Longreach Scout Den 100 Years of Cubs Celebration

Congratulations on an excellent Parade, Longreach Scouts.

As Chief Scout in Queensland, I am pleased to see that our Scouting traditions are being undertaken so proficiently here in Longreach.

And I take this opportunity to thank the Longreach Scouts for providing me with an impressive guard of honour, and for putting on an excellent barbecue when I last visited Longreach, in the Vice-Regal Carriage, back in June.

Scouts are always there to lend a hand for the community, especially in tough times.

And I can see this is a very energetic and productive group, from Cubs through to Rovers.

I’m impressed by the Longreach Venturer Unit Project, and I understand the Venturers worked late into the night to get it done. I have great pleasure in now declaring the project officially opened.

Congratulations Venturers – it looks terrific and is a great enhancement to the Den. 

This is a year of celebration in Scouting, because it is the 100^th birthday of the Cub Scouts.

I was a Cub Scout in the Corinda troop when I was young – not 100 years ago, I hasten to add, although it might seem so to our younger members. But perhaps the tree that I have just planted to commemorate this wonderful anniversary will last 100 years or more.

I’m proud to be part of the 100-year story of Cub Scouting in Queensland, and you are all part of that story too – and you are the most interesting part, because you are the future of Scouting.

As some of you may know, I am here tonight as part of Regional Government House, which is being held in Longreach for the next week.

During Regional Government House I’ll be performing all the constitutional and civic duties that I normally undertake at Government House in Brisbane.

One of those civic duties is to recognise those in our community who achieve excellence. 

So I commend Connie Hoolihan on achieving the pinnacle badge in Cub Scouting, the Grey Wolf, and Henry Hoolihan on his achievement of the Australian Scout Medallion, the highest badge achievable in Scouts.

I also take this opportunity to add my congratulations to Joshua Keene on his achievement of becoming a Queens Scout.

There is so much to celebrate in Scouting in Longreach, and much of that is down to the enthusiasm and leadership of your Group Leader, John Palmer OAM, who I thank very sincerely for decades of service to the movement. 

Fellow Scouts, the Longreach Scout Troop was the first to be founded in Queensland outside the Brisbane metropolitan area, 103 years ago.

On the evidence I have seen tonight it is well on its way to another 100 years of fun, friendship and adventure, and I am very proud to be your Chief Scout.