VICTORIA’S SCOUT SETTLEMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20065, 23 March 1935, Page 11

VICTORIA’S SCOUT SETTLEMENT

CATERING FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED SCOUTS At Port Melbourne is a Scout Settlement, which is something akin to London’s Roland House. This Scout Settlement in Port Melbourne was founded three years ago, by members of the 3rd Port Melbourne Scout Group and Scouts and Cubs all over Victoria and their friends. Support later became even more wide-spread, and the Settlement received regular assistance from South Africa and England. Known as a Social Service Centre, the House caters for under-privileged boys, and its services are manifold. They include hot baths, medical and optical attention, antiseptic dressing, clothing, parcels of food for unemployed and in addition a very comprehensive scheme of recreational activities is carried out. The Settlers, as they are known, have a library, games room, and workshop, and have their regular picture shows in the rooms. Other activities include a choir, and a fortnightly newspaper called the Settler, which is entirely conducted by members of the Scout Troop. The boys are under no obligation to become Scouts, but of the 106 members of the Settlement, 42 are either Scouts or Cubs. Special activities conducted at appropriate times are:— Soup distribution, Christmas good cheer for unemployed and their families, holiday camp for under-privileged boys, and various entertainments.