Darling Downs Region

 

Badge Description

Scout emblem.

Cattle Head and wheat = agriculture production in the area.  Darling Downs contains the largest deposit of rich black agricultural soil in Australia.

Rope with knot: sheep shank symbolising bringing all the scouts in the region closer together

History

The Darling Downs Region is named after the Darling Downs which is a farming region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland.  The name Darling Downs was given in 1827 by Allan Cunningham, the first European explorer to reach the area, in recognition of the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Ralph Darling at the time.

In terms of scouting, in 1945, Toowoomba became the Headquarters for South and South West County.  The County included areas covering the New South Wales border to North of Toowoomba, and from Gatton, below the Toowoomba Range, in the east stretching to Charleville, Cunnamulla and beyond towards Western Queensland [1].  By 1946, two County Headquarters were established at Toowoomba, which were known as South County and South West County [2].  In 1966, Toowoomba District was re-named the Darling Downs Area, and Ron Blomely was appointed the first Area Commissioner [3].  The Darling Downs Area was centred in Toowoomba, and initially consisted of 3 districts.  In 2004, the Darling Downs Area was renamed the Darling Downs Region [4].  In 2004, the Darling Downs Region Commissioner was Ray Constantine [5].

Groups

Darling Downs Area Districts (1966): Steele Rudd, Cambanora, Garrabo [3]

Darling Downs Area Districts (1968): Beauaraba, Cambanora, Garraboo, Koala, Steele Rudd [6]

Darling Downs Area Districts (1971):  Beauaraba, Cambanora, Cunningham, Garraboo, Koala, Steele Rudd. [7]

Darling Downs Area Districts (1980): Beauaraba, Cunningham, Garraboo, Koala, Steele Rudd.  [8]

Darling Downs Area Districts (1982): Beauaraba, Cunningham, Garraboo, Koala, Steele Rudd.  [9]

Darling Downs Area Districts (1983): Beauaraba, Garraboo, Koala, Steele Rudd.  Attached Groups: Clifton, Glennie Heights, 8th Warwick [10]

Darling Downs Area Districts (1986): Beauaraba, Cunningham, Garraboo, Koala, Steele Rudd [11]

Darling Downs Region Districts (2018): Beauaraba, Cunningham, Eastern Downs.  No Attachment to a District: Goondiwindi Scout Group  [12]

Darling Downs Region Districts (2024): Beauaraba, Cunningham, Eastern Downs.

References

  1. Madden, J. (2012). Scouting yarn of the Darling Downs: A history. p. 54.
  2. Fones, R. (1992). In the light of all the years. Toowong, Australia: The Scout Association of Australia-Queensland Branch. p.79.
  3. Madden, J. 2012. Scouting yarn of the Darling Downs: A history. p. 95, 109.
  4. Madden, J. 2012. Scouting yarn of the Darling Downs: A history. p.163.
  5. Scouts Australia, Queensland Branch (2005). Annual Report 2004-2005.  3
  6. Scouting in Queensland (1968). “Figures are Fascinating”. Vol. 7 (11), December, p. 10-11.
  7. The Boy Scouts Association, Queensland Branch (1971). Area, group and district directory 1971. Abel & Co.
  8. Scout (1980) Area & District Directory, September, p.8
  9. Scout (1982) Area & District Directory, December, p.48
  10. 10 The Scout Association of Australia, Qld Branch. (1983). Directory: Areas, Regions, Districts, Groups 1983.
  11. The Scout Association of Australia, Qld Branch. (1986). “Organisation of Queensland Branch” chart in: Scouting in Queensland. Heritage Centre Archive, Baden Powell Park, Samford, Queensland.
  12. Scouts Australia, Queensland Branch (2018, March 7). Formation listing 2018. Retrieved from https://scoutsqld.com.au/members/formation-listing/