Good afternoon all it is great to see so many faces I have not seen for some time.
Today I am going to speak a little about the history of the Sandgate Scout Group which will be a big task to cram 100 years into five minutes.
I will give it my best shot and primarily cover how the current group started plus a bit more.
It all started on Sept 19th 1923 when the Mayor of Sandgate called a public meeting to form “A Boy Scout Welfare committee.”
The Scout Commissioner Mr Alexander was present to outline the benefits of Scouting.
Alderman Clarkson who ran the meeting in the absence of the Mayor advised he held an amount of £1/17 ($3.70) from a former Scout Troop in Sandgate.
In 1909 The Brisbane Courier in it’s weekly Scout Column (can one imagine such a thing these days) listed 30 Scout Troops in Queensland and Sandgate was one troop listed.

There must have been interest as a second meeting was held on October 3rd 1923.
At this meeting a committee was elected and a Mr Holmes agree to act as Scout Master.
Again, things moved fast as my father Les Atkins joined the Wolf Cubs on October 11 1923 and his Registration Certificate was No. 976.
Around this time my Grandfather, Arthur Atkins also joined the group committee, not a bad move considering he had 5 sons.
The Sandgate group was under way. Meetings were first held under the Sandgate State School buildings before the School Of Arts (now demolished) was booked for each Friday night.
But a Hall was needed. The committee approached the Govt to get land behind the Post Office.
Obviously, this land was set aside for a future Telephone Exchange, but the Council came good, stating it would lease half an acre of land near the Fire Station at a rental of a guinea £1/10 per annum in today’s money $2.10.
Many functions had already been held to raise money for a hall including one Christmas Party at the Town Hall attended by approximately 400 people.
The group held social nights, dances, a fancy dress which showed a profit £28/19/5 ($57.95.), movie nights and a ping pong tournament which raised £3 ($6.00).
The building Committee decided on a Hall 35 ft (10.6 metres) x 30ft (9.1 metres) that could be built at an estimated cost of £350 ($700.00).
On the 28th March 1926 the building committee decided to accept a quote from Mr Drew for £400 ($800.00).
The final cost of the hall was £408/10 ($817.00) Mr Drew was paid $600 and the balance was to be paid on a Loan from the bank.
The hall was opened mid-September 1927 and was celebrated with a large rally with scouts and Guides from many troops attending.
The original hall stood ?????????(See hall and Grounds Attached).
In March 1928 there was a tree planting ceremony held to beautify the grounds around the hall.
This ceremony was to honour those from the former Sandgate Troop.
Two memorial trees were planted at what was then the front gate, the first was by Mrs Austin Bell in memory of her son Sergeant Cedric Austin Bell the original P/L of Curlew Patrol First Sandgate Troop who was killed in action in November 2016 in the 1st World war.
The second tree was planted by Chairman of the Directors of the Brisbane Newspaper Company, Mr Henry Monteith, in memory of his son Lieutenant Robert Henry Monteith who was killed in Action in at Mont St Quintin in September 1918.

The group continued to grow with representatives attended the 1st Australian Jamboree at Frankston Victoria.
The 2nd world (1939/1945) caused some interruption with many members joining up. The Committee at the time the war began all agreed to continue until the war was over.
While the committee stayed it was apparently many competent P/Ls who really kept things functioning.
It is worth noting that at the time there was no Senior Scouts (now called Venturers) and the P/Ls would have been 17- or 18-year-old young men.

In the early 1950’s the committee decided more space was needed so the 1927 Hall was moved to its current position, the wings added on either side and the hall and the hall extended back by several metres.
All of this was done by volunteer labour with an excellent group of Rovers leading the way.
Numerous dances and other fund-raising functions were held and the overdraft was soon paid off in full.
It is my first memories when as 5-year-old I would attend with my Father who was then Group Leader and I had 2 jobs, first pick up the small offcuts of timber and put them in the bucket and second stay out of the way.
Great fun at the time.
# Of course, there is a lot more of history but I must mention the Eagle, a very Important part of the Sandgate Scout Group History.
The following is an extract from “In the Light of all the Years.”
During 1936 and 1937 the Sandgate Rover Crew illustrated the significance of the Rover motto ‘For Service.’
This entailed the carving, construction, and erection of the Eagle Totem Pole at the Eprapah Training Ground.
It was originally a project designed to commemorate the staging of Australia’s first Jamboree at Frankston.
The crew log book (copy inside) detailed the selection and trimming of suitable log for the pole, bloodwood timber for the body of the eagle, beech for the beak, red cedar, and beech for the intricately carved outstretched wings.
The wings were designed by renowned artist and Sandgate Crew member Wally Stackpoole.
In August 1937, the log book reported.
A tower was built around the waiting pole, a crane boom with block and tackle erected, and soon the “Sandgate Eagle” was roosting at home…
We had a campfire that night, and the glowing eagle and pole in the firelight created a memorable spectacle.
The Eagle Totem Pole remained in its original position for 18 years.
Then I August 1955 it was transported to Kulgun training ground Baden-Powell Park, Samford, and re-erected on a new pole again in the campfire circle.
For several years members of the Sandgate Rover Crew maintained the Eagle Totem Pole until it was no longer repairable.
They then raised $900 for a substitution stone model which Wally Stackpoole unveiled in1988.
Before I close, I must mention a few in attendance here today
Mr John Horton who gained the B-P Award in 1961
Mr Daniel Bourman who gained both the Queen Scout and B-P Award (2011), being one of only 2 Sandgate members to gain both.
The first being Stan Albury in 1958.
Today there is also 3 descendants of an original 1923 member.
These being myself my Sister Glenda Marsden and my daughter June Kirsopp.
Thank you all so much for your attention and attendance here today.