What’s Happening?
Rockhampton’s Gary “Roc” Murray has been honoured with a service award recognising his longstanding contribution to Scouts Queensland.
Family, friends, volunteers and former Scouts gathered at Rockhampton Leagues Club on Saturday, 26 September 2026, to celebrate his achievement.
The occasion recognised Murray’s dedication to young people and his lasting contribution to the Scouting community across the Capricorn region.
Why It Matters
Murray has helped shape local Scouting through his leadership, advocacy and commitment to developing young members.
He successfully pushed for improvements to the Warripari Scout den and mentored young people who later became Scout leaders themselves.
Nyree Johnson, former Capricorn Scouts District Commissioner, said his commitment went well beyond his responsibilities as a Group Leader.
“Gary has consistently given everything he’s got to Scouting,” Johnson said.
His involvement also extended to establishing Gracemere Scouts, which he helped start during a brief period away from Warripari. He eventually returned to his original Scout group, maintaining the connection that began during his childhood.
Local Impact
Murray’s influence can be seen in the generations of young people he has supported, including former members who now lead Scout groups themselves.
He is also involved in the Capricorn Scouts Historical Group, working alongside experienced leaders to collect memorabilia from across the district.
The group’s work helps preserve local Scouting history while recognising the volunteers and activities that have shaped the movement over the decades.
By the Numbers
- 8 years old: Gary Murray first joined Warripari Scout Group as a Cub Scout, beginning his lifelong involvement in Scouting.
- 2 Scout groups: Murray helped establish Gracemere Scouts before returning to Warripari, where he continued his leadership and volunteer work.
- 1960s and 1970s: Former leaders from these decades are working with Murray to collect and preserve memorabilia from across the Capricorn District.
Zoom In
The celebration brought together people who had shared different stages of Murray’s Scouting life, making it a particularly meaningful occasion for his family.
Johnson said seeing their appreciation for his contribution was among the most memorable parts of the evening.
“How proud his family were of him. That was amazing to see,” she said.
Murray’s brother, Kent Murray, also shared a heartfelt tribute reflecting on their family’s appreciation of his service.
“55 years as Scout leader, 65 years involvement in Scouting. Mum and Dad would have been very proud,” Kent said. He concluded with a familiar Scouting expression, “BRAVO”.
Despite his lengthy involvement, Murray has always had a light-hearted explanation for his lifelong commitment. As Johnson recalled, Murray often joked that he joined as a Cub Scout at eight years old and “forgot to leave”.
Zoom Out
The recognition comes as regional Scouting welcomes another leadership development, with Johnson taking on a broader volunteer role.
She became Queensland Central Coast Region Scouts Region Commissioner on 1 October 2026, following her service as Capricorn Scouts District Commissioner.
Reflecting on her experience working alongside longstanding volunteers, Johnson acknowledged the importance of their knowledge and guidance.
“As District Commissioner I stand on the shoulders of giants. Giants like Gary Murray,” Johnson said. “It’s quite incredible to hold such an important role locally, but know I can always seek counsel and support from those who’ve given far more to Scouts than I can ever imagine to.”
Johnson also spoke about balancing her new appointment with her professional responsibilities and other volunteer commitments.
“Yes, I’ve taken this on and have spent the last couple of weeks in inductions and finding my feet,” she said.”This is a volunteer position so fitting it around my work and existing volunteer commitments has left me a little short on time recently.”
What To Look For Next?
Murray’s continued involvement in the Historical Group provides an opportunity to preserve more stories and memorabilia from Capricorn’s Scouting past.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s regional appointment could help strengthen connections between local Scout groups and experienced volunteers across Central Queensland.
With longstanding members continuing to share their knowledge, the Scouting community can build on their contributions while supporting future generations of young leaders.
