The Komodo Flag

 

Four years ago in 2011, there was an Asia-Pacific Regional (APR) Scout Course for Leader Trainers held at Cibubur Scout Complex, Jakarta, from 24 to 30 November 2011. Among the participants was Mr. Pattaroj Kamonrojsiri, at that time the Vice Chairman of the APR Financial Resources Subcommittee. I was served as the staff and translator, and among the staff there also Mr. Rio Ashadi, former Chairman of Gerakan Pramuka National Rover Council.

The three of us knew each other back in 2008, when Gerakan Pramuka hosted the APR Basic Management Course. Mr. Pattaroj also one of the participants, while Mr. Rio and me was the staffs. From that time, we established an informal “patrol group” called Komodo group, if I am not mistaken the group included also Miss Putri Dian Yahya, and several others. For sure this is not a legal Scout patrol, only for fun among the participants. For those who do not know, Komodo is the prehistoric living animal, and originally from Komodo Island in East Nusatenggara Province of Indonesia.

Then in 2013, when the World Organization of the Scout Movement held a Global Torch Race contest for the Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) and Jamboree On The Internet (JOTI), I stepped forward to be one of the group leaders. I named my group as Team Komodo, and at the end of the race was finished second with members from 78 countries. The top group is Scouts & Guides JOTA-JOTI with members from 100 countries.

After the race, I got an idea to make a Komodo flag. While from 2013 to 2015, I added some items in the flag and also a red background, I never had a chance to exhibit the flag. But in June 2015, I had the opportunity to go to Australia. I went to Adelaide, South Australia, to attended the APR Management Subcommittee meeting. I brought the flag, even I still did not knew when I will exhibit the Komodo flag.

At the night of 12 June 2015, the Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia, Mr. Chris Bates, invited all participants of the APR Management Subcommittee meeting to visit the Fullarton Scout Group, one of the Scout group in Adelaide. I was very happy and enjoyed every moment while in the Fullarton Scout Group. At the end, I gave the Komodo flag to the Fullarton Scout Group as a memento.

I do hope that the Fullarton Scout Group will be happy to received the flag and preserve it as one of their Scout memorabilia item.