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Page Updated:
January 17, 2007
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RON ROCHESTER (76,77,81,82,83,84,89,90,91)
 January,
2007 - Born in the US, Ron moved with his parents to London, ON at
the ripe age of 5, and suffered through without Scouting until he was eligible
to join Cubs in London at 8. Though he went up to Scouts at 11, the Troop folded
when the Scout Leader transferred out of town a week later (nothing to do with
Ron joining, of course!), so he stayed in Cubs another year and completed all
the badges available (don't tell anyone) before again leaving the organization.
During high school, Ron worked part-time at a radio station in
London, which after completing some University and travelling overseas, became a
full-time career. In 1965, Ron (who by now had become a Canadian citizen, traded
in his hard-earned dollars and went on a working holiday to Australia, which
resulted in furthering his broadcasting career in television production. While
there, and having little to do outside of work, he again succumbed to the
Scouting bug to help a friend with a Scout Troop, and completed his Wood Badge.
Upon returning home to London in 1974, and finding no
immediate role in broadcasting, Ron accepted an offer to become a Field
Executive with Scouts Canada, Greater Toronto Region (GTR), starting there in
early 1975. It was during that part of his career that he became Administrator
at HSR in 1976 and 1977, and Director from 1981 through 1984. He cherishes many
fond memories of the reserve and the staff from those years (ask Grant Ferron
(80-84) about his "bear" adventure, for one)!
In 1980, Ron married Margaret, whom he had met on a ship to
Australia a few years earlier, and has two children - Michael, born in 1982, and
Katie, in 1985. Some of you may remember Mike as the kid who drowned out the
Director at many of his after dinner announcements in the Hub.
Ron continued at GTR as a Field Executive till 1989, when he
took over from the retiring Ken Cooper
(64-68,70-89) as Director of Camping. (He also led
the Canadian Contingent to the Pan-American Jamboree in Jamaica in 1985, and
acted as QM for the World Jamboree in Australia in 1987/8). In 1991, he accepted
the position of Director of Field Operations at Manitoba Council, and moved with
his family to Winnipeg, where they still reside. Camping stays in the blood, so
he also kept the campsite portfolio.
After retiring from Scouts Canada in 2001, he put his
knowledge and love for broadcasting back into play doing production and
computers with a "nostalgia" radio station in Winnipeg, along with continuing as
a volunteer - Assistant Area Commissioner for Membership in Scouting, and
editing the provincial newsletter. He also, along with his wife, delivers drugs
(prescriptions) three nights a week. Ron can be reached at
rroch@mts.net. |
