Eumeralla Scout Camp

A man called 'Boss"
Harold E. Hurst 1888 - 1972
"a friend to all"

'Boss' Hurst - An overview

Lord Baden Powell said "Look Wide" and Boss had a wide vision.  He was so far in front; one could never quite catch up.

It began in 1923 with one man and his vision.  Fifty years later, the man, Mr Harold Edward Hurst died - he had been presented to King George V and his granddaughter Queen Elizabeth 11 - and yet his door throughout had been wide open to thousands of boys, regardless of race, class or creed, who wanted help, advice or just a friendly chat.

For 50 years Boss was Scouting in Geelong.  He was father to thousands of boys and his influence on them was lasting, he gathered around him a dedicated group in the early 1920's and inspired them to assist him in his life's work for the young people of the region.  Somehow he also found time to father a nation Nauru.

Harold Hurst became interested in youth in the early stages of his manhood, being a leading figure in amateur athletics, boxing, rowing and football.  He organised the training programme for the Geelong contestants for the 1924 Empire games, when Mr Ray Jones represented Geelong in boxing.  He was a member of the Geelong Football Club Committee and had been a member of the club until his death.

Boss also coached the Geelong College 1st Crew for some years.  Boss was a well-respected member of the Geelong Rotary Club.

Born at the old Eumeralla East Station on the banks of the Eumeralla River near Macarthur, in Victoria's Western District.  Most of his life was centred around an impressive Victorian Villa, also called Eumeralla, situated in Skene Street, Newtown.  Harold Hursts' main personal business was the manufacturer of metal fasteners for wool bales and smaller metal clips for use in fencing.  This business was conducted from the backyard in Skene Street.