By BEN CAMERON
Spargo’s Cardinia Shire Citizen of the Year…
OVER 10 years ago, long-time Pakenham community servant Darren Spargo made the decision to re-start the Scouting movement in Nar Nar Goon after a decade in the wilderness.
Today, he’s the reigning Cardinia Shire Citizen of the Year — a family man who devotes 110 per cent if a job’s worth doing.
While the job will never be over, the District Commissioner of Cardinia is proud to report since 2006, Scouting numbers have more than doubled in the area.
His three children have also been part of what he calls “the movement”, even though his eldest daughter Elise swore she never would.
“We have 100 Scout leaders at Cardinia, around 98 supporters and 500 actual youth members,” he said.
“But you don’t need a uniform to assist the movement.”
While it came at the expense of his involvement with Rotary, Mr Spargo’s dedication to the Scouts extends back 40 years to when he first attended a Cub Scout meeting.
It was there he made the pledge to “never give into myself”.
Curiously, Mr Spargo was sitting next to last year’s Citizen of the Year Matt McDonald at the Cardinia Cultural Centre when his name was called out at Pakenham’s official Australia Day ceremony.
The Pakenham businessman, who has run a photography shop on Main Street for nearly 21 years, also pipped his wife and fellow nominee Jennie to the gong.
Mr Spargo said the Australia Day awards had strong ties to Scouting in recent years.
“Senior Citizen of the Year Graeme Legge is the district executive chairperson for Cardinia Scouts,” he said.
“Young Citizen of the Year Holly Latter is also a Scout.
“In fact, the past three young citizen winners have been involved with the Scouts.
“It’s not because they are Scouts, it’s because what they learn and develop.
“Scouting is the future of our community.”
Born in Warragul, Mr Spargo remembers fondly the young people he’s helped guide over the years.
One in particular looked him up in the late 80s to thank him.
“He said, ‘Do you remember me?’
“He wanted to thank me for all the guidance I’d given him in Scouting.
“His name was Adam Tyson. He became the youngest ever councillor in the Baw Baw Shire, and then eventually became mayor.
“I love to see young people grow.”
While dedicating “more time than I spend working” to the Scouts, he has been determined to shatter misconceptions.
“People have the wrong perspective about Scouts, that it’s all about camping and tying knots,” he said.
“It’s all about educating young people through doing rather than through academically.
“We teach respect and loyalty.
“It’s also a great place to make friends. Scouting friends are for life.”
