By Karen Poh
ALTONA Meadows resident Karla Cox is retiring after almost 40 years of service with Scouts Australia. Ms Cox, who turns 71 this year, said it all began with the counting of subscription money for the cub scouts.
“My eldest son, who is now 50, decided to try out cub scouts after his aunt kept telling him what a wonderful thing it was.
“He stayed, and I was asked to count the subscription money every week and from there on, it just escalated,” she said.
Ms Cox has served as the Cub Scouts district leader for the past 17 years.
She is fond of the outback.
“We take about 30 or 40 children between 12 and 16 to show them the real Australia. We’ve done one in the September school holidays every year for the past seven years,” Ms Cox said.
A nurse by profession, Ms Cox goes as a first-aider. But she is also the chief cook, washer, “and all that sort of stuff”.
It is all part and parcel of what volunteering is about.
“Whatever comes along you jump in and do it. It is a commitment, it’s very challenging at times, but it is also gratifying and worthwhile,” Ms Cox said.
“I’ve taken away a lot of joy and a lot of fun, helping kids grow up into responsible adults, it’s a great boost to me.”
“Scouts do a lot more than just helping old ladies across the roads and we do other things than tie knots,” she said.
“There’s horse riding, abseiling, canoeing, caving, diving, you name it. We have an aeroplane down at Moorabbin, they can even learn to play an aeroplane.”
She is also thankful for the many good and helpful friends she has made along the way – some for many, many years, Ms Cox said.
She is sad to retire.
“I’m not exactly 21 any more and things were getting a bit too much,” Ms Cox said.
“But I’m still going to help out where I can. And if anybody needs assistance, I’m here for them,” she said.
