Scouts Queensland 2020 Adult Recognition Awards and Youth Awards

Chief Commissioner, Mr Daryl Scott; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Scouts, Venturers, Rovers, girls and boys.

I at once acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we are gathered and pay my respects to Elders past and present, and emerging leaders also.

As I acknowledge the emerging leaders of our Indigenous community, I am privileged to be here today to acknowledge the emerging leaders of Scouting in Queensland.

As a former Scout myself, and now Chief Scout in Queensland, I extend my congratulations to Scouts Queensland, and I am particularly excited to recognise the achievements of all those receiving awards today.

Scouts Queensland proudly provides an “education for life,” and the opportunity for young Australians to grow through adventure.

The movement embraces thousands of young people, engaged in activities that are fundamentally centred around the principles of embracing challenges and having fun.

Supporting these activities are thousands of adult members and leader, who voluntarily give up their time to encourage the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual development of these young people, so that they may take a constructive place in society.

On behalf of all here today, I say to these volunteers – thank you.

“Be Prepared.”

These are two words that you are all familiar with.

The Scouting motto of “Be Prepared,” is well over 100 years old, and how relevant that motto remains to us today.

As a society we have been firmly reminded by the COVID-19 pandemic that we can always reliably “expect the unexpected”. 

Robert Baden-Powell, Scouts founder and after whom this very precinct is named, wrote that to “Be Prepared”, means “you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your duty”.

How fortunate we all are to be part of a movement that not only recognises the importance of this concept, but helps to develop our resilience both as individuals and as a community.

Well done to all the individual recipients today, and congratulations to everyone here for your involvement in such an inspiring organisation.

Now, moving to more personal matters, I have always greatly admired Scouts Queensland’s interest in preserving its heritage, and you have some of my own items of Scout history already on display in your impressively conceived museum.

As I move into the last months of my term as Governor, and Chief Scout of Queensland, I wish to give you at this stage, Chief Commissioner, the original of the certificate of my appointment as Chief Scout of Queensland, by the then Chief Scout of Australia.

I have been greatly honoured, and continue to be enthused, by filling this role, in recognition of all the wonderful work accomplished by Scouts Queensland for our young people. 

Thank you.