From December 20, 1955 to January 30, 1956, I was privileged to enjoy the adventure of a lifetime as one of the six scouts and two leaders chosen to represent Canada for the first time at the Pan-Pacific Jamboree at Clifford Park near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The Jamboree officially opened December 30, 1955 and officially closed [...]

Miles Today - 0. Miles to Date - 1182
Woke up to what sounded like bells but were birds. Crazy morse code birds.
It finally stopped raining but got very hot. The muck was everywhere. As luck would have it, this is the most rain Australia has had in 83 years. Mud everywhere. My new patent leather [...]

Miles Today - 0. Miles to Date - 11828

Rain again! Pretty well all day. Still, our tent and all equipment is dry.

We were supposed to have our official opening marchpast today in front of Governor General Slim but it rained, so we didn’t or couldn’t.
By now, pretty well all our badges have been traded away. [...]

Miles Today - 0. Miles to Date - 11828

Got rubber boots today. Hallelujah. Got Coleman lantern for our tent. Sun shone and things started to dry out.In the afternoon, we had our opening marchpast parade. The Governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brooks, took the salute. 17,000 guys stood around to hear the opening address. There [...]

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Still mud. What a mess outside. We cooked for the 5th Sandringham today, our hosts. We cooked chops for breakfast [and introduced those Aussies to warm toast!] and steak for supper.
[When I was getting wood from the woodpile, a blue-tongued lizard streaked off in the other direction. [...]

Miles Today -0. Miles to Date - 11828

Heard today that Mr. Nichols in on the New Year’s Roster of the Queen and had received the Order British Empire from the Queen. He’s a very nice man and well deserves that great honour.
Had an invite to tea at the camp of the 1st Toronto New South [...]