit from Scouts Australia (SA Branch) for his dedicated service. Neil has a daughter who is in Cubs and a son who was a Scout and who have been members of the group since they were Joey age. Mark is a Radiographer by profession, loves camping and woodworking, and loves thinking up new games for the children to try out.  Mark also helps in the Cub section. Back to top Bob - Cub Scout Leader Bob began as a Cub Scout Leader in 1985 and spent 10 years in the Cub Section. Bob has also been assistant in Scouts and Venturers. Bob began in the scout section about seven years ago Currently he is running Cubs and having a good time with the children thinking up new ways to help them pass their badgework through games, activities and crafts. Back to top Kevin Young - Scout Leader Kevin has a long history in Scouting, with thirty years at Flinders Park. Kevin is an ex-school teacher who has retired and put all his energy into Scouts and the Pichi Richi Railway where he is a volunteer Car Captain and worker. Kevin's well organised Scout Troop runs a patrol system where the Scouts have a say in the running of the troop through their Troop Council. He also organises very clever activities and fun camps - for example; bike hikes, gliding camps, night drop hikes and standing camps. Kevin received the Silver Kangaroo Award this year which is the highest award a leader can achieve. Back to top  . Back to top