Rod Lonsdale, who was a scout leader in Kingaroy from 1974-92 with Kingaroy scout Zac May and Gympie venturer Chloe BondChief Commissioner of Scouts Queensland Geoff Doo with one of the joeys presented to Peak Award-winning joeys
June 24, 2024
It’s been a long-time coming, but the Centenary of the Kingaroy Scout group on Saturday was the perfect occasion to officially open the group’s new commercial kitchen.
The kitchen, located at the Scout Den in James Street was originally planned in 2016.
After years of fundraising and grant-writing, it is now a reality.
The kitchen has been built to commercial standards and will be available to other groups to hire.
The opening of the kitchen was only one of the highlights of Saturday morning’s centenary celebrations.
After a formal welcome by Wakka Wakka Elder Ngoorrko Yumpaykal Liddy, the scouts paraded and unfurled a series of flags.
Joey and cub scouts who had achieved Peak Awards were presented with their certificates by Chief Commissioner of Scouts Queensland Geoff Doo, who was a special guest at the ceremony.
Also formally unveiled was the new Bunya District Fellowship Museum, which houses memorabilia from the many scouts groups that have existed across the Bunya District over the years.
The original groups in the District included Goomeri, Wondai, Kingaroy, Murgon, Proston, Nanango and Cherbourg.
The Kingaroy Scout group can trace its history back to June 11, 1924, when a public meeting was held to form a troop.
This meeting was called by a local Presbyterian minister, the Reverend John Robert M’Intosh Murray, known to everyone simply as McIntosh Murray.
Deputy Mayor Danita Potter and Assistant District Commissioner (Bunya District) Jenny Behm officially open the Bunya District Scouts museumCub scouts line up to receive their Peak Awards from the dignitariesJoeys and cubs were presented with Peak Awards … the joeys also received “joeys”!Bunya District Commissioner David Jamieson with former Kingaroy venturer Deputy Mayor Danita PotterLooking over the museum were former Kingaroy scout (early 1960s) Kevin Cornish, from Bribie Island, who donated the Kingfisher group’s bullhorn to the museum; Assistant Regional Comissioner Jenny Grant, Nambour; and Helen Cornish, Bribie IslandSome of the thousands of items spread out on tables in the Fellowship MuseumFormer Kingaroy Scout Ross Bean with a collection of scout stamps which he has donated to the museumJenny Lonsdale, from Hervey Bay, was a cub leader in Kingaroy for 15 years … she’s pictured with Sarah Lonsdale and Michael Armstrong, from KingaroySilvie Hart, from Brooklands, with Elder Ngoorrko Yumpaykal Liddy who welcomed visitors to Wakka Wakka countryFormer Bunya District secretary Lorraine Keenan, from Kingaroy, with former South Burnett mayor Keith Campbell … Lorraine’s late husband Trevor worked with Keith to initiate the kitchen project back in 2016Former Kingaroy scout leader John Shaw with his wife Marie, a former Kingaroy Shire councillor … the couple used to live near the Kingaroy Scouts Den and encouraged their children to joinHow many people know that well-known Kingaroy Rotary member Ron Roberts is also a former scouts District Commissioner?Some of the dignitaries at the Centenary open day … Rob Pitt, David Wright, Rob Cullen, Geoff Doo, Jenny Behm, David Jamieson and Cathy PittThe flag party and assembled scouts salute the unfurled flagsAren’t they cute? These were presented to some of the award-winning joeys
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Centenary Dinner
After the morning celebrations, invited guests and former and current scouts gathered at Kingaroy Town Hall for the special Centenary Dinner.
It was a night of celebration kicked off by the scouts entering with a flag parade, which set the tone for the evening which was compered by Chris Behm.
The history of the local group was shared and an honour roll read out., with many families being involved across generations.
John Murphy, who began as a cub in Kingaroy in the 1940s, spoke of his experiences, saying the scouts were an important point in his life.
The scouts have been involved in many of the town’s legacy projects, including Memorial Park.
Chief Commissioner of Scouts Queensland Geoff Doo congratulated the scouts on their achievements for the local community, including the new commercial kitchen and museum.
Taabinga Lions catered for the evening, with live music by Amber Goldsmith.
Former scouts and their families gathered at Kingaroy Town Hall to share memories (Photo: Supplied)Cr Jane Erkens, Mayor Kathy Duff and Deputy Mayor Danita Potter (Photo: Supplied)Kingaroy Scouts worked hard all evening serving and clearing tables (Photo: Supplied)A highlight of the night was cutting the Centenary cake … (Photo: Supplied)… and here’s the cake! (Photo: Supplied)
