Shane Jacobson on the skills, friendships and comic failures of Scouting
Shane Jacobson recalled the bushcraft mistake that sent his Scout group in the wrong direction: he kept his compass away from his belt buckle, then placed the map and compass on a metal car bonnet. The group missed every checkpoint and needed a passing driver to collect them.
Jacobson credited Scouts with teaching him public speaking, respectful debate, practical skills and self-reliance. He remembered attending a jamboree in Ipswich at thirteen, where heavy rain flooded his tent and the Scouts built a bridge back to the rest of camp.
The article preceded his investiture as Victoria’s Chief Scout. The archive also includes a related interview about his stage and screen career.
By Ruth Lamperd. First published in the Herald Sun, 14 February 2015. Archive copies supplied by Scout Heritage Victoria.
Original archive scans
