• General
• Scouts
  • Kontiki
  • Skilkana
  • Gala
  • Farewell Braai
  • 100km Fundraiser Walk
  • Future events
• Cubs
  • Kontiki
  • Cubs Soccer Challenge
  • Cub's newsletters
  • Snap shot from recent event

We have once again reached the half way mark for the year and it has been a busy time.  The year started off with the usual Kontiki and BP Dinner.  Many thanks to those parents who helped with the BP Dinner function by way of supplying puddings or making donations.  Every little bit counts and is much appreciated.  A special thanks to the committee members and their better halves who are always willing to help as well.  Thanks also to those people who are always willing to help around the hall when called upon to do so.  There is truth in the saying “many hands make light work!!”. 

We have had to bid a sad farewell to Nick Berry, an Assistant Troop Scouter who has gone off to the UK on a work permit in search of the pound as he himself put it.  Good luck Nick, and do keep in touch with the Group.  Nick has had a long association with 1^st Cotswold since starting out as a Cub in 1987.  He will be sorely missed.

I would like to urge cubs, scouts and parents alike to support our next two fundraising ventures – the Car Rally on 23 June and a Shipwreck party which will take place in July.  More details will follow closer to the time.

To those families who will be going away during the holidays, have a safe journey.

Vanessa Prowse
Group Chairperson

Over the past 6 months or so we have been fortunate to see a steady increase in the number of boys attending out troop meetings – so we must be doing something right J At one of the recent meetings there were at least 20 boys.  When we get a few more boys invested, we will have to start a 3^rd patrol once again (like in the good old days).

Kontiki

During February the troop attend the annual Scout Kontiki Raft Race which was held on the  Swartkops River just a few meters up from the Redhouse Yacht Club. The Boys arrived bright and early and began assembling the rafts. After the judges had checked that the all rafts were "river worthy" they were allowed into the water to await the starters whistle. This years Kontiki was slightly different with various bases placed along the length of the river. In order for the teams to win they would have to complete each base along the way and finish first.

Cotswold did very well to finish with one Patrol in first position for their age group and the other finishing closely behind.  Cotswolds Scouters / Fathers also did very to achieve a deserved 1st position in the supporters’ race.

Very well done to all the boys that completed what turned out to be a very demanding race in the end and hopefully we can do even better next year.  

Skilkana In March the boys attended a Skilkana hosted by 1st SOE Scout Troop.  A Skilkana consists of a number of bases where the boys are required to complete certain tasks like boiling water in a can, building a self-standing flagpole, egg throwing and more.

Gala

An area gala was held in Uitenhage in April but unfortunately myself, Wayne or Gareth were unavailable for the event so the boys had to miss it.

Farwell braai

On 3^rd May, Wayne and the boys had a farewell for myself.  We had a great braai and I received an impressive gift from the troop.

100km fundraiser walk  

On Saturday, 25th May, the scouts took part in the 100km walk from Jefferys Bay to Port Elizabeth.  The boys arrived at the scout hall at about 7:30 & were soon an their way to the event which was scheduled to start from the Jefferys Bay Spar at 9:00.  The route would take the participants out of Jefferys and along the “Old road”, through the Van Stadends pass, past Sea View, and finally finish at the Algoa Sea Scout’s Hall at St Georges Park. However, our scouts never did the full 100km.

Future events on the calendar for this year are:

• Car Rally – 23 June

• The McClelland camping trophy

• A troop beach hike in the Maitland vicinity

I’d like to sign off by saying thanks very much for the great gift I received from the troops.  I have been at 1^st Cotswold since I joined as a cub at the age of eleven and it has been a pleasure ’working’ with all of you along the way.

It is with a heavy heart that I say farewell to the troop but hopefully I will join again on my return.

Regards
Nick Berry

We started the year with a handful of cubs as so many boys went up to the Scout Troop last year.  At the moment we have 5 new chums.  In spite of our small numbers we have taken part in all the district events and have even achieved a few notable positions.

Kontiki Raft race

Kontiki is always the highlight of the year for the new Cubs.  We started off with a 4 man raft which eventually became an 8 man raft when we were joined by Cubs from 1^st Walmer, 1^st Sunridge and 1^st Newton Park.  The boys all paddled well together and under the leadership of our skipper, Sammy, gained 1^st place.  

Cub Soccer Challenge We took part in the 1st Newton Park annual soccer challenge and once again teamed up with the Cubs from 1st Sunridge.  We managed to gain 1st place and scored the most goals on the day.  WELL DONE BOYS!

Cub’s newsletters:

• The Kontiki was a blast and the worst the good part was that it was my first Kontiki and I was so happy.  But the down part was that after all that rowing I was dead and the flower and egg was definitely another story thank you.

The gala was very fun but I had a swimming problem as I ate too much.

The braai went up in flames literally – everything was burnt to crisps.

Scouts is the best “wink” but it is still good and preparing.

Ross Holmes

• This pass through the year we made hot rolls.  The ingredients was:

1. Roll;  

2. Butter; 

3. Vienna, Onions, tomato and cheese 

4. Foil

It was very dileashers.  Come and enjoy the hot rolls.  I will make them for you.

Michael Thompson

Snap shot from a recent event:

  Darryl Garner (Assistant Pack Scouter) doing his version of the “Full Monty”

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