THERE has been an upside to the series of unfortunate events that has conspired against the 1st Rathmines Scouts.
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The small group has twice been forced out of their scout hall due to the discovery of asbestos in the building.
After the first asbestos discovery, the scouts were heartbroken to learn some historically signficant items in their collection had to be destroyed because of asbestos contamination.
Then, when they were readmitted to the building after nine months, they were robbed of thousands of dollars worth of equipment.
They eventually got the insurance money and two days after they restocked the building with new tents and other essentials, more asbestos was found.
Most of that new gear had to be incinerated.
Scout leader Chris Bathman said the big positive to emerge from the sorry tale was the generosity of locals.
"The community has been fantastic," Ms Bathman said.
She said she had fielded a range of kind offers.
They included everything from offers of cash donations from the parents of neighbouring scout groups, to an invitation from the director of Catalina Lakefront Retreat, David Hagen, for the scouts to use his facility in Rathmines as a temporary meeting place.
The Rathmines scouts are currently sharing the Wangi Wangi Scout Hall. Ms Bathman said the kindness of the gracious hosts had been deeply appreciated.
But there was one thing the Rathmines scouts were desperately hoping for, she said.
"We would really love to get a trailer," she said.
"Nothing fancy. Just a trailer that we can transport our equipment around in."
But the trailer would need to be fitted with metal racks - or have the capacity to have metal racks fitted - to enable canoes to be transported.
"We've got our annual camp in Pindimar coming up in March, so we'd really like to have a trailer by then," Ms Bathman said.
The scouts had been fundraising for such a trailer.
"But that money had to be used to purchase essentials such as tents and 23 personal flotation devices for the children."
The scouts would welcome even the loan of a trailer, she said.
- Phone Ms Bathman on 0413 362 801 to help.