Boys' Youth Group Uniforms: Oceanic Countries

Figure 1.--Here a New Zealand Scout where the standard uniform in 1979 is chopping down a tree for firewood during a camping expedition.

Oceania is not a well accepted regional grouping. Most woyld include the small islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Less well accepted are the larger island countries. We would tend to include Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and New Zealand for organizational simplicity. Not all geographers would agree, but this seems the most logical approach. While gepgraphically coherent, this combines the two largely European oriented countries (Australia and New Zealand) with the diverse populations of the area.

Australia

Australian youth organizations are basically the local organizations originally founded in England. Interestingly, the history of these offered by these groups primarily recounts the founding in England rather than than the history in Australia. The only two groups familiar to HBU is the Boys' Brigade and Boy Scouts.

Indonesia

We have very limited information on Indonesia. The Dutch founded the Scouting movement in the Dutch East Indies. After World War II and Indeopendence, the nationalists founded a national youth movement is the Gerakan Pramuka Indonesia (GPI) and banned Scouting. Some in Indonesia question the decession to ban Scouting, but as far as I know that is still the situation. The GPI in recent years has tried to present itself as the Indonesia Scouting mobement.

New Zealand

New Zealand youth organizations are basically the local organizations originally founded in England, replecting the country's British origins. Interestingly, the history of these offered by these groups primarily recounts the founding in England rather than than the history in New Zealand. The only two groups familiar to HBU is the Boys' Brigade and Boy Scouts.

Philippines

We have little information on Philippino youth organizations. We do have some information on Philippino Boy Scouts. The Scouts are the only youth group we know of the Philippines. Japan occupied the country during World War II (1942-45). The NAZIs promoted Fascist youth groups in many countries they occupied during the War. We have no information on similar Japanese activity.