On Friday night, March 6, 2026, we will celebrate 19 young men who will receive The Queen’s Badge. The BBQLD Board, Boys’ Brigade leaders, families, and special guests will gather at Queensland Government House for a ceremony and reception, followed by a celebration dinner.
The Queen’s Badge (or Queen’s Award in Girls’ Brigade) is the highest honour a young person can earn in The Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade. It’s not handed out lightly. It is presented by the Governor at a formal reception, followed by a celebration dinner recognising the recipients—young men who will forever be known as Queen’s Men.
The Hard Road to The Queen’s Badge Finish Line
Reaching this milestone is no small feat. Boys spend years working through badge levels, completing community service, and producing a Boys’ Brigade Knowledge project. For many, the academic components are the toughest part. My own son—practical, hands‑on, and allergic to anything involving too much reading or writing—nearly gave up when faced with the report and project.
As someone who works for BBQLD, I’ve been privileged to attend several ceremonies and dinners. The proud parents all say the same thing: “It was hard work getting my son across the line.” And they’re right. Parents and leaders want these boys to succeed. No one wants to see a young man get so close to the goal only to give up because it feels too hard.
If we’re honest, many of us parents may have done a little more “assisting” than we should have. The boys often had the knowledge—they just needed help getting it onto the page. And that’s okay. Because the Queen’s Badge isn’t only the achievement of the young person who receives it, it’s also a testament to the parents and leaders who walked the journey with them.
Yes, I’m claiming a little of that glory for the adults, too.
It Takes a Village
The journey to the Queen’s Badge is never a solo effort. Boys and girls can attend Brigades from age 5 to 18. That’s a long commitment for families—driving to weekly company nights, weekend activities, leadership camps, community service, and more. All of this sits on top of school runs, sports, church, family life, and the thousand other things that fill a family calendar.
From the moment our children are born, we run beside them. We guide them from babyhood to toddlerhood to school age. We teach, train, discipline, encourage, challenge, and love them. We give them our time, our energy, and our hearts.
And we don’t run alone. Family, friends, teachers, church leaders, Brigade leaders, coaches—so many people join the marathon. Brigade leaders volunteer their time to mentor young people, run camps and competitions, pray for the boys in their care, and juggle their own families, work, and church responsibilities.
It truly does take a village to raise a child – no wonder we’re exhausted.
The Marathon of Parenting
As we run beside our kids, we face our own challenges. Some seasons require us to sprint just to keep them moving forward. It’s tiring. It’s demanding. But it’s what we do.
We stay constant as they figure out who they are and who they want to become. We run beside them—not in front of them—letting them choose their direction while knowing we’re there if they stumble.
And then, one day, the marathon changes.
Cheering From the Sidelines
Eventually, the time comes when we no longer have to run beside them. We get to step back, sit on the sidelines, and cheer them on. We can still coach, celebrate, and support them, but the responsibility of running every step with them fades.
We watch with pride as they move out into the world, start their own lives, and continue the race on their own terms.
Queens’ Badge to Queen’s Men
For the nineteen young men receiving their Queen’s Badge this year, that moment is beginning. And for their parents and leaders, it is a moment of deep pride—because they know exactly how far these boys have come, and how many people helped them get there.
by Cathy Ballantine – BBQLD State Office