GREAT SPIRIT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1938, Page 7

GREAT SPIRIT

SCOUT OVERCOMES DISABILITY. COMING TRIP TO SYDNEY. Among the Boy Scouts from New Plymouth who will attend the big jamboree at Sydney next December will be Rex Hargreaves, of the Westown troop. His visit will be a fitting reward for a wonderful struggle after a misfortune in his early youth that would have damped the spirit of most boys. Early in his life Rex, through an unfortunate accident, lost both of his legs and had to be fitted with artificial limbs. Despite his disability he determined to be as other boys. At school and in the Scouts he has joined in all the activities of his school fellows. He plays football, swims, compets in running events and has often been seen climbing trees. He also rides a bicycle. He is the object of wonderment to all his friends and his achievements represent a wonderful triumph of a great spirit. The movement to send him away with the party to Sydney originated from Scoutmaster Hedges, who is in charge of the Westown troop, and was assisted by the Rev F. Hart. At a recent luncheon of the New Plymouth Rotary Club a sum of money was granted that made the trip a certainty. It was also stated at the luncheon that the Sydney Rotary Club is to be written to explaining Rex’s case, with a request that it should look after him during his stay.