Maps

Cecil Plains  , Chinchilla  , Dalby  , Jandowae  , Tara

Badge Description

Scout logo

Bell = Codamine cow bell

The first design on the badge was abandoned as it was not a correctly shaped bell.  It features a cow bell with a banner representing a belt around the cow neck, this is against a greenfield [10].  The first badge was issued in 1961 [1].

History

Condamine district is named after the Condamine River, which was named by Allan Cunningham in 1827 for Thomas de la Condamine, a former aide-de-camp to Governor Ralph Darling who became the colony’s first Collector of Internal Revenue [1]. The headwaters of the river rise on the slopes of Mount Superbus, part of the Main Range, before passing through Cambanoora Gorge. The Condamine River flows through the towns of Killarney and Warwick, while the tributary Gowrie Creek drains the slopes around Toowoomba.  The bell was originally designed and made in 1872 by a Welsh blacksmith in Condamine who rivetted pieces of an old cross cut saws together and when the clappers striked the rim, they could be heard for over 7 miles on a still night.  These bells are now part of a thriving replica souvenir industry. 

The first scout troop to be established in this locality was at Dalby in 1910 [2].  Between 1944-1954, Dalby district was established [3].  The records as to exactly when Condamine District was established are somewhat confusing.  Condamine district is mentioned in the 1957-1958 Branch Annual Report [4], where the District Commisioner was p. A. Wright.  In addition to these there is a District Association Registration Form (Q-14), which indicates that the district as registered on the 23^rd November 1970 [5].  Prior to the Western Region being formed, Condamine district was part of the South East Queensland Zone, which was administered by Branch Headquarters in Brisbane, and districts were supported by Field Commissioners [6].  In 1972, the districts within this Zone included: Maryborough, Maheno, Gympie, Cooroora, Beaver Masters, Nambour, D’Agular Range, Murrumba, Bunya, Barambah, Condamine, Dolphin, South Coast, Stradbroke Island and Beaudesert districts.  By 1980 this district was part of Southern and Western Region [7].  It is estimated that Condamine district closed somewhere between 1987-1989.  It was mentioned in the 1986 Branch Directories [8], but not mentioned in the 1989 Branch District Commissioner’s address list [9].

Groups

Condamine Scout Groups (1963): Bowenville Scout Group, Chinchilla Scout Group, Dalby Scout Group, Jandowae Scout Group, Tara Scout Group, [11]

Condamine Scout Groups (1970): Cecil Plains Scout Group, Chinchilla Scout Group, Dalby Scout Group, Jandowae Scout Group, Tara Scout Group, Yumborra Scout Group[5]

Condamine Scout Groups (1971): Cecil Plains Scout Group, Chinchilla Scout Group, Dalby Scout Group, Jandowae Scout Group, Tara Scout Group, Yumborra Scout Group[12]

Condamine Scout Groups (1983): Cecil Plains Scout Group, Chinchilla Scout Group, Dalby Scout Group, Jandowae Scout Group, Tara Scout Group, Yumborra Scout Group [13]