A Logbook of My Scouting Adventures

When Graeme joined Scouts aged twelve, who knew it would lead to a commitment beyond forty years? Today we delve into his book THE FLEUR-DE-LIS, Khaki Shorts, and me by Graeme C Legge

Welcome to this edition of Newsgram.

There’s no place like Home. Home is where the heart is. Wherever I lay my hat is home. You’ve heard these expressions before. Home means different things to different people but at its core home is where your childhood memories come from. Just the word can evoke feelings of safety and security. It might be why you are still there…or on the other hand, it might be why you couldn’t wait to get out of there.

Graeme Legge is a fan of local history and a big believer in preserving it whenever possible.

Graeme C Legge – Local information, local history is worth recording it is important so I did start collecting newspaper clippings about Emerald

Graeme’s home is in Australia. Emerald to be more precise. It’s in Queensland located in the Northeast section of the continent and if you want to know more about the goings on in Emerald Graeme is a great resource.

Graeme C Legge – I think people can appreciate where they live and the work of others and perhaps be inspired to say well I’ve benefited from the work of others I should make my contribution and keep the process going.

To that end, he has written a book based on his many years of community service. It’s called The Fleur-De-Lis, Khaki Shorts and Me, A Logbook of My Scouting Adventures.

Graeme C Legge – I’m actually quite pleased with the outcome. I think it is an interesting read and experiences shared.

To coincide with the 75th Anniversary of Scouting the current scout Group leader in Emerald invited past Emerald Scouts to write about their experiences. Graeme had so many experiences that he turned them into a book. One story was the inspiration for the book’s cover. It features a photo of Lord Robert Baden-Powell’s wife Lady Baden Powell. Lord Robert Baden-Powell was the founder of the World Scouting movement.

Graeme C Legge – His wife, Lady Baden Powell came through Emerald one Friday night after school. Now we knew that she was coming through so we assembled Cubs and Scouts and Guides and Brownies on the side of the road and hoping that the good Lady when she was passing might see this assembled group of young people and might perhaps have her car slow down and she’d wave and we’d wav vigorously and enthusiastically to her. She did better than that. She got the guide to stop the car. She stepped out of the car and came over to the assembled young people and leaders. She spoke for about fifteen minutes about what she had been doing and she was the world chief girl guide leader. and I thought it was lovely. How gracious to do that. It was very uplifting experience so hey there’s a connection between Emerald and the founder of scouting himself by way of his wife.

Graeme has certainly made a valuable contribution to his community through all of his service over the years. His book is excellently written and Illustrated but does it live up to core values of scouting — Duty to God, Duty to Others, and Duty to Self? Most definitely.

Graeme C Legge – On Sunday’s I went to church and Sunday school and I learned about God and I learned about the good Samaritan who helped other people. I went to school on Monday and we saluted the flag in those days and we stood at attention and said I love God and my country. I will honor the flag and serve the King or Queen and cheerfully obey my parents, teachers and the law. On Friday nights I went to Scouts and said, “I promise in my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and the Queen to help other people at all times and to obey the scout law. Those lessons, those outlooks that reinforcement I think was very positive and led me to conclude that we are helped by other people. We take advantage of what has gone on before us by way of buildings and constructions and works of art and outlooks on life and that we do well to contribute our part and not be selfish if we don’t but contribute our part and keep the momentum and so this idea of looking outwards to the community, helping others, serving other and perhaps enriching the locality and looking outwards and upwards to God to Spiritual outlook that is very wholesome and very health and very practical and very enjoyable as well.

Graeme Legge is a quality guy and a great community leader. I think you’ll enjoy reading about one of the early scouting trips they took to the UK.

Graeme C Legge – Part of that occasion involved having afternoon tea in a place called Sir James’s Palace in London, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. That was very lovely and special. On the way through Sir Jame’s palace the Rule paused in one room and he said, “Now you Victorian school boys will be especially interested in their painting”, it was an original painting of the opening of federal parliament in Australia it was done in 1901.

There’s more to that story so if we’ve piqued your interest feel free to download a copy of the book The Fleur-De-Lis, Khaki Shorts and Me. A Logbook of My Scouting Adventures by Graeme C Legge. His eminent achievements and exceptional service to Scouts Australia and elsewhere make this an outstanding read.

It’s available now from Apple Books, Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. There are also link in the shows description…and that will do it for another edition of Newsgram from Webtalkradio.com

Graeme Legge was recently a guest on the Books on Air podcast with Suzanne Harris. 

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