Len Beadell's life changed forever when he joined the 1st Burwood Scout Group in 1930.
It gave him experience in surveying while on many weekend survey trips
with his Scout Leader, Mr John "Skip" Richmond.
It also brought out the best in
his pioneering spirit, spending many weekends in the bush with his Scout group.
Len
regarded "Skip",
his Scout Leader, as his mentor.
Len stated: "He showed me it was
possible to enjoy all the pleasures of the bush (particularly camping)
while at
the same time still doing something useful and constructive (that is,
surveying)."
These
survey trips were conducted within a 150 kilometre radius of Sydney, mainly
around Kiama and in the Blue Mountains.
Skip would pick the willing helpers up
on a Saturday morning in his bull-nosed Morris and return them home late on
Sunday night. The children brought only a small back pack and a
frypan.
They loved camping in the bush, cooking (and burning) porridge,
trudging up and down hills carrying theodolites and other equipment, and
searching for old survey markers,
as if on a treasure hunt.
The purpose behind each excursion was to establish a trigonometric network for the Water Board and planning the location and pipeline connection between major dams supplying water to Sydney.
In the mid 1930s Skip took his Scout Group to the Belair National Park, near Adelaide, for a national Scout Jamboree.
Lennie's Scout Sleeves showing his badges, including King Scout Badge
Thanks to Jacqui Asser (nee Beadell) for this page
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