The leadership of two popular Scoutmasters was praised during the occasion.
The two stalwart Scoutmasters, who still serve faithfully today, were honoured for their indefatigable leadership. Clay Whittal (77) and Graham Savage (63), have been at it for 34 and 27 years respectively.
Ken Gie, a former Scoutmaster said, "Every Friday evening, when most folk bolt home to rest after a hard week at the office, these gentlemen are down at the hall, supervising a bunch of boisterous boys, who learn, during their play time as well, important life skills not often found at home or school.
They organised camps which provided the opportunity for lads to fend for themselves in the bush (away from home comforts and nurturing mothers) and great friendships are formed while they realise the importance of their mates, when the odd hardship strikes. 1st George has produced 12 Springbok Scouts, the highest award a young man can achieve during his Scouting career. When this certificate is attached to a school leaver's or graduate's CV, it certainly provides a winning edge during a young man's search for a future career."
Springbok Scouts
Springbok Scouts who became achievers include Ryan van Wyk, who is a senior Technical Director for AT&T in Chicago, having graduated with a BSc in Aerospace Engineering management and a BSc in Management Information Systems from Saint Louis University; Conrad Ocker, who is now an Exploration Geologist with Remote Exploration Services; Mark Greeff, who is Vice President and GM for Driscoll Strawberry Associates in Florida, who graduated from Saasveld with Agricultural Management in 2001; James Strong, who is now working in New Zealand, having achieved a PhD degree in Ichthyology and Jacques Lourens, who is working as a paramedic in the Amazon jungle at a gold exploration site in Surinam, after attaining an IT diploma at Saasveld and attaining a Netcare diploma in Advanced Life Support (see letter elsewhere).
History was made when on 12 December 1912, the first Boy Scout meeting was held in George. A brass plaque in the hall attests to the history, with the name of an early Scoutmaster, Edward Andrew Johnson engraved along with the date 1914.
They were amongst the first Scout troops to be established in the country. Since then, many hundreds of young boys have attended meetings in the Scout hall, located in the dip in Davidson Road. Whittal and Savage kept the Scout movement alive in George.
The ground, on which the hall is built, had been used by the Scouts over the years and in 1957, Dr St Leger, a long time resident of George who was very fond of children, bequeathed the grounds to the 1st George Boy Scouts. Whittal said "We are proud to say that we own the building and all improvements are paid for."
Commenting on his involvement and that of Whittal, Savage said "We are just grateful that within our Scout group we were able to help to lay the basic building block of skills for later use."
The 1st George Scout troop celebrated the George Scouts' 100th anniversary on Friday at their hall.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS: PAULINE LOURENS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
