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A Scout is respectful
It was such a pleasure to have Alex as one of our scouts. All of his leaders appreciated his co-operation, his willingness to participate, and valued our friendship. Alex wanted to come to scouts and we wanted to be there as well, because of scouts like Alex.
A Scout cares for the environment.
Alex, Hannah, Briellen and Jake did the 2 night, 3 day Adventurer level hike from Mogg’s Creek to Lorne. It was the last thing that Alex had to do to get his green cord. It was a hike I had attempted when I was a scout and given we got lost (twice), it was one I was keen for the scouts to do. On the first day the scouts had to hike from Moggs Creek to Big Hill campsite, along the (at times not so) Gentle Annie Track. Times have changed though, and these days it is important to make sure that the scouts are safe, so I stayed overnight at my Mum’s place in Geelong, with the arrangement that I would drive to Big Hill in the morning to make sure they were OK. I decided to take Mum with me, and on the way happily told her about how well-trained the scouts were. When we got there I was surprised to find Alex and his companions in their pyjamas with pained looks on their faces. They persuaded me to drive them into Lorne (about 15-20k away) so that they could use the …hmm...facilities. I was encouraged to hurry. Alex was not the most sporty person in the world (although he did have a Black Belt in taekwondo), but I think he set some sort of world record once I had parked the car. Afterwards, the relief on his face was something to behold.
Later in the same hike the group camped at Cora Lyn camping ground. There were toilets about 1.5k away but Alex judged that this was too far. Not fond of unaided “squatting†he decided to make use in some way of the small campstools I had left to enhance his comfort, and if anyone could come up with some ingenious way to do something it was Alex. The next morning one of the girls enquired as to whether one of the stools she wanted to sit on was the one he had used. No, it wasn’t, he said. And then, after the said girl had sat down, Alex considered the matter further, and in the matter of fact manner that we enjoyed then and miss so much now, decided that he had made a mistake and advised her that indeed it was the seat he had employed.
Alex Mylius was a scout at 1st Strathmore for only eighteen months, but in that time he had a very big influence on the group. He had started at 1st Hadfield, and was also at 1st Glenroy, but was looking for a scout group that met on a Wednesday night and joined 1st Strathmore with his sister, Hannah, and friends Charlotte and Chris Hart.
Van Nguyen, an outstanding scout leader and one of Alex’s former leaders, was often heard to say that “Alex is a good boyâ€, and this was the highest praise possible. Alex was a wonderful scout, not only in the badges he earned (which included the Australian Scout Medallion-the highest award for scouts), but in the way that he lived by the scout law:
A Scout is trustworthy
We knew Alex by reputation as a very good scout, and with his genial and gentle nature, he was instantly accepted as a valued member of the troop. Shortly after he arrived, he was appointed as a Patrol Leader and later as the “Troop Leaderâ€, both roles he carried out with distinction.
A Scout is loyal
In 2005 we were going to Stradbroke Cup held over Easter, and I was pretty sure that the Scorpion Patrol (all boys), even with Alex, could not get a Gold; but the Lyrebird Patrol (all girls) just might, if Alex would transfer over as their Patrol leader just for the camp. Alex thought about it, but didn’t think it was right to desert his mates. I was half right-the girls did get the Gold. (Alex was fond of telling me how he had a complete set of Straddy penants-Gold, Silver, and Bronze; but in the wrong order).
A Scout is helpful
The troop had a very enjoyable hike in the Brisbane Ranges starting at Anakie Gorge, with the younger scouts hiking for the day, and the older scouts sleeping overnight and finishing at Steiglitz. This was the first hike that we had used GPSs on, and Alex who was the most experienced scout on the hike caught on how to use the GPSs much more quickly than his technology challenged scout leader. This was typical of Alex: knowing where he could be of help, and without being asked, just helping out. As troop leader, he was often asked to run a base or activity, and he always did this well.
A Scout is friendly
Alex got on with everyone at scouts; younger and older, boys and girls, leaders and parents.
A Scout is cheerful
Alex always had a twinkle in his eye. He enjoyed everything that he did at Scouts whether it was a normal meeting night or when we were out and about. He loved our nights at “Dark Zoneâ€, and took great delight in jumping out and catching us unawares. When it rained at camp, he shrugged his shoulders, and just got on with the cooking. When someone else cooked and the food was unpalatable he pretended to enjoy it and reminded everyone it wasn’t as bad as last time, but only just.
A Scout is considerate
Alex never judged other scouts and accepted them as they were. He always was willing to make sure everyone had an even go.
A Scout is thrifty
At that time at Strathmore we usually had two patrols at competition camps-one for the boys and one for the girls. Planning was inevitably more difficult for the boys and often Alex had to inform Grant or me that although they had remembered the important things like the hot dogs, the tomato sauce, and even the Coco Pops, they had forgotten the detergent and the scourers. If Grant or I weren’t around, Alex was often sent over to negotiate with the girl’s patrol, as after all everyone liked Alex, and if anyone else was sent over the most likely response would be to “Get Lostâ€.
A Scout is courageous
By definition, anyone who sleeps in the boys tent, with the associated odours that go with that, is courageous.
The scouts, leaders and parents of 1st Strathmore Scout Group are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Brendan Boyle who passed away on Thursday 14th of May 2009.
Brendan and his brother Phillip began cub scouts with the group in 1997/1998. Although Brendan never went on to scouts, his and Phillip's involvement was the start of a long and wonderful contribution by the Boyle family to our scout group with Fiona, his older sister, being a Patrol Leader and Premier Scout, and Katherine, his younger sister, being a Sixer and Gold Cord cub scout. In addition his father Steve was President of our group and also the Group Leader for a number of years.
Anyone who met Brendan was fortunate to meet a friendly and outgoing boy, very intelligent and blessed with ability in sports. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with Stephen, Dorothy, Fiona, Philip and Katherine.