From the Courtyard
Issue 100 Issue 100 January 2016 January 2016
From the Courtyard sac scouts newsletter
SAC SCOUTS’ 100th BIRTHDAY! In this issue Cubs.. Akela says goodbye!
Scouts.. Kellimni.com visit
Ventures.. Discovering our new campsite
Rovers.. Dedicated service
Memories.. Luke Maistre takes the lead
Coming up 21-26 March Easter Camp (Group)
Just as the Group kicks off its 100th year anniversary, and coincidentally, it being the 100th issue of the SAC newsletter, AGSL Mark P. Borg gives us a taster of the past 100 years and the activities planned to celebrate a century of scouting at the SAC Scout Group. The best thing about turning hundred, is feeling like you’re still a twelve year old. Not many people get to say that, but we certainly do. Ever since its formation in 1916, hundreds of boys have been part of the St. Aloysius College Scout Group, sharing years of friendships and vivid memories of adventures locally and on trips abroad. This year, the Group celebrates a century of service to the community, providing a fun filled, safe environment for youngsters ensuring that its members are given every opportunity and encouragement to take their place in society as young men of standing and worth. Essentially, our purpose is to provide our members with experiences that build character and assist them to acquire selfbelief in whatever they choose to do in the future. 1957 – Patrol Leader Hubert Rizzo leads the St. Aloysius College Scout Group was established in 1916 and College Patrol which won the Bates Cup for boasts the longest continuous and uninterrupted service on Scouting. That year the college scouts won all the trophies. the island. The merit of this success lies in the Group’s past and present members who have kept the scouting spirit alive in the last century. Maintaining their promise and duty to God and Country and to help others at all times, the St. Aloysius College Scouts have since their early years helped the community during the times of war assisting the sick and providing first aid, delivering messages and even helping with debris clearance after aerial bombings. Nowadays, the boys focus on a different nature of community service, assisting a variety of NGOs with fund raising initiatives and providing assistance where and when required. The Group has always promoted a healthy and active way of living, exposing its members to a variety of activities which the great outdoors has to offer. Young- 1984- SAC Scouts present gifts on behalf of the children sters also learn important skills such as pioneering, first of Malta to Pope John Paul II on Palm Sunday during the first international youth rally organised by the aid, orienteering and a variety of other scout crafts Catholic Church. however the ultimate goal has always been character
From the Courtyard
SAC SCOUTS’ 100th BIRTHDAY!
Issue 100 January 2016
formation. Activities vary so much, that only the scout’s imagination is the limit. How many thirteen year olds are capable of building a bridge across a flowing river? How many ten year olds know how to prepare a fire and cook food on it? How many youngsters do you know who have built medieval catapults, abseiled down fifty metre gorges or administered the right treatment to an injured friend? Throughout the past 100 years, the St. Aloysius College Scout Group has not only given youngsters the right set of tools to work with, but consistently introduced the concept of teamwork to achieve successful results. Projects, which in the eyes of many youngsters seem impossible to achieve, turn into problem solving exercises with a successful final product in the scouts’ eyes.
Feature of the Month
The founder of the Scout Movement, Sir Robert Baden Powell said: “Scouting is a game with a purpose. Fun is the game, learning is the process and values are the purpose.” One of the major contributors to the group’s success has undoubtedly been Emeritus- Group Scout Leader John A. Mizzi (1925 – 2013) known by many as “Cubbie”, who started serving as a leader within the group in 1947. Throughout his tenure, Cubbie provided his scouts with interesting, exciting and wonderful experiences. He also led the group on a number of offshore adventures including the US, Russia, South Korea, Australia, North Africa, Chile and many others. John A. Mizzi was also awarded the highest decoration by the Russian Scout Association for his help in re-establishing Scouting in Russia in the John A. Mizzi, welcomes President Emeritus Proffesor Guido De Marco and President Emeritus 1990s. Dr. Vincent Tabone who were both former scouts Today the group has a proud team of leaders who strive to maintain the legacy they have inherited. with the Group. The St. Aloysius College Scout Group does not limit itself to the vast knowledge of scouting skills it provides but aims at giving youngsters the social skills to become responsible adults who reserve the knowhow of leading the future generation. One looks back with pride and a sense of satisfaction at the past. In these 100 years, the Group has remained ever young and adventurous, as boy after boy joins its ranks. So it will remain in the years to come. Throughout 2016, the SAC scouts will be celebrating its 100 year anniversary hosting a number of activities including camping trips in Easter and the summer months, a trip to Aosta - Italy, community service initiatives and a 100 year anniversary reception in August. The Group invites past members to join and sleep over during its camping trip this Easter for one night (campfire night) to re-live and rekindle old memories of their scouting past. We encourage all former scouts interested in joining to visit the website (www.sacscouts.org) or our Facebook page. The 100th year reception in August will be held at the College headquarters which has recently undergone a number of refurbishment initiatives. There will also be features portraying the Group’s milestone achievements and also a vast array of logbooks and photos of our members dating back to 1916. All former members of the scout group are encouraged to attend. College Scouts trip to USA in 1992
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From the Courtyard
GSL’s note
Issue 100 January 2016
Issue 100 of the Courtyard Newsletter Sometimes things just happen by mere coincidence and this is one of those things. This Issue No. 100 coincides with the 100th year of our Group’s existence. It may be an insignificant detail to many but for those of us who have been through the preparation of the last 100 issues the dedication and commitment reflects the dedication and commitment past members and leaders have given to the Group over the last 100 years. Commitment has always been the key to success over a long time and unfortunately consistent commitment is only shown by a few key members which carry the torch over time. I’d like to thank all those members and leaders that have contributed over the years to this milestone and I hope the same commitment and dedication is shown in the future to keep the newsletter going. Forthcoming Events related to the 100 years Anniversary This year we plan to organise a number of events to commemorate our 100 years anniversary. The first is an open invitation to all former scouts to come and spend two days at camp (one night) with us during Easter camp. The dates for this open invitation are from March 24th to the 25th. We appreciate that most former scouts would have got used to the comforts of home and its cosiness and that spending more than twenty-fours away from the amenities we take for granted would be an unmanageable task. Therefore we challenge you to find the courage and come and spend a night with us to rekindle old memories around a campfire and remember how it used to be.
GSL’s note
In July (25th-31st), a contingent of sixty members will be going to Aosta in Italy for a week of fun-filled camping activities. In August, probably the 27th (subject to confirmation) we plan to have a reception at our HQ to officially celebrate the 100th year Anniversary of the Group. More details will be provided in future editions of the newsletter and on our facebook page. In October, close to the actual date of our Group’s first registration with the Scout Association of Malta (16 th October 1916) we plan to hold a mass at College for all members and their families and friends. Other events On February 28th the Group will be helping out at the Malta Marathon. On 4th March we shall be holding our Annual General Meeting for parents and members (probably at College). Easter Camp will be held between March 21st to the 26th (new venue to be announced). HQ Maintenance By now, I am sure most of you have noticed how much better the courtyard looks. We have put a lot of effort and money in to it and we hope that all members take care of it too from now on. The room next door project will hopefully get underway in February/March and should take around five weeks to complete. Subscriptions We would like to inform all those member that did not pay their annual subscriptions to do so by February 17 th. We need the much needed funds to keep things going at our HQ and for the replacement of camping equipment. All those that submit their subscriptions are eligible for one of the new activity t-shirts of the Group. Note to Parents
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Parents please do not obstruct garages in the streets nearby or park near the college chapel on Wednesdays when you come to collect your sons. We have been receiving complaints from neighbours about this issue on a regular basis.
From the Courtyard
100 YEARS OLD STILL RELEVANT AND WITH A PURPOSE
Issue 100 January 2016
A hundred years is a relatively long time in the context of Scouting. Our Group has luckily managed to achieve this milestone since it was established in October 1916. I am sure it has not always been plain sailing but its leaders and members have kept it going providing uninterrupted and continuous service to its members and the College since then. Given this milestone I would like to take the reader back to why Scouting was established by BadenPowell, an objective I firmly believe in that is even more relevant than it was at the beginning. I believe Scouting has become even more relevant nowadays because although young persons have access to nearly all they need they still seem to miss the whole point in whatever they do – that is having fun and being happy in doing so. Below I am reproducing BP’s final message to the Scout Movement which emphasizes exactly what I believe scouting should be about – having fun and being happy. Dear Scouts, If you have ever seen the play Peter Pan you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech, because he was afraid that possibly, when the time came for him to die, he might not have the time to get off his chest.
GSL’s note
It is much the same with me; and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days, and I want to end you a parting word of goodbye. Remember, it is the last time you will ever hear from me, so think it over. I have had a most happy life, and I want each and everyone of you to have as happy a life too. I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness does not come from being rich, nor merely from being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so can enjoy life when you are a man. Nature study will show you how full of beautiful and wonderful things God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be contented with what you have got, and make the best of it; look on the bright side of things instead of the gloomy one. But the real way to get happiness is by giving out to happiness to the other people. Try and leave this world a little better that you found it, and when you trun comes to die you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. ‘Be Prepared’ in this way, to live happy and to die happy; stick to your Scout Promise always – even after you have ceased to be a boy – and God help you to do it. Your Friend, Baden-Powell
Over the last one hundred years I am sure that most of our members have had experiences in Scouting that were happy ones and that helped them grow and develop into strong men. Character building has always been an objective of our Group and I can vouch for many members older and younger than I that have gone on to achieve great success and still do it with a smile on their face. A good friend of mine once
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From the Courtyard
GSL’s note
Issue 100 January 2016
told me you cannot choose your family members but you can at least choose your friends. In being part of our Group one gets to make new friends that really become family over time. I have been part of the Group for thirty-three years now and all previous leaders especially former GSL John.A.Mizzi (Cubbie), who was a leader with the Group for nearly sixty years, ensured that the values BP planned to pass on to Scouts all over the world have been cemented in our Group. Unfortunately, Cubbie will not be with us to celebrate the 100 years of our Group. We used to discuss this milestone may times over but like BP he was always conscious of the fact that he may not be here after all. Cubbie may not have left us a parting letter but had instilled the spirit required in all of us in the Group to carry on with the mission of providing fun-filled activities for our Members making our Group a Happy Group. Accordingly, my humble message to current members and leaders and all future ones is to do things that make one happy and all those around them too. I am confident this can happen because I always see it when we organize things together.
GSL’s note
I just hope that the current crop of young leaders do not give up as the future of leading a Scout Group seems increasingly difficult due to the requirements and obligations being imposed on us.
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To the next 100 years….. onwards and upwards. GSL-Edward Cassola
From the Courtyard
ALL THE SIXES
Issue 100 January 2016
Our beloved Akela, Stefan Pullicino, has a message for all his Cubs and our readers. It’s 2016 and our Group is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. Very few other local scout groups reached this important milestone in their scouting life. The number 6 was a very prominent number in my general and scouting life. I am honoured to have been part of this group since when I joined 26 years ago. I was born in 1976. I have been a Cub Scout Leader for the past 16 years. A cubs patrol is called a “six” and is led by a “sixer” and a “second sixer”.
From the Pack
And it is this year, i.e. 2016, that after much thought, I have decided to call it a day as regards my duties as Akela or a Cub Scout Leader. New beginnings. In a Scouting Movment that s always changing and evolving, Scout Groups need to renew themselves even by giving opportunities to the younger generation of scouts to lead themselves. I look back and realise that a number of my fellow leaders were cub scouts until a few years ago, when I already was their leader. As our founder Lord Baden Powell used to say, “See things from the boy’s point of view.” And over the last years, I believe this is what I tried to do while running the pack. I always tried to transform “challenges” into something fun for the cubs and I enjoyed every minute of it. Yet, it is now my time to let others lead the pack and leave the future of Cubbing in their hands. Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened! Finally I cannot conclude without saying a heartfelt thanks to all the cubs, parents and fellowleaders who made these last 16 years as Akela as unforgettable as they really were!
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From the Courtyard
KELLIMNI.COM
Issue 100 January 2016
Kellimni.com Talk On Wednesday 20th January 2016, Mr. James Buhagiar from the organisation kellimni.com came to our HQ to deliver a talk on this online youth support being offered locally. All of their services are, free and confidential.
From the Troop
Kellimni.com is a service run in partnership between the Salesians of Don Bosco, Agenzija Appogg, SOS Malta and Agenzija Zghazagh. It is manned by a team of professionally trained operators ready to support the youth. Kellimni.com offers one-to-one, real-time and online , support services to teens and young persons who are suffering from any form of social exclusion, abuse, neglect, and/or psychological difficulties and are in need of immediate emotional, moral and social support.
This project aims that All young people have the opportunity to voice their concerns, express and realize their rights through which medium of communication they would feel most comfortable or available to them.
100 Years of SAC Scouts! I am pretty sure that you are aware by now that this year we are celebrating the 100 th Birthday in our group. The Group has great activities planned for the coming year, and so does the Troop. A Father and son activity will be held during the Summer Camp and specific activities will be held in conjunction with other groups to celebrate this event. So stay tuned!
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From the Courtyard
NEW LOGO & ACTIVITY WEAR
Issue 100 January 2016
New SAC Scouts Logo
As part of the centenary celebrations, the group has decided to re-brand the SAC Scout Group Logo and after hours of deliberation and countless designs below find the final version. This logo will feature in a lot of merchandise, which is being made for the centenary celebrations and will be available for purchase during the events throughout the year.
From the Troop
A huge thank you goes to a friend of the group, Albert Camilleri who designed the logo.
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New Activity Wear New Year, New Activity Wear! The Group has just changed the activity wear in adherence to the National branding done by the Scout Association of Malta. An activity T-shirt will be given to each and every member upon paying the annual subscription. All members will be wearing the same activity wear, irrespective of the section or position. Moreover, hoodies are in the pipeline and hopefully will be available before the Easter Camp. The ‘old’ activity wear can still be used at camps or expeditions of course, but we will be required to wear the new activity t shirt more often from now on.
From the Courtyard
A NEW CAMPSITE?
Issue 100 January 2016
From the Unit
It has always been the dream of our scout group to have a home of our own.. a place which we can call ours. Often, as youngsters we would dream about this and make up imaginary campsites with all the commodities we could come up with. As time went by, our scout group would settle in some site or another, and dub it as ‘our campsite’. For a very long time this was Verdala Palace. We loved that place and took care of it as if it were our second home. We were all very proud to be allowed to use these wonderful grounds and although we don’t admit it, we guarded this privilege. Alas the days of ‘camping in the forest’ at Verdala are over, with the gardens being transformed into an open air sculpture gallery. During the last few years, as leaders of the group we dedicated much free time looking for an ideal location which we could claim as our campsite. This nonetheless, led to nowhere. As our 100th anniversary approached we reluctantly got used to the idea that we would no longer have that unique place to camp in and were already making half hearted preparations for the 100 th anniversary camp at the usual Ghajn Tuffieha Campsite.
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All hope seemed lost, until one evening during an Ex-Scouts event held last year, our GSL expressed his frustration at the impossibility of finding the right place for us to set camp. This news was received with great interest and soon enough one of our ex scouts and regular benefactor to the Group, put forward a humble suggestion. This gentleman offered us the use of some field in Zebbug, which we appreciatedly accepted although we initially thought it would be some tiny soil patch. Plans were made to visit this site and on the day we first went, none of us could believe what we were seeing, as the ‘little field’ turned out to be an area larger than our usual Summer camping plots at Ghajn Tuffieha!
From the Unit
From the Courtyard
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A NEW CAMPSITE?
Issue 100 January 2016
The site, which we have immediately christened ’Black Valley Campsite’ is situated in Wied is Sewda, which is the Valley between Zebbug and Mriehel. This is conveniently close to our HQ which is in fact within a 25 minute walk. The area consists of six adjacent fields which cover quite a large area of land. Formerly cultivated land, these fields will be adapted to host our tents area, activity areas, camp kitchen etc. Over the last couple of months our Group has visited the site a few times to start some maintenance of the place. This till now has consisted of clearing up and sorting lots of scrap and rubbish which had accumulated over the years and is now dangerous and unsightly. We have also cleared some areas of thick weeds which made some parts of the campsite inaccessible. We are being very careful and cautious with what to do so as not to spoil the natural environment and beauty of the place. As Easter camp approaches, the Rover Crew and Venture Unit are putting their muscles to good use to do some heavy work at re-building rubble walls, and repairing a few foot paths, in the hope that by Easter week the site will be ideal for holding our camp there. Here are a few photos of the site and the works going on. Rest assured there will be more updates on this story for the rest of the year!
From the Unit
From the Courtyard
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A NEW CAMPSITE?
Issue 100 January 2016
From the Crew
From the Courtyard
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THE ROVERS’ ROLE
Issue 100 January 2016
As many of you already know St Aloysius College Scout group is celebrating its 100years of continuous scouting in Malta. For over 87years the group mainly operated on 3 sections, the Cub Section, troop section and the venture unit. Since then another section was introduced to help young leaders and members to continue in the scouting adventure. This section is known as the Rover Crew. One may ask, who is the rover crew and what is it purpose/role within the SAC Group and the scouting world? The Rover Crew and program started off in two different schemes. Back in World War 1 the British scout association agreed to launch a program for your adults between 15-18yrs of age. The program was purely aimed to help increase the number of leaders, which at that time was becoming a problem due to most men going to war. These young adults were known as ‘Senior Scout’. The second scheme of the rover program was a series of small groups that provided scouting related knowledge and activities to service men, as an outcome was clearly noticeable for the need of a proper scouting program that related directly to young men. This was when Sir Robert Baden Powell mentioned these young men as ‘Rover Scouts’ in the boy scouts gazette back in 1918, from which a proper program was fully developed by 1919. During this time Sir Baden-Powell wrote a handbook which was published in 1922 and was named ‘Rovering to Success’. This book was written in such a way that it remains useful with today’s life. Rovering to success is the key to most modern rover programs we currently use but they have been adapted to our modern life we live in. A copy of the book can be found here (http:// www.thedump.scoutscan.com/rts.pdf). The rover crew section within the SAC Scout Group has been set up for the past 13years. We were one of the very few scout groups in Malta that felt the need to form this section. Since then the rover crew worked hard to help young adult become successful leaders within our group and also gave these young men a motive to keep them motivated in scouting. The main purpose of the Rover crew towards our group has always been ‘Service’. This is also the Rover Crew Motto and we always try to live up to it. The rover crew is nearly always directly involved in any occasion or activity the group holds. If it’s a group camp you will find the rover crew setting up and running the camp, being either a section leader or just a rover member assisting during the activity. The rover crew is the engine of the group, same like an engine in a car, always hidden under a cover but needed to move forward. As one knows an engine needs its servicing, as well as a rover crew makes sure that certain activities are planned and enjoyed by the adult men without having to care or supervise young members. These activities will be more daring and more adventurous than those of other sections so the return of pleasure and fulfillment will be higher. These kinds of activities also provide a good example and aspiration to young members and therefore continue in the scouting footstep towards a better life. Currently around 30 members form part of the SAC Rover Crew. These members are divided in two sections, those that we call ‘core members’ and those ‘non-core members’. The difference between these sections is that the core members, who usually are present and more active, run the rover crew on a weekly basis. In most cases these same core members have a double role within another section but still find time to attend and participate during meeting and activities. The ‘non-core members’ are those leaders that due to work or personal commitment cannot be fully active during meetings and activities but nonetheless they are invited to any activity we hold. Most of these members also hold other leadership positions within our group and when needed they are members you can count on. The rover crew uses a committee system where the chairman is elected from between the core members and holds this position for a period of six months or more. All activities are planned during weekly meetings and usually they will be a variety of adventure, learning, maintenance, service within the group and also in our community.
From the Courtyard
SCOUTING MEMORIES
Issue 100 January 2016
Each month we will be putting up some stories as told by our current and past members. To start off this new section, our Quartermaster Luke Maistre was asked to write about his life within scouting and this is a brief of his 17years – as he explained it ‘it was hard to stop writing with all the memories in mind’. I was thrown into scouts at a young age. Starting at the age of 6 it has now been a long and wonderful 17 years at SAC scouts. How did I know back then that what started out to be a hobby would turn out to be so much more!
From the Crew
During my time as a cub I was taught how to work together as a team and taught some basic knots, first aid and mapping to give us a foundation to work with as we progressed. As with any section everyone starts as a member but I still remember my first meeting when we had a couple lectures on knotting and I was thinking to myself how boring it was until we went outside after the lecture and got to build a small catapult out of staves. Then after a couple years I was promoted to assistant sixer which does not sound like much but when you are 8 and now second in command of your six it is. We were children but I felt important as I had to help out the sixer when in need to make sure that everyone was in line for fall in. Towards the end of my time as a cub I became a sixer and I specifically remember that during my last camp I was given a new member as I was the oldest, and even though our cub camps only last 3 days it felt like forever because this new member just would not want to listen to me we had to get ready for activities or when we had to wake up. So I kept complaining to our leader Akela who at the end of the camp gave me the certificate for the most annoying cub. However, we still won the camp shield, so I was ecstatic.
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Then I became a scout and this time I was placed in the Bull patrol where I will always remember one specific pioneering activity when we had to build torture weapons. Ok I may not have helped as much as I would have liked but that was only as I had just moved up to becoming a scout and did not know many lashings. So after it was built we needed to strap someone to it to show how it works. I also remember that we had used one of the thinnest spars, which ruled out most of my friends as they were all quite big boys and well you can all see were this is going. Yes, I was strapped to this device and it was a cross which spins and dislocates the arm and leg joints (the dislocating part was left out due to complaints from my end). We tried out the machine but I had to remain tied to it until the leaders came to check it out. As the leaders arrived we showed them how it worked and as they began to spin me around the spar snapped and went up my back. The rest of my patrol was quick to point out that it was a feature cleverly built in. Obviously afterwards I had to be helped down. There is so much to talk about the time when I was a scout as we did so many activities from chariot racing, catapult building, first aid scenarios, hikes, expeditions, and so much more but another memory that I will never forget is during the HMS BULWARK shield expedition. This is a 3-day expedition starting on Friday evening ending on Sunday late afternoon. It is held every year in November and in Gozo. So we have come to the final checkpoint of the day and we are hours ahead of any other patrol, when all that separated us from our final destination was a valley. Now we could have either walked round or gone through the valley. I am guessing you can guess which we choose; yes it was a unanimous decision to go straight through the valley. Now over the years we must have exaggerated the height of this but it always sounds better when we exaggerate a little. So we found what is later to be known as the 5 story drop, which was probably between 1.5-2 stories, but those are minor details. We had to get our equipment down by lowering it with ropes. We eventually got all but 2 down, mine and my patrol leader’s Edward Apap-Bologna. He asked if we could zip line my rucksack down to be faster and I said yes no problem. So I was waiting at the bottom to catch my bag only to watch it slide halfway down the rope and then just fall to the ground as the strap gave way. We eventually got to our destination but we were not hours ahead of the others, more like the opposite. We had come in almost 3 hours late. There is also another story which does not end on a happy note or with a laugh for us. We had our annual rafting activity in February. Yes, in the cold our leaders think it instilled motivation not to sink with the raft. Under the guidance of George, we built a very stable raft which not only floated and worked, but also it did not just break up as it was placed in the water like the Buffs did. Nor did it capsize like the Hounds did as it went down the slipway. The race got underway. As we set off we had about a 30m distance to get to a buoy, round it and get back. The Buffs had to swim while holding all the pieces of raft together, the Hounds were on an upside down raft and the Tigers were just 2 people, fair enough we were only 3 ourselves but they were 2 small men we had the big boys and me. We had won the race miles ahead of the rest. Then we were asked to go rescue a turtle out in the bay as it looked injured only to find that it had died as a result of being injured by a propeller of a boat. The punch line is that we still got back to the finishing point first, the Tigers who came second just as we pulled in, finally followed by the Hounds then the Buffs who had to swim in. The Tigers were crowned the winners as the leaders felt sorry for them as they were only 2. This obviously did not go down well with us. To this day we do not like to talk about that day. After a few years it was time to host another PLTC which stands for Patrol Leaders Training Camp. Here all the peo-
From the Courtyard
SCOUTING MEMORIES
Issue 100 January 2016
From the Crew
ple chosen to attend were being earmarked as future new patrol leaders or the assistants. I was eventually chosen to be assistant patrol leader of the Tigers with Mike Micallef as my Patrol leader. We had a good couple of years where we won a few camps and international afternoons. The time came when I had to replace Mike and carry on the torch. I had a good couple of years. Then when I moved up to the Ventures I was also asked to be the SPL who is in charge of the general scout meetings and also has to plan the meetings. During that year we implemented the patrol of the month and patrol of the year, where patrols would be awarded points for every weekly activity, camps, attendance, duties and other activities. During my time as a Venture we had all the usual activities, but the 2 that stick out most were the trip to Denmark and the renovation of the mouse hole. The trip to Denmark was the second part of an exchange that happened here in Malta 4 years earlier. This was a bike hike over the north of Denmark. The trip got off to a rocky start as after 2 flights and going to catch the third and final flight we had window seats on the side were the plane was being loaded and we saw it drive off with luggage still in it. It was not just any luggage it was a rucksack, so we instantly knew it was ours as we could tell them from a mile away. The question was whose was it ? As we arrived at Aalborg we soon found out that all had been left behind except mine and my brothers. So we enjoyed annoying the others that we had our stuff. While there we got split into small groups, one from each country to help us integrate with the others. During this 7 day trip we went canoeing, biking, we had theme lunches, quizzes and parties. It was a long week which I will never forget. I also recall that during the canoeing we had split up into groups of 2. Effectively the English and Maltese were paired together, as we headed down the river Jacques was with one of the British girls, way out of his league but give him credit for trying. Anyway he tried to show off as they were going along and surprise surprise it failed resulting in them not remaining nice and dry. One night we even went to go watch Spain play in the semi-final match of the world cup where they beat Germany 1-0. We had made friends with all of the other nations but we mostly clicked with the British contingent. Probably due to the fact that communication came so easily. It was a great week, friendships were made and we still keep in touch till this day and so many memories. The other memory is that of the mouse hole renovation were it was giving a clean bit of health and completely transformed. The 2 level room was made more open by removing the little stone wall and extending the top level to make it more functional. New tiles, re painted, new extractor, new equipment or refurbished the old equipment. This task was meant to be completed over the summer, but we smashed that time frame by finishing in just over a year. Ok a year seems like a lot but we did work on a part time basis when we could and usually that meant an hour of work to two hours of messing about and laughing. But it did eventually get done and it looks amazing. Now we have caught up to the present were I am part of the Rover core unit and also a quarter master with Gabriel Rizzo. Both involve a lot of work. The store has always been a busy place, things break and need fixing, new equipment is needed or a room needs renovating. This last month we have renovated the Cub room by giving it a new coat of paint, re painted all the doors, while keeping up with the demands of everyone needing something to be done and constant maintenance of the tents and other bits of equipment that we use for camps. On the other hand, the Rovers have far less activities than any other part of the group, this is mainly due to university assignments and work, though we always try to do a couple activities a month. When we do have an activity we make sure it is a good one. We have done bike hikes, LAN parties, overnight camps, and we are planning a hike from Marsa to Marsa in summer (Marsaxlokk to Marsalforn). We are also trying to build a kayak out of plastic bottles. Other plans include a hiking trip to Etna and of course our 100 th year trip to Aosta as a group. We are always keen to do activities but due to other commitments and due to the fact that most rovers are leaders in other sections it is not always easy. Over the years scouts has taught me a lot. The importance of teamwork is one of the most important things, as well as how to work properly and how to tackle difficult jobs. It has not been without a struggle along the way but it has always been worthwhile. It did just start out as a hobby but now I will not want to miss a meeting. For me it takes preference over anything, even work if I could, but that is not always possible. Part of what makes it so special going every week is the fact that there are a bunch of great guys waiting there to give a lending hand, otherwise clearly I have the wrong group!! It has been amazing these 17 years and I hope that future years are this good if not better.
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