15th July 2025

Melbourne Gang Show 2025

1st Ferntree Gully Scout group have three members in the cast; Lachlan and Tyler Francis and Jemima Larmour (all Rover Scouts) were all on stage in the cast. Lachlan (playing the Earth King), Tyler (playing the son of the evil magician) and Jemima (multiple ensemble roles) are all incredible young adults and great representatives of Scouting in our community. 

Lachlan has been in the Melbourne Gang Show for the past 11 years and this year wrote and assembled four of the songs in the show. His experience in the show has influenced his career path having recently completed a Bachelor of Music, specialising in jazz and improvisation and now works in the live theatre industry.  I spoke with him about writing those songs and music for a live stage production with music played by a 25-person orchestra.

Lachlan starts with the lyrics, writing them in mitre then building the music for piano and then arranging and re-writing the piece so that it can be played by the 25-piece orchestra at the Gang Show, which can take another two weeks or so to complete.  The four songs by Lachlan in this year’s show represent a significant contribution to the success of the Gang Show.

When asked about continuing with the show over the coming years, Lachlan mused “It presents quite a challenge, and that challenge is inviting because it helps me improve not only my music skills but also my abilities as an actor and performer. Working with a team of about 20 people within the production team and collaborating with others outside of it is the biggest challenge. Together, we strive to create a cohesive production that makes sense to audiences and all participants involved.”

Lachlan recommends participation in the Gang Show for any aspiring thespians among our local Scouts and Guides; “I think that's what the beauty of Gang Show, that it presents an opportunity for somebody to belong or to be a part of something bigger than themselves. To share it with other (Scouts and Guides) and share it with the audiences that come. Because the scouting idea is to share what we learn with other people and invite other people to participate.”

Jemima Larmour has been involved in Gang Show for nine years. Jemima said, “Gang show has taught me so much about both me and my capabilities as well as ways in which I can use my skills to help others.”

“Gang Show is an incredible production and includes many different technical teams behind the scenes to make it work, which are always looking for people interested in the other sides of theatre, so I find that even if someone isn’t a fan of being on stage and performing, they can find something they will enjoy and love to do at Gang Show.” 

“Being a part of Melbourne Gang Show also has served as a useful way to maintain balance in my life, as a full time student it can be difficult to pull myself away from my coursework, but having rehearsals each week with people I can consider my family allows me to take a step back and do more things that I love. I strongly recommend that anyone who can in the local community either goes and sees a Melbourne Gang Show performance or participates in it at least once in their lives.”

11th July 2025

Challenges with Knox Council

At the recent Knox Council meeting (23Jun25) district scouts directly asked council about challenges that council have put in place for local scout groups, preventing overnight scout activities at our scout hall. Overnight activities are a key part of building confidence and independence in our youth members, particularly our younger members – with overnight scout activities often being the first time our Joey Scouts have spent time away from their parents. Holding those activities at our scout hall means doing it in a supervised and safe manner. When challenged by a Cub Scout from 4th Knox Scout Group, the Mayor said that Scout groups could apply for a permit that would allow the overnight activity. What the Mayor failed to mention was that the cost of such a permit is close to $1000 each time – making it unattainable for a volunteer organisation like scouts. 

Knox council continues to renegotiate the leases for most of the Scout halls in the district including both 1st Ferntree Gully and 8th Knox, our local Ferntree Gully scout groups. Council have been pushing for an increase of a peppercorn lease for all for the halls in the district to a whopping $450 pa for each hall and increase of more than 54,000%. For a volunteer organisation like scouting, this fee would need to be passed directly onto our members, hurting the very youth that we are trying to help. 

It seems like Knox Council are abandoning their long support for local scout groups and the families that send their children to those scout groups. This feels like a kick in the teeth to our fantastic, trained Scout leaders who volunteer their time to help our youth members to be independent, confident and leaders among their peers.

Council’s approach to the lease negotiations feels like a money grab that could sink Scout groups financially and increase the fees that parents would need to pay for their children to get the benefits of scouting.

1st Ferntree Gully Scout group would welcome community members to voice their opinions to their ward’s Councillor encouraging the council to eliminate the new annual lease fees and permit overnight scouting activities at our halls.

15th May 2025

29th January 2025

5th January 2025

Queensland Bound!

It's been months and months of preparation and we're finally on the road to Maryborough, Queensland for the Australia Jamboree 2025. We have three members from 1st Ferntree Gully attending this Australian Jamboree - Mishank, Lief and Astro.  Both Mishank and Leif will be in Jamboree Unit C052 along with Scouts from 4th Knox, 8th Knox and 1st Kalista Scout Groups.