History Of Scouting In Banyule
|
SCOUTING BEGINS
Scouting began in August 1907 with an experimental camp on Brownsea Island in the UK, led by Boar War hero Major-General Robert Baden-Powell. The movement grew rapidly with the publication of 6 booklets forming Scouting for Boys in January 1908. These booklets were based on Baden-Powell’s experience using initiative, self-reliance, bushcraft, signalling, and spying skills as a British Army scout. The original inspiration was to expand the program of the existing Boy’s Brigade organisation, but Scouting for Boys proved so popular that young readers across the British Empire formed patrols of Scouts themselves, separate from existing organisations. Scouting spread rapidly with the publications, and the resulting media attention furthered its growth. |
Robert Baden-Powell
(image credit Scouts Victoria)
|
Mr Jenkins' home in Rose Street Ivanhoe, where the first members officially joined the Scout Association
(image credit Google Maps)
1st Ivanhoe's river base at Wilson Reserve
(image credit State Library Victoria)
|
ESTABLISHMENT OF SCOUTING IN BANYULE
Scouting came to Ivanhoe during October 1908, when boys Frank Jenkins, Lindsay McLean, George Janes, and Percy Jenkins formed a Patrol, meeting initially in a bluestone stable once belonging to the Rockbeare Estate. Harry "Skipper" Wilson was recruited as the Ivanhoe Scouts’ Scout Master and Captain Jenkins led the committee of parents. These two leader figures went on to play major roles at the state level of the Scout organisation in Victoria. Wilson Reserve (previously known as the "Scout Sandbank") was first used for Scout camps as early as 1910. Located on the edge of the Yarra River in Ivanhoe, it was technically private property until being purchased through a community appeal in 1924 and handed to the Shire of Heidelberg "to be held in perpetual trust for the youth of the district". In recognition of Skipper Wilson's contribution to the local community and efforts in achieving this public ownership, it was renamed Wilson Reserve in 1927. Additional Scout Groups were established in Fairfield, Alphington, Ivanhoe, Heidelberg, and Greensborough soon after Scouting began, with more Groups in newer suburbs in the following decades. Groups were usually established by committees of parents who could see the benefits of Scouting for their children, and the sense of community a Scout Group creates. Growth in membership led to several Scout Groups existing in some suburbs, such as Ivanhoe which had five Scout Groups operating simultaneously at one point. Scouting suffered a decline in the late 1980s and 1990s, leading to closure of some Groups as membership diminished. However, since the early 2000s Scouting has made a comeback - Banyule's newest Scout Group is the re-established Rosanna Scout Group, formed in 2006. |
GEOGRAPHIC EXTENT OF BANYULE DISTRICT
The present municipality of Banyule was first created in 1994. Previous municipal arrangements mostly had the “Shire of Heidelberg” encompassing a similar geographic area to present day Banyule, sometimes including as far as Fairfield, Janefield (modern Uni Hill area), and Eltham.
The present municipality of Banyule was first created in 1994. Previous municipal arrangements mostly had the “Shire of Heidelberg” encompassing a similar geographic area to present day Banyule, sometimes including as far as Fairfield, Janefield (modern Uni Hill area), and Eltham.
- 1909: "No. 6 District" spanned an area covering from Fairfield to Eltham
- Late 1920s-early 1930s: No. 6 District was renamed Heidelberg District (exact date unknown)
- 1944: Heidelberg District's area was defined as covering the Shire of Heidelberg’s area
- 1962: Local government changes saw the Fairfield/Alphington area transferred to the Shire of Northcote, and the Districts reflected this change
- 1964: Further local government changes saw the Bundoora/Greensborough area transferred to the new Shire of Diamond Valley, and the Districts reflected this change
- 1970: Despite this reduced geographic extent, the Heidelberg District was relatively large with 16 Scout Groups, so split into three smaller Scouting Districts – Ivanhoe (Ivanhoe/Eaglemont area), La Trobe (West Heidelberg/Macleod area), and Heidelberg (Heidelberg/Rosanna area)
- Mid 1970s: Ivanhoe and La Trobe Districts merged to create Ivanhoe-La Trobe District
- 1984: Ivanhoe-La Trobe rejoined Heidelberg District to again match the municipal area, with the District continuing to use the Heidelberg name
- 1994: Local government areas changed again in 1994, with the Bundoora/Watsonia/Greensborough area rejoining what had been the Shire of Heidelberg, under the new name of the Municipality of Banyule. The Scouting District followed this geographic and name change, and there have been no further changes to the present day
Heidelberg District badge 19??-1970
|
Ivanhoe District badge 1970-mid 1970s
|
La Trobe District badge 1970-mid 1970s
|
Ivanhoe-La Trobe District badge mid 1970s-1984
|
Heidelberg District badge 1984-1994
|
Banyule District badge 1994-present
|
