History

First Waylen Bay Scout Group

POTTED HISTORY OF 1ST WAYLEN BAY SEA SCOUT GROUP

Edited by the Group Leader Gordon Johnston

The following history of our Group was gleaned from the minutes,

letters, bills and accounts of the past 25 years … combined

with the memories of leaders and helpers, especially those of

Akela, Lyn Ward.

Very many thanks to all those who helped, not just with this

history, but have worked so hard year after year in order that

this Jubilee may be reached.

When the Group started cubs were aged – 8 – 11

scouts 11 – 15

senior scouts 15 – 17 … boys only

Rovers 17 – 25

There were 100,000 boy scouts in Australia and 9,000,000 in 71

countries throughout the world.

1964

10 July: Because of the long waiting list for entry into

Deepwater Point Sea Scouts a meeting was held to investigate the

formation of a Group in Mount Pleasant.

The Foundation Chairman (from Deepwater Point) was Mr

E.Hill, with the following people present at initial meeting:-

A. Moffatti. M.Mortimer. T.Johnson. Messrs Webb, Leaver.

Halls, Dunlop prospective DSM J. Young and DC W.Osborne apologies

from Mr Sheppard.

The Mothers’ Club was formed on 29th August 1964, and was

to raise most of the money required to set up the Group.

In September Lyn Lewis (later to be Mrs Ward) as well as

being Akela assisted with the Scouts when they were formed, but

is posted to Manjimup by the Education Dept. a Group letter was

sent asking for her possible transfer back to our area.

The then Town of Melville offered several sites between

Bulls Creek (now Bull Creek) and Attadale including Lucky Bay and

Old German Jetty.

The Annual subs were set at 20/- (or $2) per boy

1965

R.Bond, Chairman or the Swan River Conservation Board

said that as river edge sites are at a premium, we must share

with another aquatic group as he doesn’t anticipate there being

any sites for some time to come.

We nearly get a site between Tompkin Park and Cunningham

Street, but fail despite a great deal of help from Mr O’Neil the

Member of Parliament at the time.

The Council decide to keep the foreshore from Cunningham

Street to Cranford, in Brentwood, untouched … possibly because

of expansion plans being put forward by South Perth Yacht Club at

the time.

Film shows were held to raise the much needed cash for

Group funds. By September the Funds were at £220 … £131 being

alotted to the Building Fund.

A Rosella Dinner (food supplied by Rosella tinned foods)

was held at a charge of 7/6d ($0.76) per head.

Regular meetings were by now being held in the RSL Hall.

1966

Application made to erect our building next to the Deepwater

Point Group Hall … this was rejected by the Council.

Application was then made to the Council on our behalf by

Trevor Leaver, and rejected within a month, to build the hall on

the vacant land between the Heathcote Hospital and the adjacent

South Perth Yacht Club.

Waylen Bay site at last spotted.

A position in Boans store was booked for selling Xmas

raffle tickets. A profit of $179.93 made.

A 15ft clinker boat given to the Group was found to be

too heavy, so either a motor had to be obtained or it should be

sold.

By now there are 25 Cubs, but still a waiting list of 41

exists, 28 of whom are over 8 years old.

1967

The Town of Melville becomes a City

Fund raising ‘tries’ rose pruning and astonishes everyone

by raising $200 … about $2,000 in 1989 money.

June; Under Secretary for Lands offered us our present

Heathcote Site after discussions with Mr Beaton. Hall plans were

costed/ estimated at $10,000.

At the Melville Fair the Group had a 5 cent coin throwing

into a bucket and a stamp stall. We lost the ballot for the much

sought after food stall franchise at Fair.

Total funds raised now at $1722.12

Group’s insurance premium £10/4/9d ($21). See 1988

1968

The land, 1/4 acre was re offered to the Council by the

Government on the condition that should the hall site no longer

be required by the Scout Association, the land would then be

surrendered back to the CROWN … not to the Council, the Council

didn’t like this clause and the offer was initially refused.

In order to get a quick start to the building programme.

we applied for, and got, a $10,000 loan from Melville Council.

Geoff Sheppard was Waylen’s first scout to go to a

Jamboree, so he was given a campfire blanket by the Group

Committee.

Bob a Job week raised $47.61 and Scout a Bout $238

The Mothers’ Club held a Cabaret and Music Hall in the

‘Hole in the Wall’ and made $445.65 profit … about $4,500 at

today’s rate!

1969

Group meetings were held at various venues including the

RSL Hall in Kintail Rd., Conon Road church hall and a ‘tin shed’

in Brentwood. Many meetings being held on a Saturday morning.

Our gear room in the RSL was broken into and the flag

stolen.

1970

Planning permission obtained in May from Melville Town

Clerk J.E.Ellis, an article appeared in the West Australian

stating ‘permission at last!’

September: Land was vested in the care of Melville

Council after three years of careful negotiations.

Hall construction started in late October. The Shire

originally wanted a concrete floor upstairs for fire and safety

reasons. Building costs had now risen to $15,000.

Vandals broke into the workmens’ shed within 2 weeks of

their starting the building and split cement bags and hose pipes.

Thanks to much canvasing by Trevor Leaver various steamship

companies and local stores sent donations to the funds

because we were sea scouts.

We are given the six old Ship’s lights and a ship’s

binnacle from the Fremantle Harbour works.

Fund raising included lucrative scrap iron collecting.

Subs still $15 thanks to a $250 grant from Scout Assoc.

Building Fund now $3,70O – with Group Funds $5,300

Trevor Leaver retires after 5 years as Group Secretary, a

king pin in the formation of the Group and the building of the

Hall. In the past 2 or 3 years dozens of letters were sent out by

him requesting financial help, he negotiated with the council and

with various bodies for the construction of the building, this

was then followed by the inevitable many months of chasing the

various contractors to put faults right. A truly dedicated

helper.

Cub meetings held on Saturday afternoons, usually on the

beach near the hall site.

Patrol leaders course was held at Deepwater Point.

The profit from our Group’s stalls at the Melville Fair

was $213, 40 boy helpers (and those delivering goods to stalls)

were charged $10 admission to run stall! Decision not to support

Melville Fair again was taken by the next Group Committee meeting

Of the $16.826.48 due to the contractor, $13.826.48 was

paid by the Council Town Clerk J.E.Ellis and $3,000 by the Group.

A Family car rally/treasure hunt held … very successful

The RSL Hall was no longer available on Saturday afternoons

for the Cub meetings.

The Group Leader’s car was stolen with the Groups records

in the back, these were later recovered but no mention is

made of the car!

1971

Hall eventually completed in March, at an increased cost

of $19.400, the increase being mainly due to the Council’s delays

in negotiating a loan on our behalf.

Our hall completion ended 6 years of generous support by

Applecross RSL and the Congregational Church by allowing the use

of their halls rent free.

1st Waylen Bay Sea Scouts’ Memorial Hall was opened on

the 19th September by Councillor W.Gribble and dedicated by

Pastor L. Austin.

A Memorial Plaque was ‘laid’ at the Hall

Melville Shire gave a loan for 20 years to augment our 7

years of fundraising ($6.000), as the National Bank had turned us

down, despite Scout Association offering to be a guarantor

The Shire interest rate on our loan was increased to 7.4%

Berger Paints gave us 5 gallons (40 litres for the young

ones) of white paint for the Hall decor.

The original reticulation was fitted to the site by City

of Melville via a 150 ft trench linking the Shire bore, total

charge for work and pipes $21.

During a bad storm one night, rain was blown under the

aluminium side doors and 12 feet (4 metres) across the hall floor

Theatre ‘nights out’ for fund raising were deemed

‘undesireable’ and barbecues ‘known’ to attract gambling! These

were therefore dropped from the fundraising programme.

Year started with 24 cubs, 17 scouts and 5 senior scouts

(venturers).

1300 rose bushes were sprayed for funds.

The unacceptable sewerage charge of $3.50pa was

contested, so the Shire agreed to pay it for us.

New 4m X 5m canvas ridge tent was bought for $31.65

A power/ lighting bill was $5.65, though a further $10.30

was spent on gas mantles … what are they? ask your Gran young

one!!

Thoughts of starting second Cub pack were muted.

333 dozen lamingtons sold in one drive.

Before the official opening, the retaining wall, flagpole

and boundary chains were all set in place.

It was suggested that the external taps be placed

underground. but for reasons unknown this was not done.

The letter accompanying our lease said that on renewal

after 20 years (1991) the ·Council would not apply hardship as far os a youth organisation is concerned as long as the rent has been

paid regularly.

The white sign ‘1st Waylen Bay Sea Scouts’ is actually made of aluminium letters and was supplied and fitted at a cost

of $51.

1972

Mothers’ Club still strong in its connection with the

Group.

A Patrol dinghy was named ‘Trevor Leaver’ An attempt to increase the annual fees to $20 was strongly defeated at the Group Committee.

A new $1,800 motor car was raffled for funds, 1500 tickets being sold at $2 each.

One fund raising idea was to have a ‘Venture Queen’

The cubs went on a treasure hunt/ hike at Araluen As the WA Headquarters deficit had risen from $2,000 in 1969 to $12,000 by 1972, help is sought from all Groups.

Another burglary, this time $51 worth of goods taken. The Group gets 42 second hand stacking chairs from the Applecross Hall thanks to Melville Council. We did very well at the District Camping Competition, this involved the cooking of various kinds of meals.

1973

The Council were approached to re-negotiate the loan on

the Hall, being asked to class us a Welfare Group. The Group pays

first 10% of principal and an annual rental set at 50% of first

years interest ie $518 pa, paying this for the next 20 years.

Rose pruning raises $400. Rose spraying done for 30c.

Waste paper collecting raised $26.22 – conservation

lived 16 years ago!

Soap box Derby held by Melville District at Point Walter

had 4 entrants from each Group. This encouraged similar functions

such as a wheelbarrow race, or design and build a chariot with

some given equipment and be first past the past.

Mothers’ Club now becomes defunct, Bank account with the

National Bank of AustralASIA closed.

1974

Scouts go into recess from March due to lack of leaders.

Trek a bout (then called Scout a bout) raised $212

First weekend camp held at the Hall. The scouts stopped a

Heathcote inmate from his attempted suicide by rescuing him from

drowning.

$60 raised by the Bob a Job week.

Venturers started to learn judo and scuba diving.

Rose pruning raised $500.

1975

Annual Fees go up to $20, with weekly subs at 20 cents

The Scout Association asked Melville District to collect

25,000lbs (11,000 kilos) of rags for fund raising, Melville were

not happy!!

Apple sales raised a dollar profit per bag with apples

sold for $2.50. 120 bags sold.

Social night included films and a light supper.

JOTA going strong.

Regular Bingo sessions held in the Mayfair Theatre for

fund raising.

Boat maintenance cost $32.36 for the year.

Peter Sheppard donated a Pelican training boat to the

Group.

One of the best Cubilees for years was held.

Application made to Melville Shire to install a rail and

cradle boat slip way onto the Swan from the hall – rejected.

1976

Akela has 3 warranted assistants. The scouts are led by a

Scouter and 3 Rovers.

Lindsay Sheppard became the Group’s first International

Scout when he attended the Jamboree in Japan.

The Group won the Como Sailing Regatta.

The new 14ft skiff is now operational.

A request was made for curtains to be donated to the Hall

to ensure privacy. No one offered new ones, but second hand were

given.

It was confirmed that if annual subs. were made payable as a donation to the Scout Memorial Hall maintenance fund then a receipt could be issued which was tax deductible.

The Cubs went to Bibra Lake for a picnic, the Scouts joined them as part of their bike hike outing.

Scouts had an Easter Camp. The continued success of JOTA encouraged the Group to form it’s own Radio Club.There was a raf t ‘drift’ for the group. Timber was donated by Dr Baron-Hay.

Apple drive doubled sales to 240 bags, again at $3.50

A letter was sent to Applecross Primary requesting new cub and scout members.

150 tickets sold at $6 ($2 profit) for an Old Time Music

Hall at St Michael’s Church in Gunbower St.

New scouter again required, advertised in South Perth

Yacht Club without success.

‘Scout a bout’ raised $159.

A suitable rescue boat was thought to be a requirement of

the Group, a 10ft aluminium boat with a 1OHP motor was suggested.

A canoe ‘hike’ was held.

Fundraising sold Jaycee calendars for $2.50, we kept $1

Group then sold wine bottled by ourselves under our own

label, but selling methods not liked by all parents.

Family car rally organised – again very successful.

We were given our own call sign for JOTA, this was

organised by Cliff Warden.

Lyn Ward got her good service award

1977

Levy set at $27 pa.

Mr Croft was thanked [or his many years as Group auditor.

There were 8 boats, the ‘Trevor Leaver’, ‘Lyn Ward’, ‘Ian

Passmore’ – 19ft timber sharpie, ‘PJ’ 9ft Pelican, 14ft sailing

dinghy, the ‘Falcon’ a 10ft plywood dinghy with oars, 16ft fibreglass

lifeboat with oars and a 10ft by 6ft aluminium raft.

‘Sail a thon’ had a squall arise quickly, the boats were

called in. Hours later, they were still in the water where they

had been left, the crews unable to drag them out in time. South

Perth was approached for permission to use their facilities in

sudden bad weather – this was granted.

Hall insurance cover raised to $30,000

A break-in on 26th March, resulted in slight damage to

the Hall ($89), but 2 outboard motors (one new and the other not

ours), lifejackets, tents and a flag were stolen. The 3 thieves

(boys) were caught within a month by PC Wilcox – and most of the

gear recovered, but boys paid $100 each for damages – as neither

motor now worked and locks had been forced.

The search for a new leader was now aimed at the Youth

Committee and Melville Service Club.

Group asked to do a Rheumatism Council door-knock

Applecross Scouts used the hall, with leader Dr Holiday

Scout Association got letter from tax office that levy is

no longer a tax deduction when given to our hall.

Outside of the hall is grassed by the scouts

New 10 HP Johnson motor was bought for $620

Orange sales with 40 per bag sold for $2. Stocks came

from Lower Chittering.

Sir Wallace Kyle came to present the Annual sailing

trophies and prizes

Fully rigged VJ donated to the group.

1978

The Group won the Master Mariners. His Excellency Sir Wallace Kyle again presented the prizes. Ray Nash presented with a ‘Thanks badge’ for all his work

Heathcote said we could join onto their bore for any reticulation that we may envisage. The Council said for $240 we could join onto their new one.

Cheese and wine party held, with slides and a cine film

of recent Group activities. Flying fox to be erected at Applecross Primary School Fair for the first time – charge 20 cents per trip.

Graham Mackie arranged a memorable Quiz Night, took $800 and made a profit of $300.

A raffle was held with a prize of $40 shopping per week

for 52 weeks.

1979

A family social night out held at the Pagoda Restaurant 4th Asia-Pacific Jamboree was held in Perry Lakes, Perth 

1980

150 paving slabs laid around hall by scouts and their fathers. The Rovers painted the inside and outside of the hall.Trees for shade were planted near the lawn and retainer

sleepers laid.

Mr Cook of Floreat Park gave the group a 12 ft rowing boat and Mr Hollick gave a 16ft Hornet.

1981

The main Fund raising was a Liptons Tea drive. The tea sold for $1.90 per cannister (bought for $1.10 from Liptons)

1982

Neill Gardiner starts as main driving force behind boat refurbishing and waterskills.  Cricket calendars sold for fund raising

1983

Parents reminded that regulation footwear is black or

brown LEATHER shoes.

Soap box Derby again on Honour Rd. Point Walter.

Scouts temporarily stopped due to lack of Leaders, advert

put in ‘West Australian’ and ‘Melville Times’.

Sparks came out of the kitchen water heater when turned

on. Rewire was necessary.

Paper collecting paid $22 per ton, when bundled.

Bottle collection was given to Coca Cola Company because

they gave us 15 cents, instead of the normal 11 cents for

anyone’s bottles.

Nick Loades becomes assistant scout leader

6 scout patrols – eagles, dugites, condor, hawks, tigers

and ospreys.

Waylen Bay cubs billett a pack from the country for the

Cubilee.

1984

Scoutabout (now Trek-a-bout) had 19 cubs and 14 scouts

complete the 40 km.

Lyn Ward gets her long service award … for 20 years.

1985

Subs now $15 per term (3 terms) or $40 per year.

Len Warren asked if he could reform Venturer Unit.

Mars bars donated 10 cents for every wrapper collected.

Waylen Bay Scouts won the rowing Challenge. They rowed

from Applecross Jetty to Nedlands in a record breaking 15 mins 41

seconds, won a $50 prize from 1st Mosman Bay and had 2 pictures

on front of the Melville Gazette.

$180 was obtained from Headquarters for a fuel tank that

went missing from our boat during the 7th Australian Venture.

A garage sale raised $366.

Crestcat donated by Kim Stedman, brought up from Mandurah

Scouts held Firework Display on the Melville Reserve

Cubilee held at Perry Lakes

The ever faithful lamington drive raises $250

Margaret Ross gave $40 towards a rowing competition

1986

At Founder’s Day celebration, Peter Shack MP donated a

new National Flag to the Group.

Tender put into Telecom for delivery of Yellow Pages

Neville Thorpe became District Commissioner, taking over

from Owen Sollis.

Len Warren gets his Venturer warrant

Venturers Unit formed with 10 members.

Scouts numbers go up to 10 from 6

For the second time in 3 years, the cubs got the most

money in Perth for Trek-a-bout … a magnificent $519.

After a great deal of bargaining, and arguing a new cycle

path was constructed between the hall and the beach, originally

it was suggested it should go between the hall and the Heathcote

slope, to reduce any problems of the path being difficult to

cross with boats. This would have been too expensive with the

necessary retaining walls.

New fire extinguishers bought for boot shed and hall.

1987

Fees set at $13 per term (now 4 terms per year) or $46

per year.

Nick Loades retires from his ‘temporary stand-in’ post

(lasted 4 years) as Group Leader.

Heathcote Hospital confirm the sale of their land does

not include our Hall as we are under Melvilles jurisdiction.

Venturers won their section of the Master Mariners’

Shield

1988

Scout Bicent camp at Troy Park, cubs had theirs in the

Araluen centre

Khaki trainers now Nationally acceptable footwear.

The fire extinguishers were emptied at a party held in

the hall when it was hired for the day.

The venturers again win the Master Mariners Shield.

Val Warren (venturers), & David Maynier (cubs) got their

warrants.

Venturer Jeremy Beck becomes our first Queen’s Scout.

Rovers hold Australia Day Dawn Service on the lawn at the

Hall starting at 5.00am, followed by a chicken and champagne

breakfast.

Jim Lloyd had a fundraising dung dig at Toodyay, made a

lot of money for the Group, but wrote off his car in the process

10 scouts and 3 venturers went on a boating weekend, as

intensive training for their charge certificates.

Photographs of the Group along with names of all the

members and committees were placed in the sealed ‘time capsule’

at Melville centre. To be opened in 100 years.

The venturers won many classes in their first bush baja

Groups insurance premium now $684.

The three sections of the Group won 5 out of the 6 major

prizes in the WA Branch Trek a bout for ’87 and ’88.

1989

The venturers pipped at the post on the hat trick for the

Master Mariners, by 4 points.

The second cub pack started 3rd May in order to clear the

28 on the waiting list. The meetings are held on Wednesday nights

with the Scouts moving to a Thursday night.

Venturers Bush Baja car – ‘agent orange’ – is written off

a couple of times, has 2 radiators wrecked and a driver destroys

a roo bar!! Still Dave Gardiner and Jeremy Beck get the prize for

best overall drivers score, and best Venturers result.

1ST WAYLEN BAY SEA SCOUT OFFICIALS 1964 – 89

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