Scouting for the best ute

By Shaun Inguanzo
IT APPEARS to be the “odd couple” of events for Rob Glenn to organise ahead of this year’s Dandenong Show.
But the Beaut Utes competition and Greater Dandenong’s scouting groups have more in common than people think.
Mr Glenn, the Dandenong Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s junior vice president, is busy finalising arrangements for both displays ahead of the Dandenong Show on 11 and 12 November.
Mr Glenn is also leader of Third Noble Park Scout Group, which will join with other scouting groups from the city to host an abseiling wall, hands-on art and craft demonstrations, and patrol competitions for anyone curious to learn more about the long-running organisation.
But born out of the scouting connection six years ago was the Beaut Utes competition, which is now the closest of its type to inner Melbourne.
“I had a lot of Rovers – the oldest members of the scouting organisation – involved with the ute community, and that had a flow on effect,” Mr Glenn said.
He started the competition six years ago with just six entries, but last year Beaut Utes had 35 entries across five different categories.
This year utes will be judged in the categories of Bachelor and Spinster Ute, Chick’s Ute, Feral Ute, Town Ute and Rural Ute.
Beaut Utes will be held on the Saturday, 11 November.
The Dandenong Show will continue into 12 November and will be held at Greaves Reserve, Bennet Street, Dandenong.