Brief History of our Troop

Past Springboks
1910:   On 14 November a Mr. Madge started the Troop with 10 Scouts.

1915:   As part of the peace celebrations after World War I, the Scouts lit and maintained a bonfire at the top of Spandoukop. Money collected wanted for a Scout Hall was eventually given to the erection of the Angel Park War Memorial in front of the Town Hall.

1924:   Imperial Jamboree at Wembly, England attended by Eric Tilbrook, Frank Joseph and Chookie Geard. Four King Scouts awarded: Eric Tilbrook, Frank Joseph, Chookie Geard and Joe Kroon.

1928:   Scout numbers were 87 and a band was started by Mr. V Brummer.

1931:   3 Cub Packs, 3 Scout Troops and a Rover Crew were running in Graaff-Reinet. Total numbers were 146. 15 Scouts went down to PE for the visit of Lord Baden-Powell. Cost amounted to 13/4d each.

1932:   In September a Midlands Jamboree was held in Graaff-Reinet. Although the Catholic Troop had closed, numbers peaked at 167, the highest ever.

1933 - 1948:   Scouting records scant - probably due to the war years.

1949:   Midlands Jamborally was held in Urquhart Park. A problem was the obtaining of cheese and butter as Graaff-Reinet was in a controlled area!

1953:   The first official Scout Hall was built for a tendered price of 899 pounds.

1955:   The Scout Hall was opened by the Chief Scout of SA Mr. Percy Fowler at 4 pm on 21 June. The Mayor Mr. Jimmy Pearce, hosted a civic luncheon in the Chief Scouts honour in the Town Hall.
1959:   Kitchen and Store on to Scout Hall completed.

1960:   Area HQ in PE was financially in distress and requested each Scout pay a pound to bail them out. The Graaff-Reinet Scouts refused to bail HQ out!

1967:   Bruce Maree takes over the Graaff-Reinet Scout Association.

1968:   The Scout Hall was officially named the Chookie Geard Scout Hall in recognition of the work done by the then Commissioner, Mr. Chookie Geard.

1969:   The first Springbok Scouts under the guidance of Mr. Bruce Maree, Danie Greef and Noel Ross, were awarded. The Orange River Canoe Expedition was undertaken by Noel Ross and Arrie Botha accompanied by Bruce Maree.

1971:   Diamond Jamborally was staged in Graaff-Reinet. 350 Scouts, mainly from the Greater Cape, attended. Another peak was 250 interest badges being earned by Scouts. A stand-off between HQ and Mr. Maree occurred over the rapid advancement of Graaff-Reinet Scouts. Charl Pienaar, Alan Cawood, Ronald Pienaar and Nico Smuts attended the World Jamboree in Japan.

1972:   Chookie Geard passes on - had been District Commissioner for 27 years and involved 1912.

1973:   Graaff-Reinet Scouts pioneered a world link when they hosted 7 American Scouts from Troop 7, Oklahoma City on a 9000 km trip about South Africa.

1974:   Further additions to the Scout Hall by adding two more rooms. A national Guide and Scout hike was organized in Graaff-Reinet.

1975:   The first "initiation" survival hike occurred. Bruce Maree, Kobus Olivier and Willem Smuts attended the World Jamboree in Norway.

1979:   The first AGM was held as a formal meal whereby the Scouts entertained their Parents to a 3-course meal cooked by themselves on an open fire. Stephen Hobson went to America as a replacement for the World Jamboree in Iran.

1980:   After a ten year absence we entered and won the Mc Lelland Camping Competition in Port Elizabeth.

1981:   Four Scouts attended the Lexton Patrol Leader's Training Course in Pietermaritzburg. 70 years of Scouting celebrated in Graaff-Reinet.

1983:   Scout numbers were 50 in six patrols. Kevin Watermeyer and Kevin Prinsloo attended the World Jamboree in Calgary, Canada.

1985:   A Father and Sons was held at Welgevonden. Our Scouts participated in a national flame relay run of Scouts to Mafiking. Jean Retief, Carl Watermeyer, Andrew Rose-Innes and Kayne Kingwill attended a Jamboree in Charnwood, England.

1986:   Scouting in Graaff-Reinet celebrates 75 years in Graaff-Reinet's bi-centennial year. Ms Rosemary Kingwill and Mr. Lex Bremner wrote the History of the Graaff-Reinet Scouting: 1910-1986.

1987:   Bruce Maree, Rodney Naude and Rowan Rose-Innes attended the 16th World Jamboree in Australia.

1991:   Alfred Thornton attended the 17th World Jamboree in Korea. Alfred Thornton, Michael Featherstone, Charles van Schalkwyk and Bruce Maree hike the Fish River Canyon in Namibia.

1992:   Alfred Thornton, Michael Featherstone and Bruce Maree attend an all American National Jamboree near Washington, USA.

1994:   Eight Graaff-Reinet Scouts hold the Springbok Scout Badge at one time. They were: Dallas Newton, Adrian Cumming, Stan Smit, Garth Kingwill, Quintin du Plooy, Barry Norval, Michael Green and Steve Kroon. Garth Kingwill, Quintin du Plooy and Adrian Cumming attend the 18th World Jamboree in the Nertherlands. At a special banquet in the Town Hall, the Chief Scout of SA, Mr. Garnet de la Hunt, presented Mr. Maree with the Award of the Silver Protea for his distinguished service to Scouting. 25 Springbok Scouts of previous years were able to accept invitations to the ceremony. Two ex Chief Scouts were also present namely Mr. Carveth Geach and Mr. Colin Ingles.

1998:   Bruce Maree, Richard Collett, John Finlaison and Russell Collett attended the 19th World Jamboree in Chile.

2001:   Numbers, similar to when Scouting started in 1910, were recorded. With this in mind, the future of Scouting was not bright. An alternative meeting night was negotiated with Union High School. Meetings were held on a Monday evening. This resulted in a turn around in attendance figures.

2002:   Troop continues to meet on a Monday evening and gas 27 members over 14 years old, making it one of the strongest troops in the Eastern Cape. The troop also meets on Friday evenings for special events and patrol meetings.

2005:   The 8th Gilcoast PLTU is held on Modderfontein just outside of Graaff-Reinet.