Issue 113 Issue April113 2017 April 2017
From the Courtyard
From the Courtyard SAC SCOUTS NEWSLETTER
GSL’s note In this issue Cubs.. - National Treasure Hunt - Basic Training Joint Activity
Scouts.. - Anzac Day - Easter Camp Hike
Our GSL tells us what’s on! Easter Camp The Group held its annual Easter camp at Verdala Castle grounds 10th and 15th April. It was good to camp there again and it brought back many good old memories for the older members who have learnt most of their scouting outdoor knowledge at this site and “graduated” in spirit. We were honoured that H.E. the President of Malta M.L Coleiro Preca paid us a visit on Wednesday 12th when we were hosting some young members from the Institute of St Joseph. She also had the
Rovers..
time for a Group photo.
Easter Camp—the extended version.
On Thursday 13th we had our Group Campfire (without a fire) which still proved to be a success as many new members contributed and started showing off some hidden skills they possess. As usual most of the leaders and rovers helped to prepare a delicious BBQ mixed grill before the camp fire. This camp was a milestone for our Group because we also used the new tents we bought earlier this year. They are former military 10 man bell tents that are very easy to pitch and even easier to strike. Thanks go to all those that prepared for camp, worked throughout camp and helped in the clearing up process.
Left: Leaders and members for all sections from all sections take a group photo with H.E. M.L. Coleiro Preca during Easter camp 2017. Right: Our new acquisitions.
From the Courtyard
GSL’S NOTE
Issue 113 April 2017
Annual Parade As had been advised during the AGM held on March 29th, the Group leaders in consultation with members and parents decided not to participate during the Annual Parade on April 24th. The main problem is uniform related. While we have not been granted permission to wear the BP hats so deeply ingrained in our group’s history, no headgear has yet been prepared for the new uniform. As a Group we feel a uniform without headgear is incomplete. Anzac Day Once again this year, our Group contributed to the Anzac Day Ceremony at the Pieta Military Cemetery after having been kindly invited by the Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Ms Julienne Hince.
GSL’s note
A number of scouts, ventures and rovers were present to assist in the wreath laying ceremony.
Venture Daniel Busuttil accompanies a local dignitary during the wreath laying ceremony.
30 Years Ago Thirty years ago, the Troop was hard at work carrying out all types of jobs to raise funds for their trip to the 16th World Scout Jamboree in Australia. A Group of around 40 members from our Group and 1st Sliema Scout Group attended this jamboree. The 16th World Scout Jamboree was held from 30th December 1987 to 7th January 1988, the first World Scout Jamboree held in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first to change the date from the traditional August to January to coincide with summer. The Jamboree was hosted by Australia at Cataract Scout Park a specially constructed Scout tent city situated on a 160-hectare site at Appin, New South Wales, near Sydney, New South Wales. 14,434 Scouts from 84 countries attended the Jamboree, with around 13,000 more in attendance on "Visiting Day". The theme was Bringing the World Together.
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From the Courtyard
GSL’s note
Issue 113 April 2017
The course of New Year's Day passed during the Jamboree, and the opening ceremony of the Jamboree, at midnight on 31 December 1987, was the first official event of Australia's Bicentenary. Highlights included the Challenge Valley obstacle course, and the Great Aussie Surf Carnival, for which all Scouts were shuttled in over 50 buses to Thirroul Beach. This was an amazing experience although the high surf and patrol boats looking out for sharks did not encourage many of us to venture very far. The United Kingdom contingent included Betty Clay, daughter of the founder of Scouting, and eleven members of the Baden-Powell family, nine of whom were direct descendants of Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell. The Maltese Contingent were lucky to have met with Ms Betty Clay who had visited our site during camp. Unfortunately, I am the only last regular serving member still with the Group. Many of my former jamboree scout patrol members are spread all over the world and meeting again all together looks like a long shot to hope for. All the best chaps, I’m sure you remember the pictures of the Holy Father in our tent, the monsoon rains that flooded our tents and the admonishment we got from
GSL’s note
Cubbie when Ms Betty Clay left our campsite.
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From the Courtyard
NATIONAL TREASURE HUNT
Issue 113 April 2017
The cubs joined in a centenary treasure hunt organized by Zejtun Scout Group.
Zejtun Scout Group is currently celebrating their 100 year anniversary and in celebration of their founding, they organised a National Treasure hunt in Valletta on the 30th of April 2017. The aim of this treasure hunt was to teach, cubs and scouts from all groups around the island, more about our beautiful capital city. It also gathered a small fee from all the participants with the proceeds going to aid the Richmond Foundation. A number of cubs from our Pack took part in this activity and as a result met up with fellow cub scouts from other groups in Valletta early on Sunday morning. They were then split up into teams, mixed with cubs from all groups in order to get to know them better. They then were given a poem, which had clues hidden inside it as to where they had to go to within the city, teaching them more about the city’s history and with a number of tests and challenges along the way! On the whole the cubs enjoyed the event very much and returned home with some more knowledge about the history and culture surrounding our
From the Pack
capital city.
Akela with his cubs, after participating in the National Treasure Hunt.
David Pace Akela
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From the Courtyard
BASIC TRAINING JOINT ACTIVITY
Issue 113 April 2017
Raksha explains the planning and preparation which went into her and Rikki Tikki Tavi’s Basic activity. Following the Basic weekend camp on the 10th to the 12th March, I decided to team up with Adam Zahra from Dingli Scout Group as we were already familiar with each other following our the Pathfinder Joint Activity. While it was Joanna who worked with Adam last time, we swapped activity partners in order to experience a new dynamic while retaining the successful combination of team-mates. Planning the Activity As with the previous instance, leaders attending the basic training camp were instructed to organize a joint activity with a leader from another group of the same section involving the whole section – in this case, the pack. Whoever we teamed up with, also had to bring his own Pack. This time we decided to use the Għajn Tuffieħa Campsite. Adam and I decided to work on Command Tasks/Team Building Tasks while Joanna and Ayrton worked on a hike. Our two packs would be split into
From the Pack
two, one would go on the hike and the other would work on the tasks. The group would meet up for a cook out for lunch, and then swap. The event was to be held on 1st May 2017. Following the Pathfinder weekend, we knew well enough how to implement SPICES, CURA and the Scouting Method around a symbolic framework. We just learnt how to take it a step further during the Basic weekend. Coming up with these factors was definitely not an issue – it was a matter of what they will bring out of it. We kept in mind that certain Cubbing skills come around through repetition and progression so we emphasized on this not only during the activity, but also with preparation for it. Planning the Tasks Adam and I felt that we needn’t fuss and over-exaggerate the idea of this part of the activity. We knew we had around an hour and a half, and so we decided to come up with three tasks each. In reality, we used only 5 and had a spare one just in case. The idea was that we had to cover the use of SPICES, CURA and the Scouting Method, as well as implement the Symbolic Framework. We decided that the tasks would serve as the sixes/animals helping Tarzan in one way or another. We came up with our own tasks and made sure that each of them promoted an element of SPICES or CURA. As SAC leaders in training, Joanna and I took care of what we needed to from our end. Joanna sent out consent forms to the parents of the Cubs in our groups. We charged a €6 fee to cover the expenses of: lunch, badges and other costs. We also made sure first aid kits were in order, and prepared high-visibility vests for the hike. I also pestered and pestered (in a nice way) our team of leaders to see who would join us and lend us an extra pair of hands (and feet and brain) on the tasks and hike. The more adult supervision, the better. This time round, the ice breakers were in my hands so I came up with two. The first involved cubs pairing up to find out more information about each other (All About Me). Then they had to remain in twos and find other Cubs and ask what they were interested in (Human Scavenger Hunt). This worked out successfully, as the Cubs made new friends instantly.
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From the Courtyard
BASIC TRAINING JOINT ACTIVITY
Issue 113 April 2017
Activity Day – 1st May 2017 At 9am, Cubs and leaders turned up at Għajn Tuffieħa. Cubs from both sides were a little bit shy but that quickly changed. At 9:30, Adam called the group together and he explained the purpose of the activity
From the Pack
and the symbolic framework.
Adam from Dingli Scout Group introduces the activity to the cubs. John Micallef Engerer - our assessor from IHQ - was also there. I explained the process to Mr Micallef Engerer, how we included SPICES, CURA and the Scouting Method in our plans, and what was going on at that current time of the activity. He asked me some questions regarding the first aid boxes, consent forms etc and I explained that we had everything on us and prepared to take with us. I also showed him the documentation. During this time, the Cubs were working on their Ice Breakers.
St Aloysius and Dingli cubs work together to complete the water delivery (top) and Egg Tower (right) tasks.
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From the Courtyard
BASIC TRAINING JOINT ACTIVITY
Issue 113 April 2017
Needless to say, the tasks were very exciting and the Cubs seemed to have enjoyed themselves. They worked very well together and carried out the tasks successfully. Lunch was also very exciting as before this activity, we worked on the Fire Lighting Arrow Session the week before. Therefore, Cubs knew what they needed to light this fire. They also were aware that if this fire did not light, they were not going to eat. But, the weather was very cooperative so they ate well. The second part of the activity, the swap, worked just as well as the first part. Before this activity, we also worked on some tasks. Our St Aloysius Cubs love these tasks and always strive to do their best and work in a team. Once we were done, we re-grouped, did a Grand Howl and concluded the activity. The feedback from the Cubs was very positive. We will definitely do this again. Needless to say, we finalised
From the Pack
with a ‘Yogi Yogi Yogi’!
Joanna and the cubs, preparing for the hike. Overview Although a Risk Assessment had been done, we were not fully careful about certain things – but luckily, John made us aware of this. During the Basic Course, I learnt many things that built on what was learnt from the Pathfinder. I do feel that the Pathfinder activity was too busy and too complicated. We did learn from this and this time round the activity was much more relaxed. I feel that I also enjoyed it much more as I had time to enjoy it and wasn’t constantly rushing to stick to time. This is part of the learning curve where we can only do better from learning from the past. After the activity, we did discuss about what went wrong or right. Nothing really went wrong and we were very satisfied with what we had done. We had allotted the right amount of time needed, and all took responsibility for the equipment needed. I feel that we organised this in a way that it was all balanced, and each one of us was responsible for our own roles equally.
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From the Pack
From the Courtyard
Issue 113 April 2017
BASIC TRAINING JOINT ACTIVITY
Left to Right: Adam, Ilaria, Joanna and Ayrton at the end of a successful activity.
Activity Report written by Ilaria Zammit Raksha Abridged and adapted into article form by Emma Gauci Bagheera
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From the Courtyard
ANZAC DAY
Issue 113 April 2017
ASL Andrew Agius along with a variety of Group members of different ages accepted the yearly invitation to attend the Anzac Day wreath laying ceremony. Malta played a significant role in and during the Gallipoli Campaign, which ANZAC Day commemorates, with many Australians and New Zealand casualties being evacuated to Malta for medical treatment. From the spring of 1915, hospitals and convalescent camps were established on the islands of Malta and Gozo, to deal with the many thousands of sick and wounded from the Gallipoli and Salonika campaigns. Despite the courageous efforts of the doctors and medical staff, some of the casualties could not be saved and they were buried on Malta. Anzac Day has been commemorated in Malta since 1916. Since 1979 the service has been held at the
From the Troop
PietĂ Military Cemetery as it contains the highest number of ANZAC war graves in Malta.
SAC scouts and cubs accompany local and foreign dignitaries during the Wreath Laying Ceremony.
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ANZAC DAY
Issue 113 April 2017
From the Troop
From the Courtyard
SPL Daniel Busuttil and ASL Andrew Agius stand to attention during the Wreath Laying Ceremony.
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From the Courtyard
EASTER CAMP HIKE
Issue 113 April 2017
Wolf Patrol talk about the Day Hike during the Easter Camp! Friday 14th April 2017 All the Patrol Leaders had woken up early to wait for Mike and his lecture. But he turned out to arrive during Lumbering up, which meant a binus for us. During the lecture we refreshed our memories with all the usual bearigs and map references and some tips from his expertise. We obviously needed the brushing up since we hadn’t practiced in a long time. Right after breakfast we were told to pack up the stuff for the hike since we soon had to leave. We packed the usual incuding sunblock, water, high visibility vest, rain jacket, normal jacket, and torches. We obviously had to bring with us a map kit including a compass, marker, and a map,and also a first aid kit. We were given the papers and we were the first patrol to leave since we ansered the first question as fast as possible. We quickly took the right foot paths and unbelievably as one of our members was already tired, we had no choice except to push him all the way to outr first checkpoint which was ‘Is-Salib tal –
From the Troop
Gholja’. It was slightly steep but we still had nothing to moan about. Since we were falling behind, the Bull Patrol had caught up with us and had a five minute advantage over us. This is the route, we took:
The next checkpoint was given to us at the same time and we still managed to finish it off first. It was located at Fawwara Church. It wasn’t a long way, but since there were many misconceptions on which route to take, we had to ask the leaders’ advice. We were told to pass from a particular route and we still managed to find a shortcut. Unfortunatley, because of a small distraction, we took a wrong turning and misakenly ended up beyond the church and noticed that we were on top of the cliffs. We had to turn all the way back and take the right turning.
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From the Troop
From the Courtyard
EASTER CAMP HIKE
Issue 113 April 2017
We arrived at Fawwara last, and left this checkpoint 4th. From here, we had to go to t-Torri but luckily we took a footpath that automatically brought us from last place to first. Below you can see the detour that all the other patrols had taken.
We then noticed that the next checkpoint was going to be ÄŚaÄĄar Qim temples.We walked at a good pace, and unfortunately, the moaning started again as our tired member didnt want to walk. We had lost our first place position to the Tigers and almost lost our second place to the Buffs. We arrived at the checkpoint and informed the leaders about what had been hapening. They instantly understood and took preliminary actions that if this happens again, he will leave.
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From the Troop
From the Courtyard
EASTER CAMP HIKE
Issue 113 April 2017
We ate our food and we were given a packet of Hit from Mani. The leaders noticed a mistake in the bearinng ofthe next checkpoint and we were told to arrange it. We had to go to ‘Il-Maqluba’ which we thought was a landmark for a moment but once we skipped the Tigers, we noticed that-‘Il-Maqluba’ was a quarry, and we were right beside it. Then we took a turning and saw a chapel next to it. We were the first to make the bearing. Unfortunatley, at this point we had to tell our the leaders about one of our memebers whic kept falling behind and that it couldn’t go on. He stopped on this checkpoint and we gave our first postion to the Buffs so as not to waste time. The next checkpoint was found to be Tal-Providenza.
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From the Courtyard
EASTER CAMP HIKE
Issue 113 April 2017
As we started walking to tal-Providenza, we noticed that the Buffs were walking ahead of us. Determined to gain ground, we walked fast and snuck up on them in the hope that they’d slow down their pace and we can walk fast without them doing anthing. It worked perfectly! They had no idea we were there and once we skipped them, we noticed that they took a wrong turning. We had passed from a road that only took about 10 minutes of walking whilst to our glee, the Buffs took a detour of around 17 minutes walk. We had nothing to argue. We had fun walking and joking around and at last we arrived at the checkpoint, and heard mike argue about a story about a biker and his car. We found out that the place was back to verdala and we found a shortcut! We found out that the only other possible route was at least 17 minutes
From the Troop
of walk extra so we took the right route.
Although it was a long walk, we enjoyed it and had fun. To our relief, we were the first to arrive at the final checkpoint and it was a huge relief. In a matter of minutes, the Buffs and the Tigers arrived. After a long time the Hounds arrived, and after them came the Bulls. We were too tired to do anything, and we had a long siesta. All we did for the rest of the day was, eat and pack our stuff. We were told that the leaders were going to dismantle our tents, and were going to sleep in the Marquee. In fact we enjoyed the Marquee more since we all slept next to our friends and had a time to joke around. But since we didnt play Wide Game, we had to sleep instantly.
Matthew Zammit Wolf Patrol Leader.
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The Wolf Patrol, during the day’s hike
From the Courtyard
EASTER CAMP—THE EXTENDED VERSION
Issue 113 April 2017
The Rover crew kicked back after this year’s Easter camp and spent a couple more days at Verdala, making the most of the opportunity to camp within the grounds once more.
Day 1: Sunday 16th April As we waved goodbye to the weary members of the Troop leaving the campsite, most in various states of recline in the seats of the assigned coach, the remaining members of the Rover Crew basked in the knowledge that their sojourn at Verdala campsite was not yet over. After a short absence from the campsite until Sunday evening, we once again took up residence, at which point the more serious matters at hand were quickly turned to – namely; food. Pride dictated that our culinary skills be put to the limit, and thus our first evening meal was to be a stew adorned with numerous ingredients (most of which your author, who counts not amongst his skills the art of preparing dishes, left to those wiser than him to choose). However, properly instructed on how to hold a knife by
From the Crew
our ever-watchful (and very often critical) rover/resident chef Luke Maistre, the ingredients were properly cut up (luckily, our fingers escaped the same fate) and deposited into the simmering pot. The success of our endeavour was evident, the stew was declared unanimously to be both nourishing and tasty, and after a short break we elected to play a couple of rounds of Wide Game. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, Wide Game involves dividing the participants into two teams, with the goal of each team being to capture the other by way of taking their hats. In our case, we divided into two teams with a 4 v 3 format (a 4 v 4 format being excluded due to George Zammit-Montebello’s strong relationship with his camping chair). Although stealth was the order of the day, a few notable incidents did occur, including a much-regretted
Go hard or go home.
friendly fire incident in which two of the author’s teammates set upon each other with gusto before realising the error of their ways. With the games over, the Rover Crew elected to turn in for the night.
Day 2: Monday 17th April Awoken by the superb aroma of bacon and eggs (no not really – our very own Masterchef had elected that bread and ham was to be the ordained breakfast of the day – clearly the stew was the only luxury food we were going to get), we felt we were properly fortified for the day’s events. The first order of the day was archery practice – two targets were set up in a clearing and each Rover had five shots to attain the maximum possible points. This went on for several rounds and the points for each
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From the Courtyard
EASTER CAMP—THE EXTENDED VERSION
Issue 113 April 2017
participant tallied up until a clear order of competency (or lack of it) emerged. Our activity was sadly brought to a halt by the newly-arrived Sliema Scout Group, who in their quest to set up their campsite chose our clearing to hammer the first peg. After a short but heated debate in which the prospect of continuing to hone our archery skills was weighed against possible collateral damage we decided to imitate the great bard himself and elect for ‘discretion being the better part of valour’ (there were also more of them than there were of us). Electing to leave Sliema to their hammering (and their efforts to move the two portable toilets, a task of much hazard and little perceived value), our next activity was the SAC staple – a hike. Devised by our chairman David, whose love for his fellow Rover knows no bounds, the route would see us take the ‘scenic’ path along (And down. And up.) Dingli cliffs up to Ras il-Fawwara before making
From the Crew
our way back down to Verdala again. It should be said, without any exaggerated hubris, that your dear author was one of the first to lead the charge into the scrub (admittedly by dint of much falling over), and is indeed typing this very article with a stinging sensation in his left palm from thorns that have stubbornly refused to
The scenic route
leave their new home, despite repeated efforts. Our destination being reached, and repeated exhortations from chairman David on how the view made up for our pains in reaching it, the oncoming dark led us to quickly appreciate said view and turn back to climb back up the cliffs. This task was, as may be imagined by our esteemed readers, to be easier said than done, with a number of steep slopes requiring an effort, best summed up in the Maltese word ‘rankatura’, to surmount. It should be recorded for posterity that on one occasion, when the crossing of a moderately deep wadi was required, the author of this article elected to do this from the outset, and greatly enjoyed the efforts of the others who at first refuted to do so and ended up traversing the obstacle from a far more difficult slope later on (videos of this can be sent to readers on request).
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Destination reached!
From the Courtyard
EASTER CAMP—THE EXTENDED VERSION
Issue 113 April 2017
Finally our weary Rover Crew made it back to the campsite, where Sliema Scout Group had finally managed to get their tents into a state resembling something more robust than a wet dishcloth tied to a sagging clothesline. Downing a meal of pasta with pesto, which after the hike had a taste almost as good as its alliterative values, a Rover meeting was held between the camp participants and other members of the Rover crew who regrettable had not been able to attend the whole activity, but had come up for the evening. That done, a night of relative leisure was in order, with the Rovers eventually turning in for the last night of camp. Day 3 – Tuesday 18th April A quick breakfast was once again consumed, before our last and unfortunately short day of camp was taken up by dismantling and packing our gear into the various Rover Crew members’ cars. That done, we bade a fond farewell to Verdala campsite and a successful camp, making our way down to SAC HQ and
From the Crew
disposing of said items and going our separate ways home.
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Matthew Zammit Rover