We'd go camping out the back of Kiewa and Bellbridge.

We kept our axes very sharp and cut fallen timber for our camp fires.

With our rabbits and fish we'd cook spuds, carrots and other vegies we'd brought with us, make a gravy stew and eat well.

If we didn't take tents, we made ourselves shelters out of timber and thatched them with leaves and bark.

We'd never take timber from the banks of water courses - that was left to protect the banks and streams.

We'd go into the hills for timber and thatching.

Our Troop Leader (Alf Besford) instilled in us care of the environment; he taught us about nature and living with it.

We had to be able to identify various types of trees and learn about the value of their timber for various uses, such as stringy bark and peppermint eucalypts.

He'd leave us in a camp for perhaps ten days at a time, but visit us unexpectedly at any hour of the day or night.

He never got past our night traps without us becoming aware of his presence.

He'd taught us the importance of protecting ourselves.

We might string tins with pebbles threaded on fishing line which would rattle and sound loud at night if tripped.

We soon learnt the difference between people and animals setting off our traps.

If it was an animal, you'd hear it race off into the night - especially the kangaroos.

We were never scared at night - we'd be tired out from our day's activities - we never thought about being scared.

Everything he taught us was directed to making us independent as individuals and work together as a team.

As well as making our shelters, we made tables and seats.

We camped most comfortably.

If it was wet weather, we learnt to thatch our shelters properly to keep out the water.

Sometimes, parents and friends would visit and bring tins of fruit and we walked to the nearest dairy to get milk.

We always had plenty of milk to drink.