The Queen’s Scout award is the highest award achievable in the scouting movement in Australia and the UK.

Individuals who achieve the Queen’s Scout award receive a Royal Certificate from the Queen. The requirements typically involve achieving challenges from several areas including community involvement, adventurous activities, personal growth and leadership development.

It was recently decided that an honour roll of Queen’s Scouts who were attached to the Yass unit should be created.

Brett Farquharson, a current scout leader and who, ironically, is a Queen’s Scout but not on the honour roll due to his award being achieved in another district, organised the project.

On Saturday, many of our Queen’s Scouts – young, old and in between! – gathered at the Yass Scout Hall to participate in adding their names to the roll.

The roll included Scouts, Venturers and Girl Guides.

Our earliest Queen’s Scout is, in fact, a King’s Scout – Bruce Larkham. Unfortunately, due to records prior to about 1950 being kept in the UK, Mr Farquharson says it is has been difficult to find the exact year Mr Larkham received his award. He said, also, that there may have been other King’s Scouts that have yet to be discovered.

Burrinjuck MP Katrina Hodgkinson also attended, congratulating all the Queen’s Scouts in attendance on their achievement.

A lunch was enjoyed by all following the ceremony.

The local units are now looking forward to the 50th anniversary of Yass Venturers which is planned for 2015.

For photo gallery, click here.