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Australian Flag
used
during 1909-1954
called the “Red Ensign” |
Tudor Crown
image used
to c.1954 |
The British Flag
of the former “Empire” that is still in use today |
St. Edward’s
Crown image from c.1954 |
The Official
Australian Flag used since 1954 called the “Blue Ensign” |
The Gympie Regional Centennial Scouting Hall of
Memories that is being established by the Moonga (Gympie) Sub-Branch of the Baden Powell
Guild of Queensland Inc. to commemorate the Centenary of Scouting in the region during
2009 needs urgent assistance from any source or person, private residents and existing
scout groups in the region.
The research team is at the present time endeavouring to compile a listing of all King and
Queen’s Scout Awardees from 1910 to 2009 to honour these achievers in the Scouting
Hall of Memories. With this listing, the researchers are also trying to assemble a full
photographic record of all these honoured scouts in the community whether they currently
reside in the Shire; they now reside in other parts of the State and Nation; or who have
since deceased. Because an accurate record appears not to currently exist or has not been
kept by scouting officials, groups or former groups in the Gympie region (or the records
have been lost over time), the completion of this project will be unfortunately
incomplete. Although a reasonable listing has been compiled, there are many year gaps yet
to fill.
King George V, King Edward VII and King George VI gave King Scout Awards between 1910 and
1952 to scouts achieving a high standard of skills, motivation, morals and community
participation. The award was regarded as a high honour and widely respected throughout the
nations within the British Empire. Australian awardees were accorded the same
recognitions.
The first Gympie Scout Group had the first King’s Scouts from 1910 and in the years
1911 and 1912, their scout group became the first King’s Troop in Australia and was
awarded the King’s Colours or Standard – an honour by King George V. The leaders
of that scout troop became the first King’s Scoutmasters in Australia during that
period. Despite losing the title “King’s Troop” to South Australia in 1913,
scouts from Gympie continued to achieve the special honour. The awarding of the
King’s Colours or Standard was discontinued c.1922 but the King’s Scout Awards
continued. Regretfully, many of the names up to around 1945 have been lost along with some
names up to the 1970’s. Queen Elizabeth II on ascending the throne in 1953-4
continued the high honours and these awards are still in operation today. Many of our
local scouts have achieved the great honour over the years.
If you know of any former King’s or Queen’s Scout Awardees who achieved these
great honours while involved in scouting in the Gympie region – the Scouting Hall of
Memories Committee would like to hear from you as soon as possible. Should you have
photographs of any of these recipients, these will be of enormous value to the proposed
photographic collection. Originals can be copied and returned where required.
Should anyone wish to assist (or have information where further research can be
undertaken) and you would like to honour one of your family or a scout group of whom an
awardee was a current movement member or past member, please contact the Gympie Scouting
Hall of Memories Committee so that they can be recognised on a special honour board that
will be displayed within the centre – Go to the Contact
page for information –
Please treat this appeal as a matter of some urgency. |
