1^st Mount Waverley Cub Scouts

While stationed in India in the late nineteenth century, Baden-Powell found that his men didn't know basic first aid or outdoor survival skills. They couldn't follow a trail, tell directions, read danger signs, or find food and water. In 1896, Baden-Powell drew upon his background as an army scout to write a small military handbook “Aids to scouting.” He hoped to teach his men resourcefulness, adaptability and the leadership qualities demanded by frontier conditions.

Baden-Powell became world famous during the Boer War in 1899. He held the small town of Mafeking in South Africa during a 217 day siege. The enemy force was estimated to be ten times the size of his force. He returned to London a national hero and was promoted to Lieutenant General.

When B-P returned to England, he found that his little handbook had captured the imagination of English boys and was widely read. In August of 1907, he began a test of an idea that had been growing in his mind for years. He gathered 22 boys from all parts of England. Some were from exclusive schools, others from the slums, shops or farms. He took them to Brownsea Island in a sheltered bay off England's southern coast. Along the shore they set-up a camp which was their home for the next 12 days. The boys had a great time! They were organized into patrols. They hiked and played games, cooked without utensils and learned pioneering skills. In the evenings, by the campfire, they were spellbound by B-P's stories of his army adventures. Scouting had begun and was destined to spread around the world.

After the Brownsea camp, B-P rewrote his earlier handbook and called it Scouting for Boys. It was first published as a five-part series of magazine articles. People liked the series so much that it was published as a book in 1908. Boys around England (and the rest of the world including Australia) organised themselves into Patrols and asked adults they respected to become their Leaders. Several years later patrols joined together to form Scout Troops.

Wolf Cubs

B.P. planned Scouting for boys between the ages of 11 and 18, but younger boys, seeing the fun and adventure older brothers and friends were having as Scouts, wanted to join too. So, in 1914, he announced his plans for 'Junior Scouts' and at once set to work on a handbook for the new Section. In this task he had the help of a friend of his, Rudyard Kipling, author of 'The Jungle Book', who had already shown his interest in the Scout Movement by writing books for it. 'Junior Scouts' soon became 'Wolf Cubs' and Cubbing started officially in 1916. By September 1917 there were more than 28,000 Wolf Cubs in England and thousands more overseas. (right 1926 edition)

Why "Wolf Cubs" ? Young Scouts who are not quite old enough to join the Scout Troop are called "Wolf Cubs" In the far Western Prairies of America the Red Indians were a nation of scouts. Every man in the tribe was a pretty good scout. Nobody thought anything of him if he wasn’t. So there was great rivalry among the young braves as to who could be the best scout. And those who proved themselves best got the nickname of "Wolf" There would be "Grey Wolf", "Black Wolf", "Red Wolf” and so on; but “Wolf” was the title of honour meaning a really good scout.

If you went across the world to South Africa, though the people were entirely different, you would find that they, too, were good scouts, and they, too, called their best scouts “Wolf” These were, every man of them, good warriors and scouts because they learnt scouting while they were yet boys. Scouts are called “Wolves” and young Scouts are therefore called “Wolf Cubs” since a Wolf Cub is a young wolf. (from “The Wolf Cubs Handbook”, R Baden-Powell, 1916)

The term “scout” means a pioneer or explorer; someone who is self-sufficient and able to look after themselves, while “Scout” with a capital S is a member of the Scout Association)

Uniforms (1920s to 1970s)

From the early days until the 1970s Wolf Cubs wore a blue, green or grey jersey (jumper) with their badges sewn on. A Sixer wore two gold arm bands (right) and a Second wore one. Some packs also had a Senior Sixer who wore three gold arm bands. Six patches wore worn in the same location as they are now however they were triangular. Wolf Cubs wore a green cap and, instead of the boomerang badges, earned up to two stars which were worn on their Caps.

During World War II uniforms were scarce and people needed ration coupons to buy things like clothes. The coupons were saved for more important needs such as general clothing and school uniforms. Caps were scarce and at times a full Cub uniform was considered a luxury. Often Cubs wore their jersey, scarf and cap over their school uniform. Cubs wore ‘Sock Tops’ which were knitted in the same colours as the group scarf and fitted over the coloured bands of their school socks. As socks didn’t have elastic woven into them like they do now, Cubs wore elastic garters to keep them up, with green material (named garter tabs) attached.

Although the award scheme has been updated a number of times, parts of the original tests are still found amongst today’s Boomerang Tests. The award scheme used in Australia and most other commonwealth countries for the first 50 years was the same as used in England.

Ceremonies (1920s to 1970s)

The Grand Howl was similar to today’s except that the Sixers challenge to the Pack was DYB, DYB, DYB (meaning Do Your Best) and the Pack replied We’ll DOB, DOB, DOB (Do Our Best). This was changed in January 2000.

Some Packs used the jungle opening which was more complicated (we use it on a jungle theme night) or a flag parade with the Sixers parading the flags to the flagpole.

Wolf Cubs saluted with two fingers (like wolf’s ears) instead of three. (right)

The New Design and Towards 2000

1973 - Major changes were introduced with the “New Design”. The name was changed from Wolf Cubs to Cubs, the uniform was changed to Khaki, the familiar three finger salute used by the Scouts was adopted by the Cubs and Boomerangs and Achievement badges were introduced with different achievement badge subjects for different ages. Cubs had to pass 12 out of 15 tests to gain a boomerang. Test 14 (Flag / Emblems) and Test 15 (Promise and law) were compulsory and had to be done last.

1985 - The achievement badges were altered so that each badge was available in all three levels.
         - Cubs were now named Cub Scouts.

1988 - Girls were introduced into the Cub Scout and Scout sections.

1991 - Joey Scouts began. As the Cub Scout section was no longer the youngest section a Cub Scout Link badge and Cub Scout going up ceremony were introduced.

1992 - A uniform of sage shirt with collar and moss green shorts was introduced. Several achievement badges were discontinued and some Boomerang tests were updated and divided into compulsory and optional tests. Cub Scouts now have to complete all seven compulsory tests and can choose three of the seven optional ones to complete a boomerang. The Yellow Cord was introduced to challenge older Cubs.

2000 - the Grand Howl was changed. The duty Sixer’s challenge to the pack became “Cub Scouts do your best” instead of DYB DYB DYB and the Pack’s reply became “We will do our best”

Centenary Changes

2004 - Another round of major changes was made to the Cub Scout section leading up to the Centenary of Scouting. Along with all other sections of Scouting the uniform was changed with the Cub Scouts having a blue polo shirt with yellow sleeves. The uniform was first introduced in July 2004 and the old uniform was to be phased out by the end of 2008 however our Pack were all wearing the new uniform by early 2007.

Commencing on 1st January 2005 a new award scheme was introduced. The Boomerangs were altered to a diamond shape and the yellow cord was replaced with a new badge called a Grey Wolf. The achievement badges were reduced from three levels to two and the red and green levels swapped to be different from the other sections. Now the green badge is the easier and the red badge is the more difficult.

The achievement badges were grouped into four categories much like they were prior to the 1972 new design.