Australian Scouting is part of the worldwide Scouting Movement (28 million Scouts), acknowledged for its expertise and achievements with developing millions of young people.

Australia was one of the first countries in the world to adopt Scouting, which turns 100 years old on 1 August 2007. This is the centenary of the first camp held by Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, and 2008 will mark the 100th year of Scouting in Australia.

The single theme for all events and activities around the world for the Centenary of
Scouting is “2007: One World, One Promise”. Every World Scouting Organisation member will commemorate this centennial year, and use it to promote the Scout Movement nationally.

With about 60,000 currently registered members in Australia, and more than 2 million people who have been part of Australian Scouting in the last 100 years, Scouting has become the largest youth development organisation in the nation.

To commemorate this event and to recognise the contribution that Scouting has made and will continue to make to Australia, the Australian Government has designated 2008 as the “Year of the Scout”. In addition, the Royal Australian Mint will strike a circulating coin next year to commemorate this event.

The significant contribution made by the 14,000 volunteers who lead Scout groups across Australia was recently acknowledged by Australian Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, when he amounced the Government will provide $17.7 million to Scouts Australia for the installation of rainwater tanks in Scout halls across the nation.

This funding will assist the Scouts to generate significant water savings while at the same time providing a tangible and ongoing demonstration of actions that can be taken to conserve precious water resources.

There is no more fitting way of commemorating 100 years of Scouting worldwide than helping the Scouts of Australia in this practical way to learn about and practise wise water use, Mr Howard said.