Visit with the Charters Towers Scouts and Girl Guides

As Governor of Queensland and our State’s Chief Scout, I am delighted to be here this evening to meet the Scouts and Guides of Charters Towers and others in the district’s Scouting and Guiding community.

I at once acknowledge the traditional owners of these lands, and extend respectful greetings to Elders and emerging leaders.

This is my fourth visit to Charters Towers since I was appointed as Governor more than seven years ago, and with every visit, I come to learn more about this extraordinary region of Queensland.

It has made an exceptional contribution to the development of our State from the time of the early pastoralists and the gold rush, through to its role as a major centre for education and, today, as a tourist destination.

It’s interesting to reflect that Scouting and Guiding have been part of the lives of boys and girls around the world almost since the time when Charters Towers was known as “The World”.

A great deal has happened in the 113 years since Lord Baden Powell founded the Boy Scouts, and the 102 years since Girl Guides was established at Government House, where I live in Brisbane.

However, throughout that time, these movements have remained responsive to the changing needs of young people and their communities.

That flexibility, combined with the Scout’s and Guide’s fundamental principles, has been the secret of their enduring appeal and success. 

Those ideals — doing your best, being courteous and kind, and helping others — are the very foundation of strong communities; being thrifty and clean are fundamental to building a sustainable society; and today, as COVID-19 continues to dominate our lives, the values of being cheerful and brave are more important than ever.

Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to spend time with you this evening. I wish you well for the continued success of Scouting and Guiding in Charters Towers.