Outstanding Ambassadors for Australia

Greetings From The Heart of Scouting

There is never a dull moment in my outings to 'The Heart of Scouting'. You can imagine my and Mike's surprise when we stopped to book into the National Park at the Sandy Spruit entrance, on Easter Sunday. There at the gate was a taxi, yes the orthodox town variety and not the 'Tchova' we have become accustomed to seeing plying our town routes and highways. As I drew up behind it, a young gentleman excitedly approached me, introduced himself as Rhys and enquired if I was going to Maleme Dam. My reply was a question, "Irish, I presume". "No" Rhys replied, "Welsh". Well I told him that I was only going as far as Gordon Park which was seven kilometres further on, Maleme was roughly twenty kilometres. Then a second young fellow appeared and introduced himself as "Olly". I looked at these two young fellows, then at their ruck sacks and offered to take them to Gordon Park, where they could stay the night as it was now late afternoon and they could proceed to Maleme the next day. On the way to the Park the conversation took its natural course of who they were, what were they doing and so on. You can imagine my utter amazement when they told me that they were from Australia, had just completed high school and had not made up their minds as as to what university course to pursue, so they had decided to take a 'gap year' to think about it. To add to my surprise, they had decided to hitch hike from Capetown to Dar es Salaam and then fly to Cairo, Egypt for a week and then fly to Europe before returning home to Australia and start their university course. They had already seen a number of places in South Africa, stayed on a farm in Namibia, Bungee-jumped off the Victoria Falls bridge and were now in Bulawayo. Wow! All this in four months, travelling in private vehicles, country busses (chicken busses) and Combie taxies, not to mention 'Ingulungundu' my Landy and then on the front mudguard and bonnet.

Once at the Park, Mike took over by showing them the Crew Hut where he slept and as there were spare beds there he invited them to stay with him instead of camping, as they were thinking of at Maleme. They very wisely took up the offer. During dinner, we continued to talk of their adventure. I was most impressed, firstly with their maturity, certainly well advanced for their age of eighteen, secondly the manner in which they had prepared for their trip by working in their spare time to finance their year away from home and thirdly by their knowledge of Africa, which was in considerable depth. They were certainly determined young men with a clear vision of what they wanted to accomplish in the year that they would be way from home.

On Easter Monday, I had promised to host a group of young people who were coming from town for the day, so Mike took them round the Park and then mid morning I took them to World's View where Cecil John Rhodes is buried. Later in the day they walked back to the Park and returned to Bulawayo with Mike and myself. The group of youngsters that I had been expecting did not arrive, so I really wasted the day, whereas I could have taken our unexpected guests to many other places of interest in the Matobo Hills. Most importantly they enjoyed their short stay in the hills and no doubt will return for a longer visit sometime in the future.

Instead of taking them to one of the many lodges that have sprung up in Bulawayo, I phoned Martin and asked if he would host them for a few days before they moved on to Harare. Martin kindly agreed and so we made our way to 'Kia Pezulu' and a warm greeting by Martin. As luck would have it, Martin was hosting some friends among whom was a former Zimbabwean family now resident, yes of all places, Australia. These people offered 'Olly' and Rhys a lift to Harare , as they were going there in a few days time. This gave our young visitors a day or two to explore Bulawayo. We had a pleasant evening before I bade my two most exceptional guests farewell and a safe journey through Africa. To end with, I would like to congratulate Oliver "Olly" and Rhys for their pluck in undertaking such an adventurous journey and also for being outstanding ambassadors for Australia.

As for this past weekend, I was alone at the Park as everyone had family commitments. Well, there is always plenty to occupy my time and with the monthly service this coming weekend, I decided to mow the grass on the Training Grounds as it had grown considerably following our late rains. What a pleasure it was to sit astride 'Isambane' and get the job done in one day instead of pushing 'Beastly Betsy' for the next three to four weekends to accomplish the same amount of cutting. I even had time to wash the sediment out of the settlement tank and to pump water in before heading for home. Then to add icing to the cake, I was rewarded by the sighting of three rhino right next to the roadside on my way to the Park gate.

Cheers
Norman

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This Past Week...

Dear Norman
I read this letter, and farewell, to a man I never met just now, sitting at my desk, looking on to my garden in Whitechapel, where the white roses and the purple clematis are in flower. What a moving and fitting tribute to a life, and how proud this must make his family to read; as well as the sense that he contributed to other lives, as part of a never-ending stream. Their gratitude must also go out to you for marking the passing of their beloved relative's life in such a significant way. I found it very emotional to read, and in this moment of reading it was also therefore touched by his life and will find a moment on Saturday to think again of these things, as I cannot be there to celebrate his life with you.
With love,
Philippa
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Norman
Good to hear that you are doing well and keeping the park in good order. I have fantastic memories of the Park.
take care.
Gwynn Erasmus

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1st Bulawayo (Pioneer) Scout Troop Programme of Activities for:-

March
Africa Scout Day
Provincial Swimming Gala

April
2-3 Monthly Hike
10 Gordon Park Service: 12.00 noon
22-25 Easter
Zimbabwe Independence Day
Provincial St. George's Day Service

May
7-8 Monthly Hike
8 Gordon Park Service: 12.00 noon
Troop camp

June
4-5 Monthly Hike
Boy Skills Course (Provincial course)
11 Gordon Park Service: 12.00 noon
Parents camp

July
2-3 Monthly Hike
Chuck Wilcox Art and Craft Competition
10 Gordon Park Service: 12.00 noon
William Arnold Carnegie Assegai Competition

August
6-7 Monthly Hike
14 Gordon Park; 12.00 noon

September
3-4 Monthly Hike
Boys Skills Course: P.H.Q.
11 Gordon Park Service: 12.00 noon
Provincial Cookout Competition

October
1-2 Monthly Hike
Parent's Camp
9 Gordon Park Service: 12.00 noon
15-16 JOTA/JOTI
Arnold Carnegie Assegai Competition

November
5-6 Monthly Hike
13 Gordon Park Service: 12.00 noon
Inter Provincial Patrols Competition

December
11 Gordon Park Service: 12.00 noon
25 Christmas Day

Activities may be Deleted/Added to the Programme

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If youre planning to visit Zimbabwe - pencil in "Gordon Park's 75th Anniversary Camp" thats being planned for the 18th to 20th February 2011!
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The 2010 Troop's fundraising Calendar can be found at:-
http://matabele.altervista.org/1st-calendar/1st-pioneer-troop-calendar-2011.htm


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"A Thought For The Week"

Remember birthdays are good for you, the more you have the longer you live. Have a great day and count your life by smiles and your age by friends and not years...
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Matabeleland Scout Website http://matabele.altervista.org/
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Bulawayo, Tuesday, May 3, 2011 8:31 PM