A final task, that of planting a Kirkia acuminata

Greetings from The Heart of Scouting

The Matopos Conservation Society had last year resolved to hold its Seventeenth Annual General Meeting at Gordon Park this year, in recognition of Zimbabwe's Scouting Centenary. The date set was Sunday 29 November, 2009. In addition to this meeting, the Society had decided to hold a Strategic Planning Meeting in order to chart a new path for the Society taking into consideration the changes that had taken place over the past six years since the last revision had been made. In order for this additional meeting to take place, the Society requested to use the Park for the Saturday as well. This request was readily agreed to, for not only do we Scouts get exposure to the general public and may I add, people of a high profile, but we are as a Troop, members of the Society. We had been quietly preparing for this event for a number of weekends and so on Friday evening following the Troop meeting, four of us, Leon, Chris, Dale and myself, headed out to Gordon Park.

Our Saturday morning started at 05.30 hours with the preparation of the Lodge. Two of us had gone out to the Park during the week and had polished the wooden block floor, which now only needed a final polish to ensure a shiny surface. Then it needed to be set up as the venue for the Strategic Planning Meeting. The tables and chairs, chalk boards and jugs of water with glasses arranged for thirsty participants involved in the high level debates later in the day, transformed the empty Lodge into a most spectacular venue. Leon took care of these chores. Whilst these were being attended to, one lone figure was busy with the field mower, trimming the grass verges of the entrance road into the Park. Chris and Dale were put on kitchen duty at Headquarters to prepare breakfast to be ready at 07.00 hours for us hungry workers.

The first group of participants arrived at 10.30 hours and were directed to an area where they could pitch their tents, for many had intended to camp out for the Saturday night. Society members are outdoors orientated, so no need for the luxury of four solid walls to sleep behind. Well before 14.00 hours when the workshop was to start, everybody who had been invited had sorted out their accommodation, had had lunch and were seated to get on with the task at hand. Concluding business by 17.00 hours it was time to relax, to have a walk around the Park, sundowners at the braai fires lit by the Scouts and talk of the beauty, the tranquility of this Bush and Boulder Land, we call the Matopos - the reason why they were here. One by one people drifted off to their tents and by 22.00 hours the camp was quiet, save for the calling of the owls about the camp and some other creatures going about their business in the darkened forests.

Only two Society members joined us Scouts at 06.00 hours on Sunday morning to climb the heights of Shumba shaba. It was a fantastic morning. Far on the eastern horizon an early morning rain shower was drenching the parched veldt, whilst a light cloud cover drifted lazily over head. It was 08.00 hours by the time we returned to Headquarters to have breakfast and then to prepare for an orienteering activity for our guests after the A.G.M. later in the day.

The Society's A.G.M. was held at 11.00 hours after which a short talk on the history and purpose of Scouting in Zimbabwe was delivered. Then it was lunch time followed by a few people taking part in the orienteering exercise set up in the morning. A final task, that of planting a Kirkia acuminata (White syringa) tree adjacent to the Duty Hut in the Bowl Campsite to commemorate Scouting's Centenary year. The tree planted was raised as a seedling by Dale in January of last year as one of his scout tests and will grow to a height of fifteen metres with a fine spreading crown.

Four tired Scouts fell into Ingulungundu as darkness crept in and left the Park for home for a well earned night's sleep.

Temperatures for the week ending 29 November; 52 F or 11 C and 92 F or 33 C. Rainfall 0.05 inch or 1,25 mm.

A Good Turn done by us Scouts of the 1st Bulawayo (Pioneer) Scout Troop in the true spirit of Scouting. As for our guests, Thank You for joining with us in celebrating our Centenary Year of Scouting in Zimbabwe. It was a pleasure to share our Camping Ground with you.

Cheers
Norman

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1st Pioneer Troops Calendar of forthcoming events:-

December
3 Schools close
4 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene
7-12 Chimanimani Hike
13 Gordon Park Service: 12.00 noon
18 Troop Meeting: Mabukuwene - Last meeting of the year.
25 Christmas Day

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"A Thought For The Week"
A proposal to be put forward at the Copenhagen Climate Conference next week:-
Is for every new roof, put on a building/house everywhere in the world, from next week, is to be covered with solar pannels.

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Bulawayo, 2/12/09