ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

BOYS' OWN ADVENTURE


Mountie hats and dib dib dob;
leather woggles; bob a job.
Brightly coloured neckerchiefs
and buckles marked with fleur de lis.
Marching, camping, uniforms;
adventuring with mates.
learning skills and knowledge
that the badges designate.

I used to wish that I could be
a scout and join the fun.

Come along ! they called to me,
join our troop, our company;
outward bound with active blokes
to share comradely dares and jokes.
Tramping, camping, outdoor life,
uniforms real smart.
Fine awards for members
who can bravely play their part.

Oh, one thing more, they said to me;
you'll need this shiny gun.

I like this Neville. Well thought out and well written (even neckerchiefs with fleur de lis.) Like the punch line and there is a great deal of truth in it!
I always wanted to be a cub and a scout but my parents couldn't afford the threepence per meeting nor the uniforms so they sent me to the Police Boy's Club which was free. Learned a lot of very interesting things there from the other poor kids!

Thanks Vic.

Baden-Powell's manual, Scouting for Boys, makes it clear that the purpose of the scouting movement was to prepare boys to be Citizen/Soldiers for the Empire
A concept going back to the Roman Republic. Australia was included in that.

But I make no judgement of right or wrong about it.

I'm sure there are many blokes and sheilas in Australia who still put into use things they were taught through the Scouting movement whether that be in civilian life or in the armed forces. Survival skills never go amiss. It is a great organization, not I suspect as well supported or popular these days as it once was, but for kids with a taste of adventure it is hard to beat... my son loved it - went through from Cubs to Rovers and was privileged to have some pretty brilliant scout leaders in that time.

Like the twist in the poem Neville and the history of course.

Cheers

Maureen

And a bit of trivia Maureen from QI. 11 out of the 12 men who have walked on the moon had been scouts.

Not just boys any more Neville. My two youngest daughters have been Cubs, Scouts and Venturers - the yougest is still a Venturer. Best thing i ever did for my girls - it has made them resourceful, independent and leaders. A lot of it depends on the leaders though and our group has been lucky in that respect.

Heather

Sounds good Heather.

Scouting also teaches kids to be community spirited. Our Broadford group collect for the Salvos and Royal Childrens' Hospital each year and one year I remember the kids all painted the outside of the house of one of our mums who is a single mum and was really struggling. I hate to imagine what sort of a paint job it was but gee those kids felt good about what they had done.

That's good Heather community spirit is what we need I reckon.

My little verse wasn't really about scouting. I have this DVD of the movie All Quiet on the Western Front. There is a scene where the young men, all good mates, have their passing out parade at the training barracks. They are all dressed up in their uniforms with their equipment and at the command of the Sergeant Major, they turn and march out the gate of the barracks, off to the horror of The Great War. I watch the scene over and over again, it brings me to tears.