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Robert Hunter Tait AM (1901 - 1981)

Robert Hunter Tait AM
Born in Queensland, Australiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 13 Feb 1929 in Paddington, Queensland, Australiamap
[children unknown]
Died at age 80 in Queensland, Australiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 28 Sep 2018
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The Boys' Brigade

Contents

Biography

Notables Project
Robert Tait AM is Notable.
Queensland flag
Robert Tait AM was born in Queensland, Australia

Robert Hunter 'Bob' Tait AM was born on 2nd July 1901 in Queensland, just six months after the six British Colonies federated as the Commonwealth of Australia. He was the younger son of Scottish emigrants, John Tait and Margaret Hunter, [1] and named after his maternal grandfather. His brother, however, passed away when Bob was just a toddler. [2]

professional career

Bob Tait worked throughout his career in the Queensland Public Service's Commissioners Department. During the Second World War years he became a Public Service Inspector, based in Townsville. In 1963 he was appointed to the Queensland Industrial Commission. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace (JP). [3]

Following his retirement in 1971, Bob was appointed to the board of the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB), serving as its treasurer for ten years. [4]

The Boys' Brigade

When Bob was twelve years of age, a group, or club, for boys was started nearby for twelve to seventeen year-olds. Although new to Bob and the forty-or-so lads who investigated over the first few weeks, this 1st Brisbane Company was part of the fast-growing, international Christian ministry The Boys' Brigade and was commencing in Brisbane under the leadership of George Orr, a newly-arrived Scottish plumber. When he first walked through the doors of the hall on Enoggera Terrace, little did Bob know where The Boys' Brigade would take him or even how it would affect his life. What he soon did know, though, was that he thoroughly enjoyed the programme of drill (with rifles!), Bible class, band, ambulance (first aid), signalling, gymnastics and camping. [3]

Robert is one of Australia's first three Boys' Brigade King’s Men from 1917

Colour Sergeant Robert Hunter Tait was one of three young men in December 1917 to receive The King's Badge (now known as The Queen's Badge), the highest award the Brigade had to offer; and the first to do so in Australia. The badges were presented on this occasion by the Governor of Queensland, Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams.[5] From that prestigious moment, Bob was appointed Staff Sergeant, before later being commissioned as a Lieutenant (that is, a trained volunteer leader). [3]

Robert served God through The Boys' Brigade Queensland for 53 years

Bob loved George Orr and all that George stood for. He sought to emulate George's finest qualities. When George passed away in 1929, it was Bob Tait who was called upon by the leadership team and church to 'take the reins' as Captain. By the time he relinguished them in 1960 (he had stood down during the war years whilst he was transferred to Townsville, relinquishing to fellow King's Man, Charles Leaver), Boys' Brigade had grown from a single Company in Australia to a dynamic nation-wide movement in hundreds of churches. And Bob Tait had been an integral part in driving that growth. So much so, that when the Brisbane Companies decided to form a 'council' in 1950, it was Bob who was asked to chair. When a Queensland council was formed later in the 1950s, Bob was appointed its foundation president. And when Australia formed a council, it was once more Bob Tait who was elected its inaugural president. He 'retired' from BB in 1966, having attained 53 years of continuous voluntary service. The captaincy of 1st Brisbane was passed to Grahame Milliner, another Old Boy of the Company and son of Edmund Milliner, also an Old Boy of 1st Brisbane. [3]

Bob Tait had a heart for God, a hand for Boys,
and an ear and an encouraging word for fellow BB leaders.

worship and faith

Bob Tait was active in the Ithaca Presbyterian Church throughout his life. In 1941 he was appointed an Elder and was elected Session Clerk in 1961. In this latter role he served on many councils of the Presbyterian Church. His theology was built on practical service to others. [4]

sport

As a young man, Bob was active in sport, as an oarsman where he won several races as the stroke in fours and eights, and as a keen hockey player. He was president of the Queensland Hockey Association in 1938. He was also the first president of the Queensland Hockey Umpires Association, a State selector and a first grade umpire through many seasons. [3]

honours

In the Australia Day Honours 1980, Bob was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to youth through The Boys' Brigade and involvement and administration of sport, particularly with hockey. [6]

marriage

Bob married Jenefer Wright on 13th February 1929 in Ithaca Presbyterian Church, Paddington, Queensland.[7] Their son, John, became the first Boy to achieve The Queen's Badge – the name given The King's Badge following Queen Elizabeth II's succession – in Queensland, in 1953.

rest

Having been widowed for six years, Bob passed away, aged 80 years, on 15th July 1981 in Queensland and his remains are buried with those of Jenefer's in Brisbane General Cemetery, Toowong. [8]

Sources

  1. Queensland Birth Index #1901/C/4031
  2. Queensland Death Index #1903/C/1658
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Hoare, Michael. Boys Urchins Men: A History of The Boys' Brigade in Australia and Papua New Guinea 1882-1976. Reed, Sydney, 1980
  4. 4.0 4.1 Young, Keith A and Cooper, John N. A Concise History of the 1st Brisbane Company of The Boys' Brigade. Self-published, Glasgow, 2020
  5. The 1st Brisbane Association Honour Roll, Enoggera Terrace, Paddington, Queensland; sighted by Ken Evans 26 Mar 2018
  6. Australian Honours: accessed 23 Jan 2021
  7. Queensland Marriage Index #1929/B/5501
  8. Queensland Death Index #1981/5154




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