Sunday 28 August 2022

Scouts Queensland Chief Commissioner, Mr Daryl Scott; Branch President, the Honourable Jane Prentice and Vice President, Mrs Kirsty Brown AM; Branch Chairman, Mr Gavin Brady; Deputy Chief Commissioner and Chief Commissioner Elect, Mr Geoff Doo; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen; Scouts; Venturers; Rovers; girls and boys.

I begin by acknowledging the original custodians of the lands around Samford, the Jinibara, Kabi Kabi and Yuggera nations, and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. I extend that respect to any First Nations people here with us today.

It is an honour to be here as your Patron – and now, as your Chief Scout – to present the Queensland Adult Recognition Awards and Youth Awards.

Due to the twists and turns of COVID, today is my first official engagement with Scouts Queensland as Governor and what a special one it is! How fantastic to be able to combine my swearing in with the opportunity to recognise and celebrate some of the highest awards in the Scouts order – for both youth and adult participants. 

It is an enormous privilege and honour to be your State Chief Scout, and I will wear my scarf and world badge with pride.

In preparing for today, I had the opportunity to reflect on the purpose of Scouts Australia, which is “to encourage the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual development of young people, so that they make take a constructive place in society as responsible citizens, and as members of their local, national and international communities.”

It is an honourable mission, and one that speaks to me about the importance of being a part of something together and encouraging each other along the way. Scouting gives you the confidence and the ability to reach out and help your community and those around you.

You have heard me take my Scout Promise, here today, and it starts with “I promise to do my best”. This is something I wholehearted encourage with all the young people I meet right around our State. By doing your best, you will often find that your efforts are rewarded, and the best will come back to you.

Today, we have celebrated the achievements of some of you who have clearly excelled at embodying your Scout Promise to do your best and, in turn, have achieved some of the highest awards in the Scouts order, including the Queen’s Scout, the Baden-Powell Scout and the Silver Kangaroo. I again congratulate all of today’s recipients.

Importantly, I would also like to recognise the volunteers of Scouts Queensland. Organisations like yours cannot exist without the time and dedication of its volunteers. On behalf of all here today, I say to these volunteers – thank you.

As Governor, Patron and Chief Scout, I look forward to creating a strong and proud connection with Scouts Queensland.

It also now gives me great pleasure to present a Certificate of Vice-Regal Patronage to Scouts Queensland Chief Commissioner, Mr Darryl Scott. Thank you.