Snapshot of the past

A photograph of well-known Drouin identity John “Jack” Duncan Grubb working to erect the Drouin Scout Hall in just one day in January 1931.

Affectionately known as “JD”, he is captured working alongside Allan Armstrong.

The scouting movement was a lifelong passion for John who joined Drouin scouts in 1921. He was scout master, group master, district commissioner for 11 years and honorary commissioner after his “retirement” in 1961.

He was the driving force behind the group who built the scout hall in one day in Oak St.

A newspaper report of the event described the well-coordinated effort of 40 workmen on the job from 8am to 8pm. The structure was 40 by 27 feet and built at a cost of £130.

“A sight long to be remembered was the nailing down of the 3200 ft of flooring by a band of lads, whose energy and enthusiasm knew no bounds,” it said.

John and his wife Vera were both well known in the Drouin community.

They married in Traralgon in 1921 after his return from World War I where he was wounded in action.

In 1924, they purchased Mr Faragher’s timber and undertaking business in Main St.

The Grubbs lived in a charming Victorian house on the corner of Young St and Bank Pl behind their corner businesses. The house was well-known and many locals were sad to see it demolished in 1991 after Vera’s death.

The land remained vacant for a number of years until purchased by the Drouin and District Community Bank. The new building now serves as the administration offices of Drouin and District Community Financial Services and several business offices.

The recently published book “A Tribute to Those who Served Volume Two” records that John was the president of the Drouin RSL and SILA from 1928 to 1937. He was active in the Drouin Angling Club, the Masonic Lodge, was a member of the Drouin Presbyterian Church and involved in community drives to transport firewood for the Warragul hospital and to raise funds for a War Weapons Drive.

John was an inaugural commissioner with the Drouin Waterworks Trust and worked in this role for more than 20 years.

John enlisted again for World War II in the Volunteer Defence Corp, serving three years.

He was awarded the Scouts Medal of Merit for his dedication to the scouting movement in 1956. When the scout hall was opened in Victoria St in October 1991 it was named JD Grubb Hall in honour of his contribution to the 1st Drouin Scouts.

John Grubb Park is also the name of the eastern section of Civic Park in Drouin, having been named in John’s honour before it was amalgamated into Civic Park.

John died in 1967. Vera continued to live in the house in the centre of Drouin until her death in 1991.

Photograph courtesy of the 1st Drouin Scouts and information courtesy Stories of Drouin, a cooperative oral history project between The Committee for Drouin, Drouin History Group and 3BBR FM to preserve local stories.

Visit storiesofdrouin.com.au or hear the story of JD Grubb as told by Brian Milner at the 2018 Drouin Cemetery Walk.