The Boy Scouts Association of Zimbabwe
Firelight Magazine

Province of Matabeleland

 

Being a Scout in Matabeleland is fantastic

 

FROM THE EDITOR

It is said that failure to plan is the easiest way of planning to fail. Hence it is important for every organisation worth its salt, to have a plan of action. It is with this in mind that our commissioners meet to draft our programme for the coming year. We are reliably informed that a meeting will be convened in a month or two to plan next year’s programme.

An analysis of the 1999 Scouting programme will perhaps reveal signs of overplanning, congested to the brim. This makes it difficult for groups to fully partake in all the activities resulting in cancellations and also low turnouts. A case in point is the scheduling of Assegai and the Millennium Count Down camp, a week after the other. This tends to overstretch the organisational capacities of the groups, coupled by a poor economic climate. The available resources just cannot go round.

Our 1999 calendar is so congested such that every weekend is a Scouting weekend. This also over works the limited human resources we have at Province.

To alleviate the congestion we propose the following arrangement:

(I) a combination of similar events i.e. Mhlahlandlela and Colin Turner competitions, limiting most competitions to District level.

(ii) combining St George’s day with the G.P. service.

(iii) holding Assegai competitions and the Cook-Out competitions every two years alternatively i.e. 1998 - Assegai, 1999 - Cook-Out, 2000 - Assegai etc.

We need to give both the Leaders and Scouts, time to attend to other aspects of life. We are not in anyway undermining the role of Scouting in the development of young people. Scouting is our life and pillar of strength.

We trust that you don’t necessarily agree with us, for everytime people do we feel something is wrong.

On a lighter note, with people asking for cellphones as lobola (brideprice), we believe the gadget must be important judging by the number of people in Scouting that now have it. Hence we propose that a base station (receiver) be installed at Gordon Park. (Do something Norman!).

God Bless.

OPINION

Youth is not a time of life, it is a state of mind, it is a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigour of emotions, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over love of ease.

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm, wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self distrust, fear and despair, these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust.

Whether seventy or sixteen there is in every being’s heart the love of wonder, the sweet amazement at the stars, the starlight things and thoughts, the undaunted meeting of the challenge of events, the childlike appetite for what next, and the joy and the game of life.

You are as young as your self confidence, as old as doubt, as young as your faith, as old as your fear.

As long as your heart receives messages of beauty, cheer, courage, grandeur and power, from the earth, from man and from the infinite.

So long are you young.

Venture daily 3

NEWS BRIEFS

Luveve District Cub Soccer 42nd Bulawayo(Mtshingwe Primary) triumphs.

Mtshingwe 42nd Bulawayo Cubs destroyed the 92nd Emakhandeni football machinery, in a memorable District Cub Soccer final.

In total six Cub Scout Packs converged at Emahlathini Primary School in Cowdray Park to battle for a place to represent the District in the Provincial Soccer finals.

The final result was Mtshingwe 42nd Cubs 7 and 92nd Emakhandeni 0 (nil).

N T C MPOFU

(DISTRICT COMMISSIONER - LUVEVE)

DUTY TO GOD

Thank you, God for little things that often come our way,

The things we take for granted,

But don’t mention when we pray’

The unexpected courtesy,

The thoughtful, kindly deed,

A hand reached out to help us

In the time of sudden need.

Oh make us more aware, dear God

of little daily graces,

That come to us with "Sweet surprise"

From never-dreamed-of places.

FRAY GAY

(CONTRIBUTION FROM F ZVIGO

66TH BULAWAYO)

PROVINCIAL EVENTS

1999 "CHUCK" WILCOX ART AND CRAFT

COMPETITION

An array of fine art was on display on Saturday 17 July 1999 at Provincial Scout Headquarters.

This was in response to the requirements of the "Chuck"Wilcox Art and Craft competition. Competitors were required to design greetings cards. The resultant cards on display varied from Birthday greetings, to Christmas greetings and they came in multiple colours.

The winners for the various categories were as follows:-

Beavers

(1) Clayton Sterling - 8th Byo

(2) Thomas Pritchard - 8th Byo

(3) Justin Dyer - 8th Byo

Cubs

(1) Clayton Babbage - 8th Byo

(2) Fraser Hughes - 8th Byo

(3) Reginald Ndlovu - 8th Byo

Scouts

(1) Ngonidzaishe Jeki - 76th Byo

(2) Ignatius Mafu - 18th Byo

(3) Vincent Mathe - 56th Byo

Leaders

Michelle Hall - 8th Byo

The winning card in the Scout section caught the heart of many. It was my dream car, a red BMW 3 series on a blue background.

The response this year was quite good, compared to previous years, but the major disappointment is that there was only one entry in the Leader section.

Finally many thanks to the Wilcox family for the lovely prizes.

NTOKOZO HARRY NCUBE

 

1999 PROVINCIAL COOK-OUT

COMPETITION

The Police grounds at Ross Camp grounds came alive on 26 June 1999 when over 300 Scouts converged to participate in the Annual Cook-Out Competition. As usual the main purpose of this event is to test Scouts in their cooking skills, and at the same time enable them to have fun in preparing their meals.

The major highlight of the competition was the need for Scout Leaders to participate, and hence contributing to the overall performance of their groups. While many observers condemned this arrangement, it was the organisers’ belief that since the Scouter is part of the group his contribution should be taken into consideration.

In general the competition menus included among other things - scrambled egg, meat balls with gravy, fried chicken, stewed apple and custard.

The final results were as follows:-

Cub Scouts

1. 7th Bulawayo (Inzwananzi)

Scouts

1. 87th Bulawayo (Sizane)

Many thanks to the organiser, and special thanks to Mrs Mavis Sakala (Malumekazi)

B NDEBELE

 

FIRELIGHT TRAINING

PLAY ACTING

Play Acting is one of the greatest training aids we have because it gives valuable character training, builds up self confidence, overcomes nervousness and of course through acting we can teach and revise many tests and skills.

How does this help towards producing a balanced individual who will mix naturally with others, who is unobtrusive yet co-operative, confident without being too assertive, is able to share and show consideration for others, to speak, yet be able to listen, someone who is, in fact, a good citizen.

Because of their importance of developing the personality of the boy, mime and acting have been included in the Arrow Tests and encourage a steady development of the boy’s abilities. As Scouters, especially Cub Scout Leaders, our part is to provide the setting and stimulation for play acting.

(Cub Scout Supplement November 1970)

With this in mind Cub Scout Leaders, our main Theme for the PROVINCIAL TOTEM COMPETITION to be held on Saturday 2 October 1999 will be Play Acting.

Each Pack must choose a story to act. It can be anything for example ‘Cinderella’ to ‘Star Wars’. It should last at least 5 minutes and not longer than 15 minutes.

Within ‘Firelight’ you will find a reply slip. Once we have received this from you we will send more information on the venue and the time.

Please note the change of date from the one on the Provincial Programme. It will be held on SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER 1999. Please do your best to join in this event which has always been the highlight in the Provincial Cub Scout Programme.

 ROSEMARY MOODY

ASSISTANT PROVINCIAL SCOUT COMMISSIONER

TRAINING

  

COLIN TURNER PIONEERING COMPETITION 1999

 Six Scout patrols from the Bulawayo East District, battled "head to head" during the weekend

5 - 6 June 1999.

The venue of this challenging competition was our beautiful Scout paradise, Gordon Park. At exactly 0800 hours on Saturday, the competition was officially opened.

In general the competition was divided into five sections. Four of which were generally the main body of the competition. The other section ran throughout the duration of the competition. On this section extra points were gained by competing patrols for free, without having to construct anything or answer any questions.

Section I - Construction of projects

Section II - Disassembling of Section I projects.

These 2 sections were done on the same day.

On the last day of the competition, the remaining projects were to be completed within a given time.

Section III tested Scouts on their knotting skills.

Section IV - Scouts were required to make a knotting and lashing board using provided materials.

Congratulations to 27th Bulawayo (Founders) for "slashing" the other patrols. To all those patrols who did not manage to win the trophy, I say to you that the whole thing was about having fun. Did you have fun?

The final results were as follows:-

CONSOLIDATED SCORE SHEET

 

Troop

Proj

Section I

Section II

Section III

Section IV

Section V

Total

Posn.

13th (Robert Tredgold School) Bulawayo

D

50

65

75

150

24

364

4th

14th (North End) Bulawayo

A

66

62.5

62

138.5

24

353

5th

15th (Milton Junior School) Bulawayo

D

19

45

29

80

11

184

6th

20th (Famona) Bulawayo

A

165

95

59

100

29

448

2nd

27th (Founders High School) Bulawayo

A

116

88

80

143

24

451

1st

76th (Gifford High School) Bulawayo

D

665

95

82

160

30

433.5

3rd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAX SCORE

70%

Points scoring according to

A

200

100

100

160

30

590

413

Project selected for

B

150

100

100

160

30

540

378

Section I

C

150

100

100

160

30

540

378

 

 

D

100

100

100

160

30

490

343

 

 

E

250

100

100

160

30

640

448

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many thanks to the organiser, Assistant District Scout Commissioner (Bulawayo East), Mr Peter Tyrrell, and Mr Mike George who helped in the judging.

 IRVIN K DUBE

FIRELIGHT REPORTER

PRELIMINARY ARTS COMPETITION RESULTS

25 JULY 1999

CATEGORY II : MUSIC

SCORE SHEET

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

TROOP

1ST UMGUZA

76TH GIFFORD

68TH BYO

31ST SIKHULILE

1ST UMZINGWANE UMZINGWANEEEEEYYYYE

MARKS

35.25

42.00

36.5

17.75

44.00

POSITIONS

4

2

3

5

1

 

CATEGORY I : THEATRE

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

TROOP

1ST UMGUZA

76TH GIFFORD

58TH MAHLABEZULU

31ST SIKHULILE

1ST UMZINGWANE

MARKS

31.75

41.00

36.25

26.00

46.50

POSITIONS

4

2

3

5

1

 

FINAL MARKS AND POSITIONS (OVERALL)

 

 

 

1

2

3

4

5

TROOP UMZINGWANEEEEEYYYY

MARKS 35.25 42.00 36.5 17.75 44.00

POSITIONS 4 2 3 5 1

 

1ST UMGUZA

76TH BYO

68TH BYO

31ST BYO

1ST ESIGODINI

MARKS

67%

83%

72.75

43.75

90.50

POSITIONS

4

2

3

5

1

 

FROM THE PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONER’S DEN

Dr "Chas" Martin, Vice President of the Boy Scouts Association of Zimbabwe, recently handed me some general information on Scouting. Having collected similar information over the years I filed it away, perhaps to be used at some future Leader course or, as is more usual, completely forgotten about.

How often does this happen to you? You receive information and either file it away because you now ‘know’ or do you pass it on. Fire-Light is a good example. How many others, Scouts, Leaders or parents see your copy? My guess is that you either throw it away or put it in a safe place without anybody else having a chance to see it. Be honest with yourself, I get 10 out of 10, don’t I.

Now, about the information ‘Chas’ handed to me, here is what it was and please make copies of it and pass it around. Your Group could benefit from the most unexpected quarter either by an increase in membership, new adults coming forward as Leaders, material or financial support. Whatever happens, you cannot be any worse off.

Scouting is...

Scouts Are Involved ... Meeting Real Needs

Scouts are involved in a vast number of issues facing the communities where they live.

Scouts work with others in the community to achieve mutual objectives. They work with friends, neighbours, community leaders and other organizations. Many work on projects of bilateral cooperation between Scouts in developing and industrialized countries.

Scouts are involved in...

Child health

drug abuse prevention

clean water and sanitation

appropriate technology

low-cost housing

literacy

peace education

life skills training

children at risk

integration of the handicapped

family life education

rights of children

food production and agriculture

environmental conservation and education

renewable energies

reforestation

job skills training

youth unemployment

immigrant communities

education about development issues

Psst. Pass your Fire-Light on to somebody else.

N SCOTT

PROVINCIAL SCOUT COMMISSIONER