The Quartermaster Issue 1 December by Singapore Scouts

The Quartermaster The Singapore Scout Association Magazine

Inaugural Issue December 2010 Limited Edition

EDITORIAL

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FOREWORD

Inaugural Issue (Limited Edition) December 2010 Advisor Chay Hong Leng Editors-in-Chief Ang Lian Kwee Jacqueline Lau Editors Gao Chuanyu Li Ming Yang Correspondents Mervyn Hong Kumanan Ilangovan Ng Yin Hong Imran Shah Collin Wan Muhammad Zaidan Illustrations Chiang Kar Mun Contributing Writers and Photographers Jerron Ang Ang Lian Kwee Caleb Cheah Benjamin Chiew Marcus Choo Desmond Foo Gao Chuanyu Basheer Khan Jacqueline Lau Li Ming Yang Jasper Low Cheng En Chandan Partab Mansukhani Justin Ng Pang Yao Ming Imran Shah Jeremy Tan Tham Yiep Soon Brenda Wang Design Jacqueline Lau Limited Edition Sponsors Roy Lai Jacqueline Lau

It’s all about empowerment - youth empowerment Chief was true to his word. In his biography (page 7), he mentioned his belief in “letting people try” and giving them a sense of “ownership”. Having heard of previous publications like Scoutreach, Totem, or Singapore Scouting News, we were inspired to (re-)start a regular Association publication. We approached Chief a few months ago asking for his opinion, and he said “why not?”. Thus we set to work. We wanted to take on a different approach, to project a different feel from the formality that the Association has been so used to. We wanted a youthful product, and what better way to do it than to recruit youths themselves? Our Editors, now both fresh and happy President’s Scouts, came on board and lent their energies to the marshalling of their peers and the coordination of the content. The rapidly-expanding team began with an ambitious vision for the Quartermaster, one that we would stick by: that this publication will be a modern, high-quality, accessible and valued resource of the Association. It will be an exciting read reflecting, supporting and promoting the events and programmes in the local Scouting scene and where possible, encourage thought and debate on relevant issues. We hope that youths will, in time, come to find their voice through the Quartermaster and be more active in shaping the future of local Scouting. Our conviction? That “you[ths] can make a difference.” It may be cliché, but we want youths to believe that they do have the power to excite changes and accomplish things of greater significance at a higher level, if only they won’t stay silent. As with all new initiatives, we encountered a few teething problems: “How goes the workflow? Which publishing software should we use? How do you use it? Which events should we cover? Does this sound grammatically correct? The deadline’s past but the contributors aren’t responding - what now?” Considering that no single member on the staff has had any professional media background (most of them are Scouts and Ventures!), that they have managed to help pull the pages of this magazine together to a standard that puts even some professional works to contention is impressive indeed! We wish you happy reading, and may you take delight in browsing through the contents - whether in digital or hardcopy form - as much as we have enjoyed producing them. Our thanks too, to the many Scouts and Scouters who have contributed to this issue. To Deputy Chief Commissioner Chay Hong Leng, for always being there to offer much-needed encouragement and advice. And before it’s too late to say it again: Happy Centenary! Yours-in-Scouting, Jacqueline Lau Ang Lian Kwee

Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information provided in this publication is accurate, no guarantees for the currency or accuracy of information are made.

Contact quartermaster@scout.sg Web www.scout.sg/magazine

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The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed in this publication are those of the authors alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of the Singapore Scout Association, its Commissioners, volunteers, members or any employee thereof. The Association makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any such information posted and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.

CONTENTS

CONTENTS Regulars

Features

Centenary Special

EDITORIAL Foreword from the Editors-in-Chief

16 GOING DIZZY WITH PATCHES! National Badge Patch Carnival

THE PIGEON HOLE Do you have something to share? We’re listening

18 BADGES OF HONOUR Distinguished Service Awards ‘10

10 MUSTERING A MOVEMENT Revisiting the Scout Rally

SNIPPETS Bits of information you should know

20 ALL THE PRESIDENT’S SCOUTS Just how tough was the journey?

13 VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY Launch of the Scout Discovery Centre

BEHIND THE UNIFORM: BEING CHIEF DRAGONHEART Interview with Chief Commissioner Tan Cheng Kiong

STUFF Shopping for the perfect Jamb souvenir? Fun games and competitions

22 WEB IN FOCUS A closer look at SSA’s new website 31 THE QUARTERMASTER All about this youth-led development

30 GUIDES How do you tie a Friendship Knot?

ROUND-ISLAND 100KM With the Centenary Cycling Team

SINGAPORE SCOUTING GONE POSTAL SingPost issues our Centenary Commemorative Stamp

THROUGH THE DECADES IN PICTURES The Centenary Book: “100 Years of Adventure”

15 “HAPPY 100th ANNIVERSARY!” Words of dedication

Tracksigns 24 NORTH AREA Amazing Eco-Home Trail 25 SOUTH AREA Akelaboree | Ang Mo Kio District Cubs’ Field Day 26 EAST AREA Ultimate Frisbee Challenge | Sports Carnival 27 WEST ARA Patrol Leaders’ Training Camp | Pioneering Competition

Sections that should exist but didn’t quite make it into this issue: Beads - Adult Training news The Reef Knot - International friendship news Kudu Horn - Sneak peaks at upcoming events

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THE PIGEON HOLE

The Pigeon Hole My Patrol Leader likes to ‘tekan’ [Editor’s note: local slang for ‘punish’] me whenever I or my friends do anything wrong. I don’t feel like going for Scout meetings as it’s no longer fun anymore! Oh dear, that really doesn’t sound like fun. But it may be important for you to understand why your PL sees the need to instil discipline in you and your friends. Are you doing ‘wrong’ because you have no clear idea how to do certain things? If so, the best approach is to ask your PL to teach you. Emphasise that you are not committing the offences deliberately. If your Patrol Leader is not available, you can talk to your Assistant Patrol Leader or even your Senior Patrol Leader. Are you trying your best? If you aren’t, perhaps it is the reason why your PL is being so strict with you. As we are not sure how you’re being ‘tekaned’, if you think that the punishment is not justified for your offence, you could always let your Teacher-in-Charge or Scout Leaders know. The use of corporal punishment (pushups or labour under the heat of the sun) is increasingly being discouraged, but habits take time to change and perhaps you could break the tradition when you’re the PL! Don’t give up on Scouting because of this! The fun of Scouting is in its activities and in the learning. If you get past this stage, like many of the Scouts in our own groups, you will come to embrace Scouting as a way of life. One of our Scouts has even posted on Facebook that he wished there could be Scout meetings every other day. We’re certain there are many out there who feel the same passion for Scouting. So, give it more time! Speak honestly to your seniors and work towards a resolution. Maybe your PL isn’t even aware of how his demands are affecting your (or your Patrol’s) morale. Good luck, and do your best.

JAMB100 will be my first time attending a Jamboree and I’m feeling excited about it. What are some of the highlights that I should not miss? The programme for the JAMB100 is constantly being worked on (so changes happen all the time) but the organisers are promising an unforgettable time for everyone. A favourite activity of many Scouts at jambs are badge exchanges. Also, the chance to make new friends from all over the world and learn more about their cultures. In this case, you won’t even have to leave your own country to learn about theirs! Bring a handful of extra badges and scarves that you can trade. The weather is a bit of a sore point though; fingers crossed that it will be sunshine throughout! Rain will be a chore and a drab, but hey - getting wet and dirty’s all the name of the game. Help! I have been trying hard to form my beret properly but nothing is working. Do you have any tips? We’re glad you asked. It is painful to see poorly-seasoned berets that sit on the head like a chef’s hat - it looks sloppy and unprofessional. Have you tried Google? No, we’re serious! Enter in the search terms ‘season’ or ‘seasoning’, ‘form’’ or ‘forming’, ‘shape’ or ‘shaping’... a beret and you’ll get plenty of ideas, including illustrations on how to do it. We are aware that the material of the standard beret doesn’t make it easy. The wise among us - those who have managed to get their berets looking like the commandos’ - advise acquiring a wool (not nylon, acrylic or any other material) beret of the appropriate colour from the army shops at Beach Road. First, shave off the woollen fuzz with a razor, then fix on your beret badge with badge backing, damp the beret (not too wet or it will shrivel) with warm water, and shape it on your head, leaving it on until it dries. Then, fold it the way you’ve been taught (assuming that your seniors have passed on the knowledge!) and keep it under your mattress or something heavy when it is not in use.

Write to us! @ quartermaster@scout.sg Don’t be shy. No question or letter goes unanswered (within reason), as long as it is about something related to Scouting. And... it doesn’t have to be questions. You could write a letter of thanks to deserving people, or pen down some feedback. We’ll give you airtime in the Pigeon Hole.

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Please include the subject line “Pigeon Hole”. We encourage you to include your name, age and unit unless you would like to keep your identity confidential.

SNIPPETS

This Inaugural issue... tenary is, naturally, almost all about the Cen our ut abo is e ryon eve and how excited been a 100th anniversary of Scouting. It has to top 0 B10 JAM e hav still crazy year and we e hav did Team r aste rterm it all off! The Qua s tion ges sug y zan and s many more idea a stop for articles but it was either putting issue this risk or ition amb to the stream of not It’s ase. rele for led being forever stal ut the much, but it’s a start. For more abo page 31. to turn , Team its Quartermaster and will be In our next issue, the Quartermaster g’, utin Sco bal ‘glo of e centred on the them with nts eve er oth and 0 featuring JAMB10 re you an international flavour. Here’s whe if you you from r hea to can help: we’d like s rsea ove on n bee e (or your unit) hav very exchanges or Jamborees. You may ! well be featured t.sg Drop us a line - quartermaster@scou

THE ‘STRAWBERRY GENERATION’? The Centenary dinner held on World Scout Day, 22nd Feb was well-attended by current Scouts and old boys in Scouting. That evening, the Association’s adopted orchid hybrid Dendrobum Singapore Scouts was unveiled by Senior Minister Goh who followed up with a speech, in which he described “youths who are brought up in a highly protected environment and are fragile like strawberries”. He valued the freedom, initiative, comradeship and character building that Scouting embraces, but issued a challenge: “how we can help make Scouting attractive to a new wired generation”? Read the full text of his speech, including the story of how he got lost in the Bukit Timah forest while on his First Class Scout hike test, online. Photos from the event are also up on: www. ScoutsAdventureContinues.net

We need updates! The National Venture Scout Council is getting geared up for a programme change. Following the National Venture Pow Wow (20th November 2010), the council is boosting its strength to improve on all Venture Scout related issues. If you’re not satisfied with the Venture progress scheme or any Venture Scout-related matters... email nvcs@scout.sg

Snippets Shutters Clicking Over 3000 photos and growing, the National ICT Council has setup a Flickr account to collect digital memories of Singapore Scouting! Feel free to use the pictures for your Scouting needs such as recruitment and marketing. Just make sure to give proper acknowledgements to our wonderful photographers. Follow the instructions in each set (album) to download high-res images. www.flickr.com/SingaporeScouts

It's that time again The end of the year is quickly approaching! Start preparing your Frank Cooper Sands Award reports and marking sheets to prevent having to burn the midnight oil. Don’t forget the bonus points to be earned from participation in centenary events. Unit Leaders are reminded to submit the endorsed forms to HQ by 6pm, 1st February 2010. Download the forms from www.scout.sg/resource/forms/

Did you know... that we have a very talented percussion band in Singapore? The Oneida Samba Batucada Percussion Group was initially formed in 2003 with only 15 members. Since then, the Group has performed at many key national and Scout events such as the Singapore Youth Festival, the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, and the Scout Guild Dinner. If you have not had the luck to see the band in action, catch them at the opening ceremony of JAMB100 & 3rd ASEAN Jamboree on the 5th of December! Boasting more than 60 current members, you can view some of their past performances at www.oneidascoutspercussion.blogspot.com You may contact the Percussion Group directly at amathschief@yahoo.com.sg 4th Quarter 2010

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BEHIND THE UNIFORM

Being

Chief Dragonheart Charismatic, engaging, and combining a youthful spirit with a (dragon)heart full of worldly wisdom, Tan Cheng Kiong is not your ordinary Chief Commissioner. Ang Lian Kwee and Jacqueline Lau set out to discover more about the man behind the uniform and his thoughts on Scouting, leadership and youths.

I started Scouting Half-way through primary five, lagging behind my peers who mostly joined the Scouts in primary three. I couldn’t join sooner due to the high costs of the uniform then. When a classmate outgrew his uniform, he offered to sell it, minus the belt and cap, to me for $5. My daily allowance was only 15 cents, and a small bowl of tuck shop noodles cost 30 cents. And I still had to pay for replacement exercise books and stationeries from my allowance. So you can imagine how long it took me to save up the $5! My Scout Leader Ms Margaret Kok was this formidable lady who brought us out for many outdoor activities – rope climbing, commando crawl and such. I recall attending my first campfire at the international school in Raeburn Park. My first great challenge Was being thrust into the role of

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Chairman of my Group Council, as an old boy. There were other seniors around, and I was never number one in the Group; the most I made it to was Patrol Leader as a Scout. But when they decided to form the Group Council, everyone elected me to become its Chairman, and even my District Commissioner decided that I should be the one! I suspect it’s likely because of my debating skills. In those days, all the District Commissioners were terrified of the Chief Commissioner, finding it difficult to out-talk him. I was deemed to have promising potential in that respect.

A key lesson I learnt in Scouting

My Scout name

It’s tough being recognised all the time

Came about during a stage when everyone wanted to have a Scout name. Gan Eng Seng, where I was from, had the dragon as its mascot. I was also born in the Year of the Dragon. My Deputy NPC suggested that should be called Dragonfire. But I didn’t like the word ‘fire’. Drawing inspiration from Richard the Lionheart, I decided that ‘Dragonheart’ sounded more appropriate, and thus it stuck.

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Was learning how to learn. One of my motivations for learning is to equip myself well to teach others. Throughout my Scouting life, if I had to teach something, I would go and learn it first. In my secondary school days, I would usually do some research at the Queenstown library on weekends – outdoor books were aplenty in the libraries then. Bras Brasah Road used to have a row of old shop houses which sold cheap second hand books, but nowadays, you can find information more easily on the internet.

When I was in National Service, I was a public affairs officer, and had to go around the schools to give talks. People would recognise me on the streets, and I feel the same way now, as Chief Commissioner. My life is out in the open. Being a normal Commissioner or a Deputy allowed me more freedom to act. Now, I am in everyone’s sights, feeling like a target. Thank goodness for

BEHIND THE UNIFORM my very understanding and supportive wife – she is absolutely great. If I could, I would… Like to bring my daughter to the Bird Park, and spend more time with my family. It’s rare to have a weekend without Scouting activities. I do have many hobbies, the main one of which is to learn new things. I would really like to learn how to play the violin; it was a pity I couldn’t afford it when I was younger. When my daughter turns three, I intend to enroll her for violin lessons, and I can join her then! I also learnt a bit of sailing at the Sea Scout Centre a few years back. That had to stop as I could no longer find the time. I’m also keen to pick up foreign languages… like French, Spanish, Thai or Malay. I am also trying to improve my Chinese by reading Chinese books. I did not have a childhood ambition

already planning his exit. This meant that the seniors and Patrol Leaders became my only leaders. By secondary two, I was left to learn on my own, since the seniors were busy trying to gain their own progress badges. Youth these days are used to being spoonfed, and rarely do they hunger for knowledge. We cannot reverse this trend, but if we want to encourage them to learn, we should make information more readily available and accessible so that they have no excuse for not being able to learn. Young people should get off the beaten track Wander around once in a while and discover the wonders of the world. Some people like to climb Mount Ophir on a speed run. But I like to take four days for the trek up and down. Too many people miss the great sights and breathtaking scenes along the trail: there is a beautiful waterfall that comes down like a curtain on a flat wall, and a clear pool at the bottom – I have asked many people who have climbed the mountain a few times but they have missed seeing it, for it lies off the beaten track and people rarely venture away from the path.

programmes for the younger ones to follow. Ventures and Scouts should contribute to the wider community in as many ways as possible. I believe in trying And letting people try. If we don’t try, we’ll never know if we can succeed. I like to start projects or give ideas, and then hand it over to others… to give them a sense of ownership. If they fail, they’ll learn from it. I may have a tendency to be quite domineering, and it takes conscious effort to avoid being so. I try to listen more, and am prepared to change my mind if presented with sound feedback and alternatives. I like to make decisions fast, but I also believe in collective leadership and giving responsibilities to people. I would like to ask young Scouts: “What do you think the Scouts should be doing? What do you want to do in Scouts?”

I live from day to day. Growing up in a kampong environment doesn’t let you think very far – I didn’t even think much about exams and studies! It was quite by Put aside the existing programme accident that I got into Law School. I had and ‘syllabus’ for the moment, and decent A-Level results and I thought I’d try to approach this question from try Law, and to my surprise I was directly a fresh perspective. I am interested admitted. A great thing that I chose in knowing what young people that too, as I found out I didn’t have to would like to do if they could decide study as hard as the engineers and the for themselves – what they would scientists. I only had ten like to see on their test lectures and five tutorials cards, what they should “I believe in trying... and letting people try. If we be learning, how they per week, amounting to about 15 hours per week. It don’t try, we’ll never know if we can succeed.” would plan their own gave me more time to spend development. That would at the sports complex where give us a better idea of I trained to be a lifeguard. Scouting should be communitywhat types of resources we should oriented devote to helping them achieve the kinds of goals that they’d like to set Look at the Boy Scouts of America and My best piece of advice for a young for themselves. their Eagle Scouts. What they do is so person much more meaningful, compared to Would be to have a dedicated mentor. what we’re encouraging our youths to To all young people, here’s your If you don’t have a mentor, look for one. do for the top awards. We should be chance to make yourself heard. If you can’t find one, look harder! One doing more meaningful projects that Answer the Chief’s call! What of my greatest regrets was not having have a greater, wider impact on the would you like to do in Scouting? a devoted mentor-figure, and thus had community and for humanity. In the What’s your vision for the Scouts? to learn things the hard way. I did learn past, we used to do more community much from many different people. But I Send your responses to service in our communities until we believe that for a young person, having quartermaster@scout.sg realised that that our own Scout and a long-term relationship with a devoted Cub units could do with some assistance mentor who is willing to impart skills and too. But now we’ve swung too far to the wisdom… would allow them to achieve other side. We’ve become too inwardso much more. looking, and it’s time for us to strike a balance. For one, the Rovers could In my first year of joining the Scouts in lead the way in organising high-impact Gan Eng Seng, our Scout Leader was

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CEMTEMARY SPECIAL

Round-Island 100km

The Centenary Cycling Team Before the break of dawn on the morning of the Rally on 22 May, a team of cyclists were flagged off from the Scout Headquarters at Bishan. The next five hours would see them through a journey of a lifetime - 100km around Singapore, along the coastline, past the airport, through the rain, down major roads, fueled by adrenaline and lots of laughter and camaraderie. Gao Chuanyu and Li Ming Yang catch up with one of the leading cyclists, Justin Ng to chronicle the biking journey from start to pomp finish. The 100km cycling team was spearheaded by the 14th Tiger Scout Chapter and supported by the Singapore Rovers. In commemoration of our Centenary, the team covered a distance of more than 100km to mark the fantastic journey of Scouting in Singapore. The team consisted of 30 Rover Scouts, Venture Scouts and friends of Scouting. The cyclists underwent training which involved health and physical-related fitness components which even included conditioning in circuit training. The month-long cycling training sessions began in Mid-April where the cyclists went through several physical fitness tests in preparation for the event.

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CENTENARY SPECIAL

This was followed up by intense cycling through Singapore roads. In all, the cyclists managed to complete more than 50 hours of training. The training was conducted by committed professional trainers who previously participated in the Sundown 84, the Aviva 70.3 Ironman and Bolton Ironman UK. The backgrounds and accreditations of these trainers spanned a range of sports and fitness fields as the SPT & Exercise Science, Blackburn (United Kingdom), swimming coaching, personal fitness training, cycling and running coaching. They had among them Heartzone USA, NCAP level II, NROC/SSC registered coaches. An overnight stay at the Scout Headquarters was organised to keep the cyclists well-prepared for an early start on the big day. The carbo-loading session was one of the crucial elements in ensuring that the cyclists were in tiptop condition. During the trip, the cyclists had a total of four pit stops â&#x20AC;&#x201C; East Coast Park, Changi Village, Kranji and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, enroute to Hwa Chong Institution to make their grand entrance to the Rally site. This trip was indeed a big challenge for our cyclists, forcing them to cover more than 100km before lunchtime. The photographers who were covering the cycling action recalled their difficulty in matching the unexpected speeds at which the cyclists were going. The photographers, travelling in car, would only manage to get to a waypoint a few minutes ahead of the arrival of the first cyclists! The cycling team was proudly sponsored by Red Bull Singapore Private Limited and Henry Chia from the 14th Tiger Scout Chapter. The full list of cyclists can be found on the Centenary website: www. scoutsadventurecontinues.net/scoutrally/100km-cycling-team/

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CENTENARY SPECIAL

Mustering a Movement 5000 Scouts, the ‘100 formation’, a moment to remember Anyone who was present at the Scout Rally 2010 on the afternoon of 22 May would have experienced a sensation of being a part of history, of bearing witness to a monumental milestone. The atmosphere was jovial and wild. It was a carnival of games, sports, friendship and celebration. Gao Chuanyu and Li Mingyang recapture here the highlights of the Rally. Several thousand Scouts gathered to celebrate the historical moment of the100th year of scouting in Singapore. Comprised mainly of Cub Scouts, these 6 000 participants engaged in sing-along sessions, interdistrict telematch events, and most importantly, the ‘100’ formation which required the construction of a special elevated platform for aerial photographic coverage of the scene. The Rally placed strong emphasis on the values of Scouting such as brotherhood and unity by engaging the Scouts in competitive team games and group flag design competitions. The event began at noon. For a start, Scouts roamed around the main area of the school. “It was like a carnival, 36 stalls I heard, but I barely got to visit even half of them!”

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exclaimed a Cub Scout from Mee Toh School. Mr Salim bin Hassan Basalamah, a leader with the Cuon Scouts, White Sands Primary & Oneida Scouts (East Spring Secondary) commented that the Rally was “very family oriented, welcoming, friendly, and there were lots of mingling - which was my favourite part, as I got to meet my old Scout Leader from when I was a Cub.” On that day, all Scouts wore an identical white scarf. Yes, these red edged, white scarves are the official centenary scarf, which features the official centenary badge at the apex of the scarf. The atmosphere was immediately livened up with musicon-air, featuring classical Scouting songs sang over the decades. The emcee gave a welcome introduction, followed by a spectacular blessing performance by Hwa Chong Institution’s very own Lion Dance Troupe. For a warm-up, the spot quizzes and scavenger hunt got the Scouts onto their feet, running up and down the terraces to answer questions and deliver items. To further spice up the mood, each Area sent out Cub Scouts, dressed in exotic manners to impersonate characters from Kipling’s The Jungle Book.

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The long-awaited telematch then began. Four competitive and engaging games brought the districts together, forming teams of Scouts from different backgrounds to work together and compete for the champion title. The Hwa Chong Scouts Bugle Band struck up at 4.00pm to signify the start of the ‘100’ formation. A medley of singalong conducted by the Ukulele Band accompanied the process of formulating the ‘100’ formation. The arrival of Guest-Of-Honour Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, at 5.00pm was welcomed by the Lion Dance Troupe. He officially announced the start of the Scout Rally along with the grand arrival of the cycling team. A flag-raising ceremony followed, and this consisted of a reaffirmation of the Scout Promise and the singing of the National Anthem. A minute of silence was conducted in honour of the memory of the late Dr Goh Keng Swee.

be more than willing to come back for another round. And the “performance was good, [the] games were engaging”. The Rally officially ended with the singing of the Scout Hymn by Mr Malcom Tan, National Programme Commissioner. This historic day marked a century of Scouting, a benchmark of the progress of the Scouting Movement. Many have enjoyed this day, be it from the games, the songs, mingling, or reunion with old friends and adult leaders. This day will be etched in the memories of Scouts for a long time to come. At the same time, we ought to look towards the future, learning from the past century of Scouting: what has been done right, what can be improved. And indeed, the adventure continues.

Then, “the moment we have been waiting for!” as many Scouts exclaimed, describing the 10-second historic photo shot of the formation. We got to see how overwhelmingly enthusiastic they were, despite much sweating and aching in keeping to their places within the numbers, clearly outlined by special markers on the field. Mr Koh Kar Meng, District Commisioner and Group Scout Leader of Bishan Park Lightning Scout Group, found the formation the favorite part of the Rally as it held great significance. Being their first time attending a Rally, Catholic High School Cub Scouts Joshua Nee and De Reng mentioned that it was the biggest event they ever attended, and that they would

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CENTENARY SPECIAL

Snapshots from the Rally

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CENTENARY SPECIAL

Voyage of Discovery The opening of the Scout Discovery Centre was published in Lianhe Zaobao on 5 September 2010 (Page 12). Reproduced here is an abridged translation by Director of Corporate Affairs Caleb Cheah. “ASEAN’s first Scout Discovery Centre (SDC) will provide the local and overseas Scouts as well as members of the public a bettter understanding of the history and development of Scouting. Located within the SSA HQ, the Centre is set up as part of the 100th Anniversary celebration of the Scout Movement in Singapore. The Centre also serves as a resource centre for Scouting. It displays significant and interesting Scouting artefacts relating to the history of local and world Scouting; milestones; uniforms used over the years; Scout badges; certificates of appointments; warrants; medals and other significant documents of heritage value.

Lo Ka Chung Gallery, solely funded by the Lo Foundation. Mr Noel Hon, President of SSA in his welcoming address mentioned that among its many objectives, the Centre serves to preserve the 100 years of Scouting tradition and heritage and to provide educational information on the significant and interesting scouting artefacts. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports officiated the opening ceremony and presented Gold Centennial Medals to some 55 Scouts who made significant contributions to the Association. One of the recipients was Mr Foo Seck Tong, aged 81, a retired teacher. When interviewed, he was delighted that the Centre had been set up and shared that the exhibits brought back much of the fond memories of scouting. The Centre is also open to members of the public during the operating hours of SSA HQ. It is estimated that just in the first months, the Centre will attract 1,000 visitors.”

Located at the top floor above the Multi-Purpose Hall is the

Jacqueline Lau recalls a spontanous moment during the opening ceremony... “After doing the honours of presenting the Gold Centennial Medals, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan was invited to return to his seat. There was a bit of relunctance on his part, and instead he gestured to his aide for his folder to be brought to him. ‘I know that I am not supposed to be giving a speech,’ he began, addressing a curious and expectant audience, ‘but I felt that there’s something I should share.”’ He paused, and glanced at the document in his hand. ‘I was awarded a proficiency badge when I was a Scout, but

the certificate came without the District Commissioner’s signature. So I brought this along today in the hopes that I can finally get it signed!’ The hall erupted in laughter and all applauded in appreciation - once a Scout, always a Scout indeed. I’m not sure if he did secure that elusive signature in the end. Does anyone know?” The Scout Discovery Centre is open for booking by schools and the general public. Customised programmes can be arranged, but a self-guided tour is also possible. Please email Mdm Halimah Ismail (Admin Executive) (halima@scout.org. sg) for details. 4th Quarter 2010

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CENTENARY SPECIAL

Singapore Scouting gone postal SingPost issues our Centenary Commemorative Stamp Priced at $1, the Scout Commemorative Stamp was issued by Singapore Post together with other anniversary stamps for Singapore Customs, HDB and the People’s Association on 26 January 2010 in a four-stamp series. Though Scouting in Singapore has previously been featured in the 1974 Asia-Pacific Regional Scout Conference, 1982 Commemoration of 75th World Scouting anniversary, 1985 International Youth Year and 2007 Youth Uniformed Groups, this is the first stamp dedicated entirely to the celebration of Centenary Scouting in Singapore.

Furthermore it represents the country and conveys message of what a country holds dear to its heart. Singapore Scouts on a postage stamp symbolise the importance of our Movement and position within Singapore. The stamp itself is in use in normal circulation (if you’re lucky, you might receive mail bearing this stamp!), and as part of a series of first day covers. Singapore Post and the Singapore Scout Association each have their own versions of the first day covers, the latter of which is available from the Scout Shop.

Trivia: • The Scouter and land Rover are both the same person. • It took two photoshooting sessions to arrive at the scenes that we wanted. Names of the models can be found at www.scoutsadventurecontinues.net

Through the decades in pictures Journey through 1910 to 2010 in The Centenary Book: “100 Years of Adventure” President and Chief Scout His Excellency Mr S R Nathan launched the Centenary Book at the Istana on 20 September 2010, coinciding with the Distinguished Service Awards Investiture. The 200-page pictorial book chronicles the journey of the Singapore Scouts from 1910 to 2010, with hundreds of exciting photographs and images of artefacts obtained from veteran and younger Scouts alike. Informative captions describe the scenes - which some may find nostalgic and others educational.

Heading the editorial team, Assistant Chief Commissioner (Programme Resource) Mr Patrick Tan conceived the book’s format: the reader opens to pages of colour, reflecting contemporary times; flipping through the book the reader is brought back into more historical moments through a series of black and white, then sepia photographs. The photos are grouped largely by decades. 10,000 copies of the book have been printed, available from the Scout Shop in softcover for $12 ($10 per copy for purchases of 20 copies and above) and hardcover for $40. It is also being distributed in major bookstores, selected petrol stations and news stands for sales to reach a wider audience. 14

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Additional reporting by Mervyn Hong n

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CENTENARY SPECIAL

“Happy 100th Anniversary!” “Had to give the Centenary a miss because of my overseas work, but my best wishes to our Movement at home, and kudos to all who have put in the hard work.” ~ Tan S.G. from Taipei AGSL Hwa Chong Scouts and ex-ASPC “So few comments... glad to be one of the early birds to wish the Singapore Scout Association 100 Years in Scouting. Success and many many many years to come... more adventure, more thrill, more fun, more advancement and many many more... Keep Up the Good Work.” ~ Edward “It was a nice experience to be with one of your Singaporean Scouts here in the Philippines last Dec 2009 till Jan 2010 on the event of our Asean Jamboree held at Maliling[sic]... I cherish every moment in Makiling with the international Scouts... With all the international scouts in Makiling whom I handled with, I always miss u guys… See you all!!!” ~ Sir Op Parchamento Fr. Bagong Barrio National High School Caloocan City Council Philippines “Best wishes to everyone celebrating the 100 years of Scouting in Singapore. I owe very much to Scouting for my character development. Although it was almost 30 years ago, the memory was still very vivid.” ~ Shi Song Jun Sugeng

The Centenary Website at www.scoutsadventurecontinues.net offers you a chance to write a dedication to the Singapore Scout Association. Published here is a (grammatically-edited) selection of what people have said. Why not add your mark online, and wish your fellow sisters and brothers a happy centenary?

“Singapore is celebrating 100 years of Scouting and we couldn’t have done it without every single Scouter. We’re all volunteers, everyone is encouraged to take a step forward to share your experiences in Scouting, to do the right thing and know what the right thing is. Our main objective and direction is to instill citizenship in the youths in the Movement so as to prepare them for future’s society and to get them to know their directions in life. I just want to wish all Scouters happy Scouting and to find happiness and success in your Scouting life. I’ve found it, have you?” “Do your Best” “Be Prepared” “Look Wide” “Fellowship of the Open Air and Services” ~ AVSL Benjamin Sho 2006 Southern Cross Scout Troop

“I wish SSA a Happy 100th years of Scouting in Sinagpore because we have worked extremely hard and we have come so far. Although I did not know what Scouting is all about, my parents encourageD me to take part. I miss my primary school as I was a Cadet scout and secondary school as a Scout. I hope that we have more fun, activities, adventures and so on.” ~ Joshua Cheng VAL-ACSL, ASL

“Old soldiers never die, and some don’t even fade away! Happy 100th Year Anniversary, Singapore Scout Association!” ~ Danny Chue Chieu Foo 48th St. Stephen’s Scout Troop Singapore “The scout rally was awesome! Great time to bond and know more Scouts from other schools!! Wanna wish Scouts happy 100th year!! Hope there will be more activities coming up!! I LOVE SCOUTING!! =]]” ~ Felicia Tan ATL of Yuan Ching Cougar Scouts Group “Finally it is our 100th Anniversary of Scouting in Singapore… I wish Singapore Scout Happy 100th Anniversary and may Scouting continue to prosper in Singapore. Scouting Spirit Forever…” ~ Goh yee Heng DC Katong “I’m looking forward to the Jamboree and to meeting scouts from all over the world. I never had the chance to be a scout when I was little, but being a Ventures teacher is great fun. A shout-out to all Venture Scouts out there!” ~ Ann Ang VSL River Valley High Eagle Scouts

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FEATURES

Going dizzy with patches! While everyone was eagerly anticipating the opening of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games, members of the Scouting community participated in the National Badge Patch Carnival 2010, the first since 2005. Chandan Partab Mansukhani from the Ngee Ann Wichita Scout Troop/Venture Unit reports. The full-day event (it started a 9am and didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end till 4pm) was graced by the Guest-of-Honour, Mr Cheah Kok Ming, pioneer of the badge patch concept in Singapore, and also notable guests Chief Commissioner Mr Tan Cheng Kiong and National Programme Commissioner Mr Malcolm Tan. The event was also significant for the launching of the new Scout Proficiency Badge Scheme, and the new Rover Progress Badge Scheme.

The new look of the Rover Progress Badges

The crowd was eager to collect the four corner pieces of the five-part event badge series, of which the complete set could only be attainable through the coupon system. This ensured that those who managed to collect the full set would be a small minority, as the four corner pieces were not for sale. There were also badge displays by Goh Yee Heng (the Katong District Commissioner is an avid collector of badges globally) and Oliver Lim (the National Rover Council Chairman recently

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4th Quarter 2010

returned from the 13th World Scout Moot at Kenya). Together, they displayed a variety of not only badges, but also scarves and uniforms, both international and local. In addition, there were displays from various units, including Fuhua Tsunami, and 23 Eagles Scout Troop, which emerged first in the Unit Display Competition. Futhermore, there were trading posts and displays for Scouts of the World, which were selling badges, and also a display on Water Conservation by PUB.

FEATURES

Other notable features of the day would be the Auction and Lucky Draw, where the enthusiastic crowd really enjoyed the bidding for badges. Down at the ground floor, there were game stalls with many creative and fun games to cater to the Cub Scouts, which they were more than happy to participate in.

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AWARDS

Badges of honour The Distinguished Service Awards Investiture 2010

Every year in a prestigious investiture ceremony at the Istana, the Association recognises individuals whose selfless contributions have made a significant and positive impact on the Scout Movement in Singapore. To commemorate the Centenary Year, 2010 sees a new design for Distinguished Service Awards and Long Service Awards. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investiture was held on 20 September, with the Chief Scout, His Excellency S R Nathan presenting the Awards as Guest-of-Honour. Distinguished Service Award Gold His Excellency S R Nathan Distinguished Service Award Star to Silver Tan Cheng Kiong Distinguished Service Award Silver Abdullah Rasheed Chan Siu YAB Datuk Seri Haji Mohd Ali

Malcolm Tan Ban Hoe Prakorb Mukura Ricky Sim Eng Huat Robert Koh Tan Tek Tin Yatiman Yusof Gold Vanda Lo Ka Chung Silver Vanda View Point Trading & Collectibles

Bronze Vanda Bishan Park Secondary School Chongfu Primary School Damai Secondary School Greenridge Primary School Holy Innocentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; High School Jurong Secondary School Khong Guan Biscuit Factory (S) Pte Ltd Lakeside Primary School New Town Secondary School Peirce Secondary School Distinguished Service Award Star to Bronze Ang King Hor, Steven Chan Pui Fun, Sarah Chong Fook Hsing, Alvin Eric Lam Haw Ju Foo Chuan Chen, Desmond Lai Kwok Chin Lim Lee Cheng, Jennifer Madelene Seow Hing Lin Nordin Bin Salleh Ranvir Kumar Singh Tan Wil Beng Tang Ying Cheong Vasantha Kumari Yeo Hai Lin Distinguished Service Award - Bronze Bay Yew Chuan Berthold Dirk Hendrik S Chan Hoon Hoon Edmund Tay Jin Yong Farah Ibrahim Foo Chee Chin Goh Kai Urn Goh Siok Seng, Stephen

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AWARDS Hon. Dale B. Corvera J. Rizal C. Pangilinan Koh Kar Meng Lai Mun Wai, Lyon Lam Tat Wai Lio Shoo Wan Loh Loon Tong Ng Chee Hwa Pang Boon Hee Richard Yeong Ong Loy Sawiyah bte M Sidek Sidah Jasmin Thia Woon Ling Wan Meng Hao Chief Scout’s Commendation Abdul Latiff Basheer Khan Benjamin Pwee Yek Kwan Bernard Lee Shuh Koon Chan Chee Yuen, Raymond Chan Hoong Leong Cheah Gim Lai, Caleb Chen Xianghao Chew Damien Gerard Chew Shi Yun, Celestia Chng Yen Peng, Doreen Goh Siew Lin

Halima bte Ismail Hazlina Maideen Ho Huey-Ling, Madeline Huang Junghao Willy Huang Zhi Xiang, John Kumanan Ilangovan Lau Tai Yeow, Angeline Liew Li Pin Lin Wei Gang,Louis Mark Tsai Ya Hsiung Nazaruddin b M Isnin Ng Siew Bee, Iris Norhaiza Bte Yep Abu Ong Shun Hua Pang Yin Yin Poh Cher Huat Pong Sian Yin, Angie Quay Kok Khiang, Steven Santha d/o Raman Sarah Ho Wing Kei Sim Cheng Teck Sim Eu-Jin, Eugene Siti Aishah Tan Rui Ping, Benjamin Tan Si Jie Tham Yew Chung, Daniel Wong Hong Teow,Edgar Wong Pih May, Rae Wong Wan Lin

Chief Scout’s Commendation

DSA Star to Silver ribbon

DSA Bronze ribbon

More information, including the descriptions and images of medals and ribbons, can be found on the SSA website: www. scout.sg/about/awards . Protocol for the display of decorations can also be found online; meanwhile, a working commitee is known to be drafting a set of comprehensive guidelines governing the wearing of uniforms and badges. 4th Quarter 2010

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AWARDS

All the President’s Scouts Perhaps considered the most prestigious award in the Association, the President’s Scout Award this year was conferred by Chief Scout upon 13 deserving Venture Scouts. Before facing the interview panel, President’s Scout candidates are required to complete a project of national significance in addition to fulfilling a set of requirements within the Venturing scheme. While it seems like attaining the President’s Scout Award would require the Venture Scout to be nothing short of a Spartan, and one with brains at that, it would appear that such an old school of thought is quickly changing. Investigators Collin Wan, Ng Yin Hong and Chiang Kar Mun set out to dig up some dirt! We understand that the A.S.P.I.RE.* is one of the most difficult components that you had to pass. Do you think that this component is really needed to prove one’s worth for the PSA? If so, why? Kegan: This question is really debatable and in fact, I have pondered about it many times. I have come across many people

who believe that A.S.P.I.RE. should be scrapped because of many reasons, ranging from the fact that it is too difficult and that many other top scout awards in other countries are not run the same way, to the fact that it is not a good gauge for President Scouts, to the fact that they think that A.S.P.I.RE. is too “military” in nature and does not really embody the essence of “Scouting”. Well the real question that we should be asking is what we want to see in a

1st row (from left to right): Ong Kong Ying, Li Ming Yang 2nd row (from left to right): Juno Cho, Kegan Lim Jianhong, Lim Kwan Hong, Boey Yi Heen, Kenii Takashima, Chow Zheng Jie, Gao Chuanyu, Li Ke Xin, Jerrold Soh Tsin Howe, Lim Jing Xi, Tan Koon Chong 20

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4th Quarter 2010

AWARDS

President Scout and what does A.S.P.I.RE. do to help with the selection process. Contrary to much belief, A.S.P.I.RE. does not restrict the number of President Scouts just to maintain its prestige. You will often hear the examiners tell you that they are not “gate keepers” to the PSA, which is very true. The PSA is non-exclusive and is for every Venture to try for. To me, A.S.P.I.RE. is a very important assessment platform for President Scouts. It is structured in a way to assess each candidate in many areas, ranging from their mental strength, to their leadership abilities, to their adventuring and life skills, their physical fitness and especially their character. However I believe that no PSA syllabus is perfect and it would be good to keep experimenting to see which suits best.

ould give vice that you w d a y n a re e th Is s? PSA candidate to prospective

you were successful gives you a huge sense of satisfaction because at the end of the day you will just emerge stronger as a person. I would also say that I feel blessed being given the opportunity to go through these assessments as these are things that other people our age will never get the opportunity to experience. Are there any Scouts or Scouters to whom you look up and have made a personal impact in your life? Kenii: I truly admire my ASL Gregory Cai, who has indeed made my scouting journey a very fruitful one. He was also very approachable and friendly. I still remember that when I experienced trouble coping in school during Sec 4, Gregory gave me some valuable words of advice and encouragement, which inspired me to continue working hard despite the temptation to throw in the towel.

As a Venture Scout, Gregory worked hard for his PSA, but unfortunately s e did not manage to attain it. m ti y n w ma o matter ho N : However, this did not stop him e t n Ji e g n n o e p Zh a com iled to pass fa from serving his Scout Troop as e v e a u h n u ti yo Con t lose hope. o n an ASL, to take charge of Scout o st d , Ju A t. S n P a of yw hat you reall w r activities, and taking time of his fo , g id in v sa ri st once . Roosevelt D universities studies during his lin r k u n a yo f Fr o as end come to the u final year to help out at camps. yo n e h ” . “W g on not and han k a I have learnt much from his e ti , e p ro dedication as an Adult Leader and passion for Scouting, and he is definitely one Scout whom I hope to emulate in the future.

What was the defining or most memorable experience in your PSA journey?

Were there points in time where you really felt like giving up?

Kegan: Well it would definitely be the Venture Cord Hike and A.S.P.I.RE. These are assessments that will drive the best of the best, as well as the worst of the worst out of people. The assessment objectives are grueling and to know that

Zheng Jie: Yes, there was. I remember it was during the survival assessment in A.S.P.I.RE. We had gone without some sleep for some time, everyone was busy doing up their shelter, their traps, their water collection methods

and we were alone in the forest that was full of mosquitoes and ants. I felt it was a long long night. I was really too tired to think of how I could go about doing my traps. I was dead beat and the mosquito buzzing was getting to my head. I really felt like getting out of the forest and shouting “I give up!” But I told myself that after that night, after survival, things would get better, I persevered on and they did. * A.S.P.I.RE. is an outdoor activitybased course where Ventures are assessed on their sense of ‘Adventure, Self-reliance, Physical well-being and fitness, Initiative, and Rescue’.

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FEATURES

WEB IN FOCUS

• • •

Scouts and Adult Leaders. There are pages dedicated to help parents and teachers as well Recruitment resources page Branding page – download the SSA logo and its guidelines for use Archives page of old posts and announcements

Also check out: • Singapore Scouts on Flickr • Centenary Celebrations website • Singapore Scouts on Facebook • Jamb100 on Facebook

What can visitors stand to gain from visiting the new website? A more visual and informative experience with up-to-date news. They should be able to more easily find what they are looking for, and more. In September, Editor Gao Chuanyu sat down with Jacqueline Lau, Lead Designer of the new Scout website. Perhaps one of the more intriguing question was to why an Ecologist would be involved in web design and to lead the project at that. But we’ll leave that to that to the last. Perhaps, it was also slightly odd that we would interview our Editor-in-Chief. But nevertheless...

What are the aims of the new SSA Website? In corporate speak, a website is an integral element of the overall branding and communication framework of any organisation. The recent emphasis on prioritising recruitment offered us a chance to re-vision and re-develop the website with the aim of reinforcing SSA’s brand identity, informing the public, connecting us with our members, attracting new members, and marketing SSA and Scouting to a local and global audience. In less serious terms, we simply wanted to have a more engaging website – with more relevant and up-to-date information. And with more exciting, quality photos. We wanted to show that we are an active and dynamic organisation, and that anyone and everyone is welcomed to join us, no matter what age or background they’re from!

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What are some of the new features?

Main Features • • • • • • • • •

Google Calendar Google Map Commissioner Profiles Flickr Integration Resource Library News Syndication Polls Site-wide Search Beads of Wisdom (Quotes)

Pages of interest: • Individual Area pages – complete with District badges and the Area leadership team • Awards and Decorations • Ranks and Epaulettes • ‘Join Us’ pages – packed full of information for prospective young

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How is this website different from the old one? It’s very different. The new website rests on a Content Management System, which is to say that it almost runs like a database, with automatic archival and easy categorisation of posts and pages. The old site was formed of HTML pages, which meant that any updates had to be done manually. Administratively, the new website makes updating a breeze. As for the other differences – go have a look and have a feel for yourself!

Who are the people involved in the making and maintaining of this website? There were just two of us in the development team: Lian Kwee (Asst National ICT Commissioner) and myself. From February to June, we felt like we were holding onto two full-time jobs. A website project may sound simple enough but if you think about the number of stakeholders we needed to consult and get support from (first the National Programme Council, then the Chief Commissioner, Commissioners Council, Scout Council, Executive Staff ), that amounts to a quite a few meetings and presentations. Not forgetting to include an insane number of working meetings to actually work on building the site. Now that the technical set-up is in order,

FEATURES maintenance has been passed on to the Executive Staff, including our Senior Executive (IT and International Relations) Maohaid Faizal. We held a staff training session to make sure that everyone knew how to work the backend of the site. We still lend a hand to keep things going.

A great new start All the enquiries we have been receiving are an encouraging signal that our website is doing something right and has managed to perk people’s interest in our organisation. Said Caleb Cheah, Director of Corporate Affairs of public enquiries through the new website: “Since the revamped website is

The old website

A steady rate of increase in visitorship since the revamp operational, the business is brisk i.e. with many more enquiries pouring in daily. In the past, we receive occasional request probably once a week or even less.” We have received close to 50 membership requests, mostly from parents asking about Scouting for their children, or from adults wishing to volunteer. A few enquiries were sent in by foreign Scouts (Germany, Spain, USA, Australia, Malaysia) regarding matters ranging from international exchanges to badge swapping. There were a number of general enquiries or request for resources: interesting ones included a query about the compatibility of religion and Scouting, and a PSA candidate from 1999 wishing to retrieve his hike log!

Site Statistics Creating a site was one thing. Maintaining it was another. We wanted to know different types of statistics such as demographics, browsers used, pages most visited and so on.

First concept, wasn’t quite there yet

Most important of all, we wanted to know if the revamp was attracting more people to read our website. Afterall, what use are all the fancy functions if nobody visits us right? We took some time to install tools to monitor such stats. It was important for us to know what our Scouts wanted out of the website.

What can others do to help? Having tools like Google Analytics certainly helped us but we are still missing feedback from end users.

Total deviation from first concept but nearly there!

As unit leaders ourselves, Lian Kwee and I found it hard to get

the kind of information we believe should have been on the website. That formed the basis of what is currently on the website right now. Looking towards the future, the website can only remain viable and helpful to the masses if the general public and Scouts alike contribute actively to content generation, ideas and such. There’s still so much that can be done, but we need help in generating content. Unfortunately, we don’t have all the information ourselves.

How did you get involved in this project? Serendipitously, one could say. I was new to the Association, fresh out of Scouting in the UK. The differences in the two NSO’s infrastructure (I know it’s not quite a fair comparison) were a stark contrast indeed, and I was itching to assist the SSA in whichever capacities I could. I somehow landed myself, totally unexpectedly, at the helm of the new Thomson CC Colugo Scout Group and was about to build a website for the unit. That prompted me to email the few Commissioners I knew in the SSA about revamping the main SSA website since I thought it rather... retro. I was told to email this chap “whose email address starts with L@~ something”... which I did. The rest, as they don’t quite say, is a history to be continued. The revamped website can be reached at both www.scout.org.sg & www.scout.sg and was unveiled at the Annual General Meeting on 27 June 2010. Feedback can be sent to ict@scout.sg facebook.com/SingaporeScouts flickr.com/SingaporeScouts

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NORTH AREA TRACKSIGNS

Amazing Eco-Home Trail On Saturday 26 June, Henry Park Pelican Scouts organised their 5th annual ‘Amazing Trail’. The 2010 race saw 15 teams and more than 300 Cubs and their families scouring the island for Home-Fix retail shops and taking part in environmental education-related activities. Reproduced here are text and images extracted from the written entries of the Henry Park Pelican Scouts’ Scribes (all of them are Cubs!) on their blog: http://hppelicanscout.blogspot.com. Photographs by Tham Yiep Soon.

“I was glad that the theme for this year’s Amazing Trail was ‘Eco-Home’ as we would learn many new things about the environment at the end of the trail. When I realised that my team consisted of 6 primary ones, I wondered whether they had the stamina to walk and travel for the whole day. Being the team’s assistant sixer, I knew that I had to step up and help my sixer lead and keep the spirit high in the team. The day finally came. We assembled in the hall at 8:30 am, all eager to see the theme for this year’s Amazing Trail. Fortunately, no one was late and Akela was able to start the quick briefing on time.

We were briefed on the rules and objectives of the game, as well as how we could score points. We were to go to different ‘Home Fix’ stores and complete tasks given by our facilitators. Like the previous years, Akela reminded us ‘To Complete not Compete’ and ‘It’s the journey that counts’. Indeed, every year my family looks forward to participating in our Amazing Trail. After my team had changed into our Amazing Trail t-shirts, we gathered at the stage steps to discuss our strategy.

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Strategising is very important as we can carry out the required tasks and earn as many points as possible in the most efficient time. After spending some time strategising, we took a group photo outside the hall and set off!” ~ Brenda Wang “For the Trail, there were 20 HomeFix stores located across Singapore which teams would choose to visit, answer quizzes and perform tasks revolving round the Eco theme. Points were awarded for correct answers and completed tasks. The team that had the most points at the end of the Trail would be the Trail Champion. It was compulsory for all teams to visit 3 of the 20 Home Fix stores located at AnchorPoint, Harbour Front and City Mall shopping complexes. At each of these 3 stores, in addition to the quizzes and tasks, teams had to collect 3 pieces of a jigsaw puzzle such that after visiting all the 3 compulsory stores, they had 9 pieces of jig-saw to form a picture. It was an awesome and spectacular sight as cubs, siblings, parents and facilitators bond as they made their way to the bus stops. Bonding was even stronger at the gala dinner. The weather could not be better and was perfect for the Trail. The day before, it poured and caused widespread flooding. We were very lucky as we

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now know that it also rained on Sunday morning, the day after the Trail. I learnt that as much as we wanted our plans to go well, there were events that were beyond our control. The late arrival and a packed Bus No. 7, the numerous stops it made at traffic junctions because the lights were red and passengers had to alight and board the bus at every bus stop was just bad luck that prevented us from reporting to school before 5pm. These cost us points. However the disappointment gave way to a sense of pride when I think of our red lamp. It is not the destination but the journey that makes every Amazing Trail a memorable one for me.” ~ Jeremy Tan “Baloo, our emcee for the evening, led us in songs, games and dance. My favourite game was the typewriter game where the participants were to pretend to be typing on the typewriter to the accompaniment of “typewriter sounding” music. The “ting” sound that the typewriter made every now and then sent almost everyone laughing! It is such a strange sound as most of us cubs had never seen a typewriter before! How’s that for generation gap!” ~ Marcus Choo

SOUTH AREA TRACKSIGNS

South Area Akelaboree by Desmond Foo, South Area Resource Commissioner 25 Adult Leaders from the Ang Mo Kio and Toa Payoh Districts participated in the 4th series of South Area Akelaboree on Saturday, 7 August 2010 from 9.30am to 2pm. ‘Akelaboree’ aims to gather fellow leaders from the Area for sharing, interacting, networking, exchanging and team-building (in short, ‘SINET’). Assistant Chief Commissioner (ACC) Lester Lee in his welcome address, urged fellow leaders to lead by example and to continue to promote more quality programmes for youths of tomorrow. District Commissioners (DC) from AMK and TP presented their District activities too. The highlight of the session saw leaders sharing interesting views on the issue of Membership Growth and how we can best forge forward to improve the corporate image of Scouting. Matters relating to Adult Volunteers and Woodbadge attainment were also discussed. AAC KC Lai briefed us on the preparations of the year-end Singapore Jamb100 cum 3rd Asean Jamboree.

He strongly encouraged all units to participate. ACC Lester Lee also mentioned that the Area will be providing subsidies to deserving Scouts who may be facing financial difficulties to attend this Jamboree. Mr VKK Arumugam, Rover Scout Leader of Beaver’s Rover Crew, who received his DC’s Award in 1998 from the then DC (Mayflower District) Mr Lester Lee in his Cub Scout year, rekindled another personal achievement when he received his Woodbadge from ACC Lester Lee, twelve years later. For the first time, participants were given a File Kit which was sponsored by Aloha Resorts, in addition to a limited

edition of red & white lanyard reflecting our 100 years of Scouting. The lanyards were sponsored by Area Resource Commissioner Desmond Foo. Participants were also presented with a Certificate of Participation by ACC Lester. A buffet lunch was served at the end.

Ang Mo Kio District Cub Scout Field Day by Jerron Ang, Scout Facilitator, Bishan Park Lightning Scout Troop On the 28th of August 2010, the Cubs and Scouts of Ang Mo Kio District gathered at Catholic High School for our District Field Day. Present at the event to officiate the opening was our District Commissioner, Mr Koh Kar Meng, who welcomed everybody to the event and gave the participants a “Good Luck” message. The Cub Scout events were held in the morning and the Scout events were held in the afternoon. The Cubs were involved in the events, and from the looks of it, they were all sure living up to their motto, “Be Prepared”. The Cubs had come all prepared with their equipment and did rehearsals for the events weeks before. The first event was the Knots Relay, which tested the Cubs’ ability to tie various knots over a relay of 100m.

Winners of this game were Ai Tong and Townsville Cub Scout Packs. The next game was the construction of the Flagpole. The Cubs were required to build a flagpole with two bamboo poles that were at least two metres in height after construction. Catholic High Cub Scouts had a head start as they tied their flagpole with ease but they failed to bring it up. This was when Townsville Cubs took the advantage and won the game. The last game was the cooking game

where the Cubs had to cook an egg with a tommy cooker, and open the shell without having any cracks. Most schools did well in this and there were the schools that won with the same score. I guess the Cubs will sure make good assistants in their home kitchens. The overall winner of the District Cub Scout Field Day was Townsville Cub Scout Pack, which clearly exhibited the Scout values throughtout the event. Well done Townsville and all Cub Scout Packs which participated. Have fun till we meet again!

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EAST AREA TRACKSIGNS

Ultimate Frisbee Challenge by Basheer Khan, Group Scout Leader, Oneida Scouts Frisbee lovers can rejoice as it seems that this non-traditonal sport may well make its way into Scouting circles soon enough. For those new to the sport, Ultimate Frisbee is a fast paced game in which two teams try to score goals by tossing the Frisbee between their players.

“Ultimate Frisbee requires teamwork, communication, strategy, and most importantly, integrity. Like most ball games, ultimate frisbee bonds participants as they pitch their skills against competition teams” says Mr Basheer Khan, leader of the Oneida Scouts and organiser for this year’s challenge. Held for the second time this year, a total of eight teams from East Spring, Ngee Ann, Siglap Secondary, Changkat Changi, Duman and Bedok South Secondary Schools participated in the event. Scouts, Ventures and Adults were separated into three different categories.

Spring Sec emerged as champions in the Scout Category with Siglap Secondary coming up first in the Venture Section and finally East Spring Secondary again in the Teachers and Leaders section. Hosting and organising group, Oneida Scouts would like to see Scouts from all over the nation participating in this great sport that truly promotes great teamwork. Scout groups should train up their teams and challenge the reigning champions in 2011!

The fast-paced game played with skills needed in most ball games raged on for one afternoon. Scouts from East

East Area Sports Carnival by Basheer Khan, Group Scout Leader, Oneida Scouts named Floorball Alpha Tournament and Floorball Beta tournaments respectively. This year there were a total of eight schools competing namely East Spring, Dunman High, Victoria, Chai Chee, Manjusri, St Gabriel’s, Damai and Bedok South Secondary Schools. Each school sent teams to participate in the three different sports categories. For each tournament the games were played in a round robin style with the top three placing teams winning the respective medals. The East Area Sports Carnival 2010 was co-organised by the Oneida Scout Group and the Crane Scout Group and was hosted in East Spring Secondary School. It consisted of three sports tournaments catered to all Scouts. The soccer and basketball tournaments were catered for Scouts of all age groups while the floorball tournaments were split into two separate tournaments, strictly for secondary one and two Scouts due to overwhelming response. The two tournaments were

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WEST AREA TRACKSIGNS

Patrol Leaders’ Training Camp by Jasper Low Cheng En, Patrol Leader, Unity Unicorn Scout Group This year from the 4th to 8th of June 2010, Bukit Panjang District organised the District Patrol Leader Training Camp (PLTC) which was held in Dunearn Secondary School. Altogether, there were 64 Scouts from the six schools within the district participating in the PLTC. This training camp was one of the most memorable camps that I have been to. Its activities were not only refreshing; they were very objectively planned and organised. One of the activities that left a deep impression on me was called ‘Prison Break’. In this game, my patrol was told that to escape from prison, we would have to navigate through a huge drain and find the exit at the end. We were also given lighted candles to see in the darkness and to keep as many candles lit till we emerged from the exit. While crawling in the drain, we chanced upon rat droppings, fungi, webs and other unpleasant stuff. As my patrol was made

up of all boys, we tried to put on a brave front even as we encountered dirty and smelly odours in the drain.

and most importantly, that I have to be more clear in the way I disseminate information.

We also motivated and encouraged one another to move on and not to give up, and have a ‘never say die’ attitude.

What made the camp most memorable? I was, to my astonishment, the runner-up for the Best Camper Award, an accomplishment which I am proud of.

Finally, after 20 minutes of crawling, we managed to finish the trail. We felt a great sense of satisfaction which bonded us like sworn brothers. Being the Patrol Leader (PL) at that time, I learnt from this activity how to strategise, coordinate and motivate. Other unforgettable events included the campfire, in which all patrols put up amazing performances. In this camp, I was also given an opportunity to be the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), and from this experience I found out that I had a lot more to improve as a leader such as time management

Pioneering Competition by Pang Yao Ming, Senior Patrol Leader, Bukit Panjang Eagle Scout Group would clinch first prize as we had worked closely according to the grading categories and had practiced intensely for the competition, even making it thrilling and fun to play on. However, we were told that the results would only be released at the Bukit Panjang District Campfire on 28 August 2010. Thus, we anxiously waited for the day to arrive, in the meantime, feeling confident about our structure for another eight weeks. On 3rd July 2010, my Scout unit, Bukit Panjang Eagle Scout Group, participated in the first annual Bukit Panjang District Pioneering Competition. Having practiced for several weeks before the competition day itself, our 10-man team, over the course of 8 gruelling hours, constructed a swing based on the Viking Ship rides seen in amusement parks. At the end of the construction, we felt proud and confident that our structure

As the final seconds ticked away before the revelation of the first place, we grew more and more anxious, and as our Scout unit was called out for first place, our unit exploded into joy, as we celebrated our result. It felt good that our unit had attained another achievement and we felt even more motivated to do even better in subsequent Scouting events.

On 28 August 2010, the night the Bukit Panjang Campfire was held on, our unit actively discussed the results which would be revealed later. We still felt the sense of confidence we had in our Viking Ship and finally, as the results were revealed, from third place to second place, we had a funny and giddy feeling as we were not in either place, meaning we stood a chance at the top prize.

4th Quarter 2010

THE QUARTERMASTER

STUFF

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to Jamb Up! A new range of merchandise has been designed specially for JAMB100. These are perfect as personal momentos, souvenirs or gifts. Grab a piece of JAMB100 before they run out! These plus more Jamboree and Centenary products are all available from the Scout Shop.

EMBROIDERED BADGES Colours red, blue, green, orange or yellow Size 15cm $10.00 each

BASEBALL CAPS Colours black, white or blue All with wording on back One size $8.50 each

WOVEN BADGE Colour red Size 6.5cm $1.00

WOVEN BADGES Colours blue, green, orange or yellow Size 6.5cm $1.50 each

POLO SHIRT Colour yellow Various sizes $14.00

SCARF Colour orange Various sizes $4.00

WOGGLE $2.50

* Items are not drawn to scale

THE QUARTERMASTER

4th Quarter 2010

STUFF

Spot the Difference 3 things have changed in these pictures. Can you spot them?

Spot the Sillies Spot the Quartermaster staff wearing this pair of funky sunglasses or sporting this fiery hat during JAMB100 and say to him or her: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understandâ&#x20AC;? to win attractive Centenary or Jamboree merchandise*. * While stocks last

4th Quarter 2010

THE QUARTERMASTER

GUIDES

The Friendship Knot by Imran Shah, with illustrations by Chiang Kar Mun Hey Brother and Sister Scouts! Since we’re all VERY excited about the upcoming JAMB100 and 3rd ASEAN Jamboree, I’m gonna share with you a Jamboree trade secret. Don’t tell anyone, ‘kay? At Jamborees, Scouts wear their scarves throughout the whole day! Unable to bear with the discomfort of a woggle at their necks, some genius Scouts (all of us are, actually :D) usually tie a knot in place of the woggle, called the Friendship Knot. This knot would be tied much lower than where the woggle would be placed. However, do note that this knot is actually supposed to be tied for you by a friend. So, once the Jamboree starts, you’d better start making friends! This way you’ll have someone different tying your scarf everyday! Cool!

JAMB100 - what’s happening where?

THE QUARTERMASTER

4th Quarter 2010

A A1 A2 A3 A4 A5

TRADITIONAL SCOUTING – SANDS SCOUT Traditional Scout Games Market Campfire Station / Camp Cook Station Scout Radio & Communication Post Outdoor Survival & Wilderness Rescue Skill Scout Discovery Centre Visit & Heritage Quiz (Off-site)

B B1 B2 B3 B4 B5

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE – AKELA ADVENTURE Rockclimbing & Abseiling Challenge Valley Disability Challenge Course Cycling Nature Reserve Walking Trail (Off-site)

C C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7

SPORTS – WET & DRY Kayaking Air Weapons Marksmanship (Off-site) Canopy Challenge Walk (Off-site) Golfing (Off-site) Wild Wild Wet (Off-site) Scout Mini Soccer Rafting

D D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8

ASEAN CULTURE & SCIENCE – KAMPONG TEMASEK Wild West Kranji Challenge (Off-site) Drums Beat of Asia at GDV Experiment Flight Traditional Kampong Games Lion Dance / Silat / Wushu Singapore Discovery (Off-site) Sentosa Island Discovery (Off-site) ASEAN Culture & Peace (Off-site)

E E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT VILLAGE Wildlife Reserves Singapore (Off-site) Environment Conservation (Off-site) Water Conservation (Off-site) Kite Making & Flying (Off-site) Exhibition Booths Scout of the World Projects ASEAN Friendship & Solidarity Display

ABOUT THE QUARTERMASTER

THE QUARTERMASTER • is primarily a digital publication of the Singapore Scout Association (there will be limited hardcopies in circulation). • is an entirely youth-led*, youth-run initiative. • is part of the SSA Media Team, coordinated by the National ICT Council. • welcomes contributions from anyone and everyone. You can even blast your ideas on the SSA Facebook page, or introduce us to a post on your unit’s blog! • invites you to join the Team. We have the entire age range on our staff, from Cubs to Adult Leaders. • needs more wild and creative talent. We do fun stuff; formal reports are reserved for the Annual Report. • enourages you to help us spread the link to our page on the SSA website: www.scout.sg/magazine • can be contacted at quartermaster@scout.sg * We will be generous and shall consider anyone under the age of 35 as a youth

Quartermaster Staff can be identified by the badge they wear while on assignment, as can all members of the Media Team

Meet the Team JACQUELINE LAU

ANG LIAN KWEE

Ecologist-turning-sociologist, most comfortable outdoors behind a camera, or buried under a stack of books.

GAO CHUANYU Enjoy reading this magazine and hope to see you around! :)

This is what commissioners do at regional conferences. It’s okay to look silly sometimes! Even if you’re ‘the boss’.

LI MING YANG I love exploring more of our urban and natural environment through hikes, camps, jamborees, & even survival sessions in forests.

COLLIN WAN A young and cheerful lad, always ready to help.

NG YIN HONG

KUMANAN ILANGOVAN SL of Beatty Beaver Scouts. Been Scouting for more then 15 years but it seems we can never get tired of it. Scouting’s never about what you do, it’s about who you are and what you become.

I like to go for scout camps and love to play floorball!

MERVYN HONG JUN IMRAN SHAH Heyyy Everyone!! I Love Scouting and I love to meet new people! See you Around!

I love Scouting; it enables me to explore many new possibilities and has made me a changed man. For Pride for Honour!

CHIANG KAR MUN MUHAMMAD ZAIDAN KHAN I like to sing, draw, produce short films and comics. I’m friendly and like joking with people!

Hi! I’m currently studying in Ngee Ann Poly Optometry. Love the outdoors, adventure & colourful things!!

4th Quarter 2010

THE QUARTERMASTER

THE SINGAPORE SCOUT ASSOCIATION Ee Peng Liang Building 1 Bishan St 12, Singapore 579808 Tel: +65 6259 2858 Fax: +65 6259 2118 Scout Shop Tel: +65 6259 0207 Email: hq@scout.org.sg quartermaster@scout.sg Web: www.scout.org.sg