( 7'
April 1997 TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
ADDRESS TO THE AUSTRALIAN SCOUT MOVEMENT
LAUNCH OF NEW NATIONAL LOGO
E O E
Thank you very much Chief Commissioner and all scouts and guides and rovers and
venturers and everybody. It is a great privilege for me to be associated with the launch of
what is a modern Australian version of a traditional emblem that has worldwide
recognition and world wide acclaim. What I like about it is that you know instincitively
what it is but it has an Australian flavour about it which perhaps it didn't have before.
And as the commissioner said it reminds us of the twin affections of members of the scouts
and that is the commitment to a great world wide movement and also a commitment to
Australia. The Scouts over the years have done tremendous work in nurturing and
developing and encouraging and inspiring young Australians and in fact young people all
over the world. It is one of the greatest young people's organisations that has ever been
devised and it owes a lot to its founder Baden Powell and it of course owes a lot to people
like Commissioner Wells and others who have devoted their lives to the cause of
developing a spirit of self esteem and commitment and care for the environment and care
for others amongst the members of the scouts. And I'm delighted although a little
belatedly though I'm sorry, because of other things, to be associated with this and I want
to thank you for the privelege of being here and I want to thank the scout movement and
all aspects of it for the contribution that its made to Australia and the contribution that its
made to character building amonst young people.
I like the new logo. I think it is distinctively Australian yet it also unmistakeably tells you
that the Scouts of Australia are part of a world wide scouting movement. Congratulations
and all good wishes for the scouts of Australia in the years ahead.