Helping youth a passion for leader
Helping youth with life skills is immensely satisfying for Edendale scout leader Allister Gauldie.
The scouting movement is a big part of his life and his family’s.
Wife Becky is a kea leader and their children, Ben,14, and Liana, 12, are in scouts and Alyssa, 8, is in cubs.
Allister and Becky have also been foster parents.
‘‘We like to see kids progress in life,’’ Allister says.
Twenty years ago he was part of the Presbyterian Support Southland’s Big Buddy mentoring programme. The mentors were trained to help disadvantaged youth.
During the two years he was involved, he helped one youth, a 9-year-old boy.
‘‘I’d pick him up on a Sunday and we’d do something for two or three hours, like biking or fishing,’’ Gauldie said.
His involvement with scouts started when he was living in Cromwell as a 12 to 14-year-old.
He later moved away from scouts and it wasn’t until living at Mataura Island in 2002 that the opportunity arose to get involved again.
His oldest son, Sam, was 7 at the time and interested in the Edendale Scout Group.
‘‘I took him along and I thought I’d get back into it,’’ Allister said.
Being among the scouting movement again reignited Allister’s interest.
He became a scout leader 10 years ago and in 2011 was appointed group leader at the Edendale den.
A total of 48 youth are involved in either scouts, cubs or keas at the den.
‘‘We [scout officials] are not a huge part of their lives but the part we are in, we want it to be positive for them.
‘‘We hope we’ve had some influence on their life.’’
Some of Edendale’s community leaders are past members of the Edendale Scout Group.
Being a past or current member of a scout group can add appeal to job applications, Allister says.
He remembers a plane trip from Invercargill to Christchurch five or six years ago and sitting next to a man who was going through job applications.
The man told him that young people with scouting experience or who had completed a Duke of Edinburgh Award or community service, went to the top of his list.
‘‘It shows commitment, they’re prepared to get off their butts and do something,’’ Allister says.
‘‘It prepares kids for the future, gives them a sense of doing something for themselves.’’
National programmes are used at the Edendale den. The Sandford course includes public speaking which can take people out of their comfort zone.
‘‘We get them to do things wouldn’t normally do.’’ they
In the spring, the 17 scouts will have a weekend at Monowai to learn about kayaking, hiking and fishing.
Fundraising is on-going for the Edendale Scout Group, but it is more important this year because plans are in place to upgrade the den by late December. About $50,000 is needed.
Some of the fundraising projects have been planting trees, selling firewood, picking up rubbish and being car park marshalls at events in the district.
Heat pumps are being installed in the den this week, while the main priority is a new roof.
After the renovations are completed, Allister would like to make the den available to other groups and organisations.
It could fill a void left by the closure of the Edendale Public Hall three years ago.
The Edendale Scout Group bought its building in 1972. The building is 107 years old.
In addition to scouting, Allister is on the Menzies College board of trustees and committees of the Edendale civil defence and Edendale swimming pool.
All four roles are voluntary and away from his employment as a PGG Wrightson technical field representative.
After leaving school, he had thought of becoming a chef in the army but that didn’t materialise.
Hunting and fishing are his main hobbies.
He doubts he will ever finish with scouting activities.
‘‘I can’t see myself ever leaving, even if I do advising, helping with fundraisers or helping out at the den.’’