Official Opening of the Gympie Scouting Centennial Hall of Memories Historical Archive Collections Museum

Representing Gympie Regional Council, former Deputy Mayor, Councillor Dolly Jensen; Representing the Scouts Queensland Chief Commissioner, Sunshine Coast Regional Commissioner, Mr Richard Frost; Bunya-Gympie Regional Commissioner Mr Craig Wilson; Wide Bay-Burnett Regional Commissioner, Mr Maurie Wilson OAM and Branch Commissioner (Heritage), Mr David Teufel OAM; President and Founder of the Gympie Scouting Hall of Memories Centennial Archival Collections Museum, Mr Brett Green; Scouts, Girl Guides; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands on which we are gathered and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here this morning.

As Governor of Queensland, and Chief Scout, I am delighted to join you at this special occasion for the scouting movement in the Gympie District.

Today we celebrate the opening of a fabulous new building named in honour of the late Dudley Tate, whose generous bequest helped see this project to its completion.  

Housed within its walls is a precious treasure trove of century-old artefacts, archival material, books, uniforms, memorabilia, photographs and much more, recounting the story of Scouting and Guiding in this region—which I am very much looking forward to viewing shortly.

The effort to establish the Gympie Scouting Centennial Hall of Memories is one that began over three long decades ago — driven by the vision and passion of the Museum’s President and Founder, Brett Green, who is also the author of the District’s Centennial Book, which was launched by Lord Baden-Powell’s grandson in 2010.

I don’t think there is much Brett doesn’t know about the Scouts in Gympie, but aside from his vast knowledge, he has demonstrated incredible tenacity to overcome the effects of floods and other challenges that delayed the project from its original opening date and delivered considerable heartbreak when irreplaceable records at the Queens Park Den were lost.

Despite such setbacks, Brett never gave up hope that this worthwhile project would be delivered, and working hard at his side, have been members of the Project Committee, the Baden-Powell Guild of Gympie, former Leaders, and an enthusiastic band of local supporters, who believed in the value this Museum would hold for the community and for our state.

The entire project was financed, researched, designed and realised by volunteers, with collections kept safe in private sheds and houses until they could be placed in their permanent home.  

I pay special tribute here to Donald Butler, Margaret Butler, Florence Dennis, Cassandra Treichel and the many other members of associated local organisations, and I thank them for their dedication.

This region is, of course, one of our state’s most important when it comes to the evolution of the scouting movement in Australia. At one time it was among the largest Districts in Queensland, rivalling Brisbane, and in 1911, the Gympie troop was not only the inaugural winner of The King’s Colours in Australia, but the first in the British Commonwealth outside Great Britain—although sadly the original flag was lost.

In 2008, former Queensland Governor, Ms Penelope Wensley, came to Gympie for the presentation of the Royal Standard replica of the King’s Colours — and this now takes pride of place in the museum, surrounded by images of all known King’s and Queen’s Scout Awardees from the region.  

The connections with Government House run deep, and stretch back to before Federation, when Baden-Powell’s youngest brother, a Lieutenant in the Scots Guards, acted as Aide-de-camp to two Governors of Queensland.  

Then, in 1910, Sir William MacGregor became the first vice-regal Chief Scout.   

Now, over 100 years later, this magnificent facility at the Gympie Gold Mining and Historical Museum will be a drawcard for Gympie, providing the public with a unique opportunity to learn more about the enduring contribution of Scouting and Guiding to youth development in our country.

Congratulations to the tenacious Mr Green, contributors, and everyone involved, and to representatives from Scouts and Girl Guides past and present.   

It gives me great pleasure to declare the Gympie Scouting Centennial Hall of Memories Historical Archive Collections Museum, along with the ‘Scouts Way’ open.