Scouting History

Lord Robert Stephenson Smythe Baden-Powell of Gilwell.

Founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Movements.

Defender of Mafeking.

Scouting was originally founded by a British General, Robert Stephenson Smythe Baden-Powell. It's origins lie in the Publication of a book titled Aids to scouting which was designed as a feild manual for young British soilders who wanted to learn how to stalk, track and survive in the wilds of the British Colonies of Africa, India and Australia, among others. BP wrote this manual after many years of personal experience with the Hussars, (a British Cavalry Unit). It is said that the transcript for this book was infact the last correspondence to make it out or the African town of Mafeking, which BP famously defended against a Boer Seige for over 200 days. BP credits the courageous efforts of the population of Mafeking for the victory, particularly the efforts of the young boys who, too young to carry rifles, would carry the messages instead, risking life and limb to do their duty.

When BP returned to England he not only found that not only did the young boys Hero Worshipped him, (along with everyone else), but they were also buying his book Aids to scouting in great numbers and using it as a guide to the fun and excitement that the outdoor life had to offer. BP designed a training scheme more suitable for the age group of the young boys and attempted to have it adopted by the YMCA and Boys Brigade, without success. But not to be defeated, BP arranged to take 20 boys from various backgrounds to come to Brownsea Island, (off the South-Coast of England) for an experimental camp. BP used his contacts and own money to obtain help from Army Friends and purchase all tents, equipment and food required.

The Brownsea Island Camp heralded the begining of the Scout Movement. Each day was dedicated to practical training from tracking and trapping to knot tyeing and cooking and each evening was completed with lectures on life and manhood. This weekend was so successdul, BP went off and wrote a more appropriate book for young boys and named it, quite poignantly, Scouting for Boys. This was first published in a Six-part series, and serialised by Newspapers all around the world. This led to Patrols springing up just about everywhere in the world in less than a year since the book was published.

It is a sad note however to mention that over a third of those who attended Brownsea were killed on the field of Flander during WWI and over half were killed in total. It was however a time of need that brought about change for the Movement. During the War, Boy Scout Patrols sprung up all over the lines of British (and Allied) Troops and Scouting flourished in the Trenches as Men looked for something to hold to and found the Scout Law and Promise. After the War however, these Men returned to their homes and Scout Troops but had left behind their boyhood ways, and many left soon afterwards. BP saw that they needed another section that could cater for these Men who had seen war and did not see the adventure anymore in being around young boys and playing games. It was at this time that BP started the Senior Scouts Section, though it took less than a year for the popular title amoungst the men to be the Official Section Title of Rover Scouts.

Indooroopilly History

Indooroopilly Rover Crew Opened Officially on the 23rd October, 1956, under the sponsorship of Queenslands first Rover Crew, 1st Milton Rovers. However this is about all we know of this time, or any time really, other then the past 10 years or so. If you were and Indooroopilly Rover or have had any kind of contact with them in years gone by and have any stories, photos, memorabilia or simply more information for us we would appreciate you contacting us.

Indooroopilly Rover Crew was originally founded as a Sea Scout Crew, owing to the fact that Indooroopilly Scout Group at the time was a mixed Group of both Land and Sea Scouts. Troops of both variety operated in the Group for many years and so too did both types of Senior Scouts (Venturers). The Rover Crew operated for over a decade before the Rover Room was officially launched as the L.S.Stalwart*. This room has since been turned into a Cub Pack room when in 1983 the Crew was granted use of the former Quartermasters Store as housing for their newly constructed Bash Car, THE BUG. Indooroopilly Rover Crew have since used this room, and after 20 years of trying, have finally succeeded in the construction of a 3 car shed, to house the Crew's Bash Cars and the Group Trailer, and have now been able to use the room for the first time for more than just storage.

Indooroopilly have for many years been a very active Crew, not just on there own, but also within Rovering Statewide. We have always been seen in numbers at Rovering Events across the State, and have been involved in the running of both events and the section itself. Indooroopilly have not missed a Banana Bash yet and have for the last decade, been involved in its running, including two chairmen in the last few years and a number of other key positions. Indooroopilly have also attended and raced at every Banana Bash since its founding in 1983. Our gallery section has a number of photos of our more recent cars. Our first Bash car was a VW called THE BUG, which was followed by SLOW MOTION, which in turn was replaced in 1993 by BAD HABIT, which was rebuilt in 1998 as BAD HABIT II, then lost in the Den Fire in July 1998. We also began racing a former Oyster Point Rover Crew Car, WHISPER, when it's owner and builder, transferred to Indooroopilly. In 1999 we raced our first Sedan with F.U.B. a 1970's FIAT Supermirafiori, though it was damaged in 2000 and done nothing but take up shed space since. In 2001 we began construction on our latest reincarnation of out pipeframe VW, BAD HABIT III.

This was to debut in 2002, but due to the cancellation of Banana Bash due to the expence of insurance at the time, it debuted in 2003 instead, but seized it's engine in the first race. 2004 was a little better, but when we damaged the gearbox in the first race and got another incomplete, we thought we were done for. However, with alot of long hours in the Pits, we went on to complete all the sunday races and took home 2 trophies and and overall third. Indooroopilly has always raced as car number 8, however following the introduction of class prefixes, Indooroopilly now races under 108 (for Buggy Class) and 208 (for Sports Sedan Class), but we have never had a 308 (Supa Sedan Class). We recieved Number 8 at the first ever Banana Bash, when cars recieved their number in order of them lining up for the first race.

Indooroopilly has also participated in other events, such as the Stafford Rover Crew's Billy Bash. We have photos of our cart in the Gallery. We actually won the event in our first year running in 2003, and backed it up with a combined victory (with Capalaba's cart and 1 of their Rovers) in 2004. We have also run Roventure, a activity camp for Venturers and Rovers in 2003 and 2004.

Our members can be found on just about every committee that they can be on and have been involved in many big projects such as Queensland Branch Rover Council (now Queensland Branch Rover Executive), as well as major roles in the 2001-2002 AUSMOOT, 13th Australian and Pacific Rover Moot.

*Land Ship Stalwart. Land Ship was a Naval title given to buildings and since the trend at the time was for Sea Scouts to be sponsored by Naval Vessels, Indooroopilly Rover Crew was sponsored by the H.M.A.S. Stalwart, a supply ship in the Royal Australian Navy.