Our History

Our Scout Group is one of the oldest groups in Brisbane. In 2017 it was discovered that Bardon Scouts formed in April 1924 and remained active until 1933. The scout troop stopped operating for two years, then reformed on 27 May 1935 before its 1st parade and the purchase of its current headquarters at Bee Street, Bardon in June 1935. It was the first scout troop in Bardon and was called 1st Bardon. In 1962 the number designation of scout groups was dropped, and 1st Bardon became known as Bardon.

After a short-lived 2nd Bardon group at St Bartholomew’s Church in 1946, a lasting second Bardon scout group (2nd Bardon) was formed in 1954, located in Jubilee Park, Cecil Road, Bardon. It was renamed North Bardon in 1956, and in 1962 it was renamed again to Jubilee Group. Jubilee was a very active scout group with numerous Honours and Awards to its credit. In 1971 Jubilee Group amalgamated with Bardon.

Our scout group has been fortunate to have men and women with the vision, commitment and dedication to record, preserve and share the history of Scouting in Bardon.

Our history has seen two and three family generations involved in Bardon Scouts. We will continue to grow our long and proud history of scouting in the local community.

Timeline of Scouts in Bardon

1907 - Brownsea Island UK camp establishes scouting
1908 - Scouts and scouting formally started in the UK
1908 - Patrols of Scouts commenced at Kangaroo Point, Bowen Hills, Ashgrove and Toowong
1910 - Girl Guides commenced in the UK
1910 - First documented reference of Scouts active in Bardon
1916 - Scouts Cub section commenced in the UK
1918 - First Cub packs established in Brisbane
1919 - Rover section commenced in the UK, after the end of World War I
1923 - Milton Rover Crew established, Queensland’s first Rover crew
1924 - Earliest documented evidence of 1st Bardon Scouts
1934 - 1st Australian Scout Jamboree, Frankston, Victoria. Baden-Powell attended.
1935 - 31 May: first recorded Group Committee meeting held in Bardon, at St Bartholomew’s Church Hall on Simpsons Road
1935 - 10 June: 1st Scout Troop parade at Bee Street
1935 - 22 June: deeds for 3 acres of land in Bee Street handed to Bardon Scouts and families
1935 - 1 July: 1st Cub pack parade at Bee Street
1935 - 28 September: official opening of the Scout Hut by Sir Henry Wilson, Governor
1935 - Bardon joined Brisbane North West Scout District
1936 - 5 July: King George V Stone Cairn Memorial unveiled (located at the rear of Lyall Den)
1937 - 26 June: official opening of the Cub Hut (now the Q Store)
1937 - 1st Bardon Scout Group’s first King’s Scout: A J Best
1938 - 2nd Australian Scout Jamboree, Bradfield Park, Sydney. Bardon contingent: 5 Scouts, 4 Leaders.
1941 - Air Scouts established
1946 - Scouts Venturer section commenced (formerly Senior Scouts)
1946 - 2nd Bardon Scout Group at St Bartholomew’s Church, Simpsons Road, commenced and ceased
1948 - Scout Hut flag pole erected
1948 - 3rd Australian Scout Jamboree, Wonga Park, Melbourne. Bardon contingent: 9 Scouts, 2 Leaders.
1948 - First recorded statistics of Bardon Rover Crew
1952 - First edition of the Bardon Group newsletter “Smoke Signal”
1952 - 4th Australian Scout Jamboree, Greystanes, Sydney. Bardon contingent: 7 Scouts, 2 Leaders.
1953 - Sewerage connected to Bee Street
1954 - 2nd Bardon Scout (Jubilee) Group commenced, located in Jubilee Park, Bardon
1955 - 5th Australian Scout Jamboree, Clifford Park, Victoria. Bardon contingent: 18 Scouts, 1 Leader.
1955 - Taylor Range District Scouts commenced and Brisbane North West Scout District closed
1956 - 2nd Bardon Scout Group renamed North Bardon Scout Group
1957 - 6th Australian Scout Jamboree, Greenbank, Brisbane. Bardon contingent: 1 Scout, 2 Leaders.
1957 - Taylor Range District Badge created and approved to be worn on uniform by the District Commissioner
1960 - 25th anniversary of the group: Arch Gateway on the corner of Bee and Mackay Streets opened by Sir Henry Abel Smith, Governor of Queensland
1960 - 7th Australian Scout Jamboree, Lansdowne, Sydney. Bardon contingent: 5 Scouts, 1 Leader.
1961 - Mary Lyall reaches 25 years as Cub Leader with one Cub pack, unequalled at that time
1961 - Manfred Cross commenced as a Federal Minister (a former Bardon Cub, Scout and Senior Scout)
1962 - The number designation of Scout Groups was dropped, e.g. 1st Bardon became Bardon
1962 - 2nd Bardon renamed Jubilee Group
1963 - 23 March: official opening of Lyall Den, the Senior Scouts Den
1963 - Highest youth membership: 106 (39 Cubs, 56 Scouts, 11 Senior Scouts)
1964 - 2nd Bardon Scout Group’s first Queen’s Scout: John L Knowles
1967 - Scout Hut retaining wall built with reclaimed railway rails and sleepers, backfilled with ashes
1968 - 8th Australian Scout Jamboree, Jindalee, Brisbane. Bardon contingent: 4 Scouts, 1 Leader.
1968 - Group newsletter renamed from “Smoke Signal” to “Message Stick”
1969 - 21 September: official opening of the Paul Martin Memorial Den by Kirra McKee
1970 - 12 July: 35th (first) anniversary, assuming Bardon commenced in 1935
1970 - 9th Australian Scout Jamboree, Leppington, Sydney. Bardon contingent: 1 Scout.
1971 - 21 September: 2nd Bardon Scouts (Jubilee) closes
1971 - Jubilee (previously North Bardon) amalgamated with Bardon at Bee Street
1972 - The Boy Scouts Association became the Scout Association of Australia. Uniforms changed: no sock tops, garter tabs or metal buttons.
1973 - Venturer section replaced Senior Scouts in Australia
1973 - 11th Australian Scout Jamboree, Dandenong, Victoria. Bardon contingent: 1 Leader.
1975 - First girls allowed in Venturer and Rover sections in Australia
1975 - Cub Flat flag pole erected
1975 - Second highest youth membership: 100 (26 Cubs, 28 Scouts, 39 Senior Scouts, 7 Rovers)
1979 - 12th Australian Scout Jamboree, Perth, WA. Bardon contingent: 5 Scouts, 3 Venturers, 1 Leader.
1982 - 13th Australian Scout Jamboree, Collingwood Park, Brisbane. Bardon contingent: 10 Scouts, 3 Venturers, 3 Leaders.
1982 - Bardon Scout Group logo created by Cub Mathew Missow
1985 - 50th anniversary and 50th anniversary book printed, assuming Bardon commenced in 1935
1988 - First girls allowed in Scout and Cub sections in Australia
1990 - Joey section commenced in Scouts Queensland
1991 - 16th Australian Scout Jamboree, Ballarat, Victoria. Bardon contingent: 2 Scouts.
1991 - Bardon Rover Crew’s first BP Award: Chris Goninon
1992 - 30 January: first official Joey Mob parade, with 12 Joeys
1993 - First female Group Leader: Patricia Lye (1993 to 1996)
1995 - 60th anniversary and 60th anniversary book printed, assuming Bardon commenced in 1935
1996 - Atlanta Paralympic Games silver medallist Paul Gockel (a former Bardon Cub)
1998 - 18th Australian Scout Jamboree, Springfield, Queensland. Bardon Scouts attended; contingent numbers unknown.
1998 - First Bardon Scouts website created by Group Leader Chris Goninon
2004 - Scout uniform changed to a new navy uniform, replacing the traditional khaki
2005 - 70th anniversary and 70th anniversary book printed, assuming Bardon commenced in 1935
2009 - Bardon Scouts’ first email address started (info@bardonscouts.com)
2010 - 22nd Australian Scout Jamboree, Cataract Park, Sydney. Bardon contingent: 16 Scouts, 1 Venturer, 3 Leaders, 1 Parent Helper.
2010 - 1st Queensland Cuboree, Stanthorpe. Bardon contingent: 11 Cubs, 6 Leaders, 2 Parent Supporters.
2010 - Our second website set up by Angela Sibley, running from 4 October 2010
2010 - 1st Grey Wolf Award: B Gray
2010 - 21 November: 75th anniversary
2011 - Started using DIBBS cloud-based club management software, the 1st group in Queensland and 18th Scout group in Australia to do so
2012 - 77-year-old Scout Hut refurbished
2012 - 2nd Queensland Cuboree, Rockhampton. Bardon contingent: 1 Cub.
2013 - 23rd Australian Scout Jamboree, Maryborough, Queensland. Bardon contingent: 16 Scouts, 1 Venturer, 3 Leaders, 1 Parent Supporter.
2013 - 1st Scout Medallion Award: R Fraser
2014 - 3rd Queensland Cuboree, Maryborough. Bardon contingent: 4 Cubs, 1 Leader.
2015 - 80th anniversary, assuming Bardon commenced in 1935
2016 - 24th Australian Scout Jamboree, Cataract Park, Sydney. Bardon contingent: 8 Scouts, 2 Leaders.
2016 - 4th Queensland Cuboree, Maryborough. Bardon contingent: 2 Cubs.
2017 - Discovery that Bardon Scouts commenced in 1924 and was very active until 1933
2017 - Taylor Range District Badge celebrates 60 years

References

Bardon Scout Group Archive: census and annual reports, “Smoke Signal” and “Message Stick” newsletters, meeting minutes, memorabilia, Bardon Scouts 25th, 50th, 60th and 70th anniversary books, correspondence and images. Scouts Australia and TMT websites. Former Scouts’ and Leaders’ memories.

Compiled by Mark Cavanagh, Bardon Scouts Archivist 2010 to 2018.