The Gympie Regional Centennial
Scouting Hall of Memories
Est. 19th November 2005
A project by the Moonga (Gympie) Sub-Branch of the
Baden Powell Guild of Queensland Inc.
Motto: “Preservation for Scouting Posterity”
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A short history so far:
Planning for a future scouting museum for Gympie City and the Cooloola region was
first contemplated in 1990 by the then Gympie District Leader (Scouts & Special
Activities) Mr Brett Green who had also been an unofficial scout historian for the region.
Because of the estimated costs, District Scouting officials rejected his idea as
logistically unsustainable from District funds. The concept lapsed due to the lack of
support. D/L Green retired from scouting in early 1991 - his museum concept not realised.
Soon after, other Gympie District leaders also retired.
Believing in Green’s plan, the retired leaders in mid-1991 decided to form a Baden
Powell Guild Branch to continue their personal associations and to investigate the
establishment of Green’s proposed scouting museum. In 1992, a Guild was officially
formed. Green’s original concepts were accepted in principle taking into view that
during 2008-2009, Gympie Scouting had to prepare for its own Centenary of Scouting. He was
elected the museum historian and curator. During the following 10 years, an invaluable
archive collection of memorabilia was amassed.
During 2003-2004, consultations began with the Gympie District Mining and Historical
Museum to establish a temporary Scouting Museum in their complex. An unused building
became available in late 2004 until a final building was established. Guild members began
updating the “donated” building to present a modern outlook in museum display
presentations during 2005 using their time and money to make the project a reality.
On Saturday, 19th November 2005, the Australian Guildmaster Mrs Jenny Nelson, assisted by
the Queensland Guildmaster Mr Arthur Wass and the Queensland Scout Headquarter’s
Commissioner Mrs Kirsty Brown, officially opened the Gympie Regional Centennial Scouting
Hall of Memories. Several hundred invited guests, Shire Council representatives, Scouting
and Guiding officials and the general public attended the historic opening. The last
original Gympie King’s Scout Mr Len Thurecht also attended. The “Hall of
Memories” was an instant success.
Today, the temporary museum attracts up to 100 visitors and tourists a week from all over
Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world. Plans for a new larger complex have
begun and it is hoped it will be completed in time for the 2008-2009 Centenary
celebrations of Gympie Scouting.
Objectives adopted in principle (The P.R.E.S.E.R.V.A.T.I.O.N. Plan):
1. To PRESENT a Scouting history in the Gympie region
2. To RESEARCH Scouting archives & records in the Gympie region
3. To ESTABLISH a Scouting museum in the Gympie region
4. To SEEK out Scouting memorabilia in the Gympie region
5. To ENCOURAGE Scouting for youth in the Gympie region
6. To RECOGNISE Scouting achievements in the Gympie region
7. To VALUE Scout heritage & leader contributions in the Gympie
region
8. To APPRAISE and display the values of Scouting collections in
the Gympie region
9. To TEACH and promote Scouting histories in the Gympie region
10. To IDENTIFY Scouting sources of historical value in the Gympie region
11. To OBTAIN the resources to maintain a museum in the Gympie region
12. To NEGOTIATE acquisitions to the museum in the Gympie region
Adopted Reasons for the Centennial Project:
Former (and surviving) leaders from various involvements and associations with Scouting in
the Gympie region came to a sudden conclusion that the region’s histories were being
lost and could not be replaced due to past neglect and a failure to preserve these
histories. They were of the opinion that a “Scouting Hall of Memories” was the
ultimate opportunity (and reason) to preserve what was left of those histories. It was for
the following reasons therefore that a permanent historical centre was urgently required
to acknowledge the valuable contributions that Scouts, Leaders and supporters in the area
have made to the Movement over the past 100 years …
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Celebrations around the world and in
Australia for the Worldwide Centenary of the Scouting Movement 1907-2007 commence in 1907
in Great Britain where the first experimental Scout Camp at Brownsea Island was held by
Lord Robert Baden-Powell – the eventual Founder of the Scout Movement around the
world. Following this camp, the Scout Movement was formed in 1908. The Game of Scouting
then spread around the world and into Australia. (For more details on the celebrations
– go to the Scouts Australia website shown in the “Links” section.) |
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The City of Gympie will also be
preparing for its forthcoming Centenary of the first Scouting Activities recorded within
the Gympie City region in early 1908. Although not formally recognised as being a
“first” in the State of Queensland because the first known forms of Scouting
activities based on the teachings of Baden-Powell were conducted by a local church and its
priest, it was a milestone in local history that led to the official formation and
recognition of the first Scout Troop in 1909. |
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The City of Gympie will also be able to
prepare for its official forthcoming Centenary of the first officially recognised Scout
Troop in the Gympie City region formed in 1909. That Scout Troop was the 1st Gympie Scout
Troop and those that followed were the descendents and off-shoots from that original group
of boys and leaders. Sadly, the direct descendent of the first Scout Troop “The
Queen’s Park Scout Group” was forced to close after severe flooding just short
of its centenary of service to the Gympie community – a tragic opportunity lost to
creative history. |
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With all these notable celebrations to
occur between 2007-2009 , the Moonga (Gympie) Sub Branch of the Baden Powell Guild in
Queensland Inc took it upon themselves to begin preparations for the establishment of a
Gympie Regional Centennial Scouting Hall of Memories to preserve all surviving local
scouting histories and other items of general memorabilia. Providing any unforeseen
developments in the planning occur, the “Hall of Memories” will be ready for the
official centennial celebration of scouting in Gympie in 2009. At present, there is a
temporary interim “Hall of Memories” to accommodate and collect collections. |
Funding Avenues and Proposals:
The Gympie Regional Centennial Scouting Hall of Memories is currently a non-profit project
coming under the auspices of the Gympie and District Mining and Historical Museum. It is a
memorial project instigated and managed by the Moonga (Gympie) Sub-Branch of the Baden
Powell Guild of Queensland Inc. The Guild receives no funding from any source including
the State Organization or the Scouting/Guiding Associations. The continuation of the
project depends entirely on donations, sponsorships, bequests and other contributions from
the public arena. Other supporting funds to improve the project are raised by local Guild
members and their activities. It is expected that grant applications will be sought to
construct a new modern complex in time for the Centenary of Gympie Scouting activities
during 2008-2009. If you can assist in these funding areas or wish to donate …
– Go to the Contact section at the bottom of this page.
Donations and Gifts of various means:
Monetary donations, storage units, building materials, scouting memorabilia, photographs,
documents, and any other forms of contribution are welcomed (and acknowledged) to make the
Gympie Regional Centennial Scouting Hall of Memories project a continuing success. The
project will ultimately recognise the benefits that scouting, its members past and
present, and the voluntary efforts of its leaders have contributed to the community and
its young people during the past 100 years. All contributors and donors will be recognised
on a special Honour Board to be in due course, displayed in the “Hall of
Memories”.
Note: Scouting memorabilia collections can be donated or loaned from
other locations in Queensland or nationally to save scouting histories generally though
the main emphasis will be on Gympie regional histories – all histories are valuable
and the “Hall of Memories” will be a safe place to have such collections stored
and presented. If you can assist in these funding areas or wish to donate goods, services
or collections …
– Go to the Contact section at the bottom of this page.
Specially conducted group tours:
Although the Gympie Regional Centennial Scouting Hall of Memories is open every day
(except Public Holidays) according to the opening hours (9am - 4pm) of the Gympie District
Mining and Historical Museum for individuals, specially arranged information tours for
groups only can be arranged - particularly for Scouting, Guiding and Guilding
Associations. The normal museum entry charges will apply. Personal “on the day”
donations towards improving the “Hall of Memories” project will be accepted
– it is not obligatory. To arrange a special group tour …
– Go to the Contact section at the bottom of this page.
Special Appeals:
If you would like to assist with special project appeals – go to the special pages on
this website for further details.
Points of Contact
Members of the public, former and current members of the movement, and those members of
the public wishing to assist through any means (donations, gifts, goods and collections)
should direct all Gympie Regional Centennial Scouting Hall of Memories enquiries to the
listed point of contact below:
Postal:
The President, Gympie Regional Centennial
Scouting Hall of Memories
PO Box 29, Gympie 4570 Queensland Australia
OR
The Secretary, Gympie Regional Centennial Scouting Hall of Memories
Mrs Glenys Perkins, 7 Johnstone Road, Southside, Gympie City 4570 Queensland Australia
Phone: (07) 5482 3909 (preferably
before 10am any morning)
Email: degrene@spiderweb.com.au |
