By DANIELLE GALVIN
DARREN Spargo’s passion for Scouting is obvious from the get-go.
The well-known local business owner was recently appointed as the District Commissioner for Cardinia, and has a number of new ideas to help “spread the Scouting message” and encourage the movement back into the Scouts.
“Cardinia is one of the fastest growing municipalities, and I look forward to leading the district into an exciting future,” he said.
Darren was a youth member and joined Cubs at age seven, he wasn’t particularly interested in team sports at the time, so he saw Scouts as a social outlet and loved it.
“The skills I learnt through Scouting was the sense of community and self-worth – that’s what it’s all about,” he said.
“It’s also about developing their own self-esteem, and the important thing to remember is that Scouts is the second largest organised education provider in the country, our focus is on developing young people physically.”
For Darren, the benefits of Scouting are many and varied, but the challenge is getting the message out there about what the organisation does.
“It enables us to do challenges and part of it is to build self-esteem, overcoming fears and stretching the boundaries.”
At a Scout level, the young ones are encouraged not to sit at home on the weekend and play Xbox but to get out in their patrols and go camping, do outdoor activities and be social.
“The whole idea behind Scouting was to engage young people who were troubled to do something more meaningful and get them back on track – give them the focus they need to develop into better citizens,” he said.
Darren has the growth in Cardinia and Casey in his sights and believes there could be the chance to start up four new groups in the shire.
He said the Scouts had been recognised as a forward thinking, progressive organisation.
“In moving forward, my vision for the district is not to reinvent the wheel, merely to keep it turning, have it well serviced and make sure it has the best tyre for the road ahead,” he said.
Since moving to the area after he and wife Jennie got married in 1992, Darren has been an active member of the community.
He has been president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, member and past president of the Pakenham Rotary Club, school council member and past president of the Nar Nar Goon Primary School council.
Today, one of the things that gives Darren the most pleasure is hearing about a former Scout doing great things.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the former Scout you see become a councillor or the mayor or just to see the sense of accomplishment you witness when a Scout wakes up after their first night on survivor camp, Scouting is all abut providing the opportunity for every individual to experience social, physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development, so that they may achive their full potential and as responsible citizens, to improve society.”
