Scouts and Guides at Kangaroo Point

Founder’s Day at St Mary’s, Kangaroo Point 23 February 2020

Every year the scouts and guides celebrate Founder’s Day at St Mary’s at a special service attended by a large number of Boy and Girl Scouts, Girl Guides and their leaders.

In 2020 the service was attended by the State Governor and State Chief Scout, His Excellency, Paul de Jersey AC. who also delivered a reading. The congregation was joined by past and present Scout and Guide leaders and many happy scouts and guides. An important part of the service was the renewal of the Scout Promise and the Girl Guide Promise led by Daryl Scott, Chief Commissioner of Scouts Queensland, and Dorami Keyt, Senior Guides Leader and District Manager.

Flagbearers and scouts assembling for the march down to Scout Place.

After the service the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts marched through Kangaroo Point Park and along the scenic clifftop footpath to Scout Place on River Terrace. Scout Place was created to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Scouting in Queensland on Founders Day, 22 February 1984.

The original plaque commemorating the opening of Scout Place in 1984.

After morning tea in the grounds of St Mary’s and chatting to parishioners and the Girl Guides, the Governor was driven down to Scout Place.

Arrival of the Governor, His Excellency Paul de Jersey AC in his very special 1972 Rolls Royce.

As he stepped out of his beautiful 1972 Rolls Royce he was given an enthusiastic welcome by the scouts who had formed a guard of honour along Scout Place.

Scouts formed a Guard of Honour to welcome the Governor.

Canon Gary Harch of St Mary’s then performed the re-dedication ceremony by blessing the Saluting Scout statue.

Canon Gary Harch of St Mary’s performing the re-dedication ceremony by blessing the statue of the Saluting Scout.

The Governor, the Lord Mayor and Chief Commissioner of Scouts together unveiled a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

The Governor of Queensland and Chief Scout, his Excellency Paul de Jersey AC with the Lord Mayor of Brisbane Councillor Adrian Schrinner and the Chief Commissioner of Scouts Queensland, Daryl Scott, after they had unveiled th new plaque.
Chris Berry and the Saluting Scout. As an 11-year-old scout in 1987 Chris was the model for the original statue for World Expo88.

The ceremony was also attended by Chris Berry who, as an 11-year-old scout, had been the model for the original statue in 1987.

Chris Berry and the Saluting Scout.The ‘Saluting Scout’ originally known as ‘Be Prepared’ was originally part of the Human Factor series commissioned for World Expo 88 and created a lot of attention at the time.

The statue was recently re-imaged and re-cast in bronze and installed at Scout Place in late 2019.

The new bronze version of the Saluting Scout.
Scouts, scout leaders and supporters with Chris Berry, the Governor and Lord Mayor.

Formalities over, the scouts eagerly took up the Governor’s offer to check out his classic 1972 Rolls-Royce. After morning tea some took part in abseiling, canoeing and kayaking activities

It was wonderful to see Scout Place come alive with happy scouts on Founder’s Day!
(main photos and story: C.Gerard February 2020)