The 1st Bega Cub Scout leaders Brian Sirl and Jennine Childs have served in the group together for 18 years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Childs thought this was the longest-serving record as a team in the district, which stretches from Eden to Batemans Bay out to the Southern Tablelands.
“Jeanine does everything and I just pick up the pieces,” Mr Sirl laughed.
“We’ve had a lot of fun over the years.”
But it looks like their time together could coming to an end, as the 96-year-old group is going into abeyance due to few members and not enough parental support.
A few years ago there were around 24 kids involved who were very active, but now there are only under half a dozen.
On Tuesday, a celebration was held at the scout hall in Bega attended by members of the group, their families, Eden cubs, girl guides and Cobargo scouts to thank the duo before the group took a temporary break.
They have family connections to the cub scouts, as Mr Sirl’s three grandchildren are in the group as were both of Ms Childs’ kids.
Mr Sirl even joined 38 years ago because of his son.
“My son got in and I said ‘how’s it going’ and he said ‘it’s not much fun’,” he said.
“So I said ‘I better come down and help you!’”
We’ve had a lot of fun over the years.
- Brian Sirl
Ms Childs said she would come back and help if the right person came along, because she had enjoyed her time with the cubs immensely.
“When you have a really good committee, and we have had some great committees, and good children it makes it all worthwhile,” she said.
“We’ve even got cubs who grew up, got married and brought their own kids to the group.”
Now they are taking a break, Ms Childs will travel overseas and Mr Sirl will spend more time on his farm.
“We are going to miss the kids,” he said.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do on Tuesday nights anymore – I’ll probably have to come into town for some fun!
“I hardly ever missed a night.”
Mr Sirl said one of the best things about scouts is that it helps children achieve and sets them up for life.
“It’s different from school, you learn survival skills, bush skills,” he said.
If anyone is interested in joining the cubs, call Gary Pearce on 0407 286 731.