Scouting history display brings back memories

Since November the Dannevirke Gallery of History has had on display memorabilia and photos of the Dannevirke Scouting Movement.

Now no longer operating in Dannevirke the scouting movement began in the town soon after its introduction to New Zealand in 1908, so there is a lot of history.

It took a gift of a treasured memento — in this case a walking stick carved with all the scout badges created by Jim Cummings when he was 16 — to spark the display of the vast store of scouting items the Gallery had.

There are huge thick camp blankets adorned with badges of camps, jamborees and skills belonging to Farlee Nicol, Wally Parker, Ricki Parker and Eunice Gilbert.

There are many other scarves, uniforms, equipment and even a solitary fund-raising sweet now well past its use-by date. A special feature on Lord Baden-Powell — founder of the Scouting movement — is also a source of information.

There are reminiscences from Scoutmaster Wally Parker who attended the 1935 Melbourne International Jamboree at Frankston. Lord Baden Powell attended. The 240 New Zealanders built a camp in the form of a Ma¯ ori pa¯ , considered one of the best camp sites and performed haka, waiata and Ma¯ ori stick games for the multicultural audience despite there being only one Ma¯ ori in their group.

With at least 33 scout leaders, many of whom are still alive, and thousands of former scouts still living here, the Gallery of History hopes they will come to see the display and add reminiscences to the book. There are disappointingly few so far.

Visitors come in regularly to view this and other exhibits. A bus load is coming in early March after which a new feature display will be created.

Pat Mills with Jim Cumming’s carved walking stick and the Scouting Display in the Dannevirke Gallery of History.

Many of the scout leaders who provided such great experiences for their troops.

Some of the hundreds of photos in the Gallery of History bringing back memories.