2008 - The Year of the Scout - It's Official!
Former Prime Minister John Howard declared 2008 as the Year of the Scout to mark Scouts Australia's Centenary.
Mr Howard said Australia was one of the first countries in the world to adopt Scouting, which will be 100 years ago as of 2008.
About 60,000 Australians currently participate in Australian Scouting, while another two million have been part of the nation's largest youth development organisation over the past 100 years, he said.
"The government greatly values the contribution these young Australians make to their families, their communities and the entire nation," Mr Howard said in a statement.
"To commemorate this event and to recognise the contribution that Scouting has made and will continue to make to Australia, I am also pleased to announce that the Australian government has decided to designate 2008 as the Year of the Scout.
"In addition, the Royal Australian Mint will strike a circulating coin next year to commemorate this event."
This information is courtesy of AAP