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Australia Scouting

2008 Fifty Cent

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The scouting movement is one of the largest in the world with boys and girls from all over the world benefiting from what being a scout has to offer. Australia has one of the longest histories regarding the scouts, embracing the ideas and initiatives that Lord Baden-Powell was introducing to England. 2008 was made the Year of the Scouts as it marked 100 years since the founding of Scouts Australia and this 50 cent commemorative coin was designed and issued into general circulation especially for the occasion.

The Scout Association of Australia, known more commonly as the shorter version of Scouts Australia is in operation throughout Australia and is a member of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement. The name of the organisation has changed a number of times over the years and it was originally Australian branches of The Boy Scouts Association of the United kingdom. All the way up until 1976 only British subjects and some special cases were permitted membership. There are approximately 1,504 Boy Scout groups in operation around Australia with a total of around 64,810 members. Anyone ages between 6-26 can be actively involved with the scouts and since 1971 is has been possible for girls to become members. (Wikipedia, 2013)

In order to be accepted a Scout Promise must be made, in front of the group. Original scouts in Britain and then Australia would have been Christian but today the Scouts are open to all religious backgrounds and beliefs. Scouts Australia take part in various events and development programs both at home and internationally and actually have twinning programs with the Bangladesh scouts and the Nepal Scouts. Activities carried out on a more general basis at home are intended to develop the individuals personality, skills and sense of adventure and achievement. The scouts are divided up into sections according the ages with groups starting with the Joey Scouts at 6-8 years old, progressing to Cub Scouts, then to Scouts, Venturer Scouts and finally Rovers for the 18-26 year olds. Awards are provided to the scouts in recognition of various achievements including participation in Major events and Proficiency in Adventurous Activity. Becoming a scout is thought to give you one of the best starts in life via the incredible number of life lessons that can be learnt. A number of famous people from all walks of life, started off as a scout including on an international level David Beckham, Bill Clinton, Walt Disney as well as a number of astronauts and closer to home Sir Jack Brabham and Jamie Durie.

The centre of the coins reverse as designed by Caitlin Goodall features the fleur de lys, which has become recognisable as the scouting logo. Around this large image is a number of silhouettes of young people, each participating in a typical scouting activity. Surrounding this busy inner disk on the outer ring of the coin is the legend "YEAR OF THE SCOUT" and at the bottom of the coin is the denomination "50 CENTS". The obverse of the coin bears the Ian Rank-Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and surrounding this is the legend that reads "ELIZABETH II AUSTRALIA 2008". The uncirculated 50 cent coin was encapsulated and issued attached to a card featuring the photograph of a scouts neck tie. The writing on the card included the title Centenary of Scouts Australia.