Interviewer: We have all heard a lot about how adult leader training started at Gilwell Park, UK, but how did training start in Queensland?
Que: Charles S Snow, one of the original founders of scouting in Queensland, saw the need for some form of training for
scoutmasters and had, in 1913, run a series of 9 lectures, with examinations, at St Mary’s Parish Hall, Kangaroo Point.
Later in 1916, he established the first regular meeting of scoutmasters, called the “Officer’s Troop”, which was based on the “Patrol System”, and formed the basis for future District Training Meetings.
Interviewer: But what about wood badge courses, where were they run?
Que: When I was at Raby Bay, I found out that in 1924, Charles S Snow, ran the 1st course for scoutmasters out of Captain
Louis Hope’s sugar mill, Ormiston within Redlands, which is about 5 minutes from Raby Bay.
Interviewer: Where does BP Park, Samford fit into adult leader training?
Que: Training for scout leaders requires a venue that has the rigours of a camping environment, yet provides the space and resources suitable for formal group instruction. To meet this need, Queensland there were many places that were used. However, the final stage of woodbadge training, was typically offered in specific locations. The earliest being Eprapah campsite, Victoria Point and Sir Leslie Wilson campsite, Magnetic Island, Cleveland Bay followed in 1953 by the Charles S Snow Training Centre, BP Park campsite Samford. The first course run at BP Park, Samford was a Cub Woodbadge Course in April 1954. At the time the only building on site was the Providore and ablutions were carried out in Samford Creek. More recently, to meet to needs of leaders across the wide Queensland expanse, courses have also been offered at Tarmaroo (Bluewater), Kamerunga (Cairns), Seeonee Park (Rockhampton) Wirraglen (Darling Downs) Rowalan Park (Mackay), Barrabadeen (Tinaroo), Rocky Creek (Landsborough), Gilgunya (Condamine), Aldershot (Maryborough) and Keewol Park (Emerald).
