Matopos Mumblings |
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Now that you have settled into your camp-sites and know the layout of the Park, have a look at the Notice Board and Map at the Duty Hut. |
Folks around the Camp
There is no doubt about it: this is going to be a
big, big Camp. With such a big Camp, there is
going to be literally hundreds of people here who
you have never met before.
people every day of the Camp? If you can do that
every day of the Camp, then on the final day you
will know forty new people!
Often, once a Camp like this has
already finished, the people
involved, who put so much time
and effort into so many things,
are forgotten about, or only
receive a small note of thanks as
everyone leaves.
To our Parents and Scout Leaders
particularly, who have provided
us with this awesome
opportunity, we express our
thanks.
To the donors and sponsors,
throughout the world, who have
helped with funds and materials,
specifically for this Camp and
generally, we express our heartfelt
thanks. |
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All the bases are listed there,
with coloured pointers showing
their whereabouts. You will all
be issued with Space Passports,
to record your travels and
adventures at all the
different bases.
For those budding song-writers in Camp, we have a challenge for you: See if you can compose a song about the Centenary Camp and sing it to 
Mrs. Moody at BaseNo. 5, Flight Food. The best song will be printed in the final newsletter.
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Matopos Mumblings |
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Saturday’s Programme: |
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The
History of Gordon Park - Part 1
The area now called 'Gordon Park' was
‘discovered’ by a party of 1st Bulawayo Rovers
in 1929 during their hikes in the incomparable
Matopos Hills some 35kms south of Bulawayo.
Cyril Shaw recorded in his log how they all
scrambled across the waterfall into a natural
camping ground which became the Headquarters
site.
Park Rock which stands impressively alone and
sheer above the kopje. It faces the Training
Ground and acts as a sounding board, so that a
speaker, addressing listeners below, can be
very distinctly heard. Only exalted speakers
have addressed or would presume to address
listeners from such a 'platform'.
So many people have arrived at
Gordon Park, both Scouts and
Scouters, that some extra special
people are liable to be forgotten.
arrived earlier in the week to
lend a hand with the setting up
of the different bases. Rosemary
Moody, a Cub Leader Trainer,
arrived yesterday morning to
add her expertise to Flight
Food.
decided
to camp! Well done!
If you go around Camp today,
every now and then you will
catch a little whisper here, a
murmur there, about the cosmic
bases which has been beamed
down onto the Bowl Parade
Ground.
amongst the tumbled rocks
proved quite a challenge, especially
for the Leaders!
cries of fun and laughter, this
base too will see it’s fair share
of participants.
Around a Cheery Campfire
There seemed to be an irregular amount of confused
and tired-looking dassies wandering around
this morning... most probably because they had
been kept up the night before watching and wondering
at the cozy circle of Scouts gathered
around a small fire on the edge of the Bowl Parade
Ground.
The campfire was led by Carlos Ngozo, tall and
lanky, and full of fun and laughs. He kept everything
moving, with never a dull moment or empty
silences.
This is the second issue of the
Camp Newsletter, Matopos
Mumblings, and some background
information on the
Newsletter may prove interesting.
One hundred copies will be
printed each day, one issue for
each day of the Camp, and your
Scout Leaders will be given
copies to share with and show
to you all.
He will be moving about Camp
taking photographs and seeing
how things are going. |
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himself used to do, getting the
Camp underway with the
Morning Parade at 9 o’clock.
As the water situation out here (and in
Bulawayo) is so serious, each day we will
update the Water Watch figures, so that we
know just how much water we have used so
far!
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Matopos Mumblings |
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Sunday’s Programme: |
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The
History of Gordon Park - Part 2
As diverse and unique challenges are offered in
these Matopo Hills opportunities are present
for adventurous and challenging activities enabling
Scouts to develop physical, moral and
spiritual qualities. Here are favourable chances
for courageous Scouting activities where many
boys develop their skills, courage, tenacity and
ingenuity. Not surprisingly these kopjes of wild,
natural beauty are a source of inspiration, for in
such surroundings the finest attributes in Leaders
and Scouts alike can be developed and
promoted. This is what this magnificent country
in the heart of the Matopos offers.
Skipper Knapman suggested to Colonel
Gordon D.S.O. O.B.E. (Headquarters Commissioner
for Matabeleland) that a Camping
Ground and Training Centre should be established
here as a Memorial to Baden-Powell, a
suggestion that was enthusiastically received.
Several sites were considered by Colonel
Gordon, Skipper and G.E. Stephens (later Provincial
Commissioner for Matabeleland).
Yesterday saw the official Opening
of the Join-in-Centenary
Camp, officiated over by the
Camp Chief, Mr. Ntokozo
Ncube, and performed by Mr.
Alvod Mabhena, former General
Manager of the National Railways
of Zimbabwe.
from a kudu horn, and the flags
were broken, including the flags
of several major countries
throughout the world currently
attending the Jamboree.
the Bowl to continue the day’s
activities. The Camp was now
officially open, and everyone
could settle down to enjoy
themselves.
It’s strange, isn’t it, how Camps
of this magnitude can draw
people of completely different
personalities together under
one vision.
hour can be spent listening to
her stories about the ‘good ole’
days.’ Mrs. Moody began her
Scouting Trail as a Brownie in
England, before moving on to
Guiding and eventually Cubbing
here in Zimbabwe with the 3rd
Air Scouts.
We are privileged to have the
youngest and the longest-serving
Scouts with us. But besides
them, everyone here is different
in some way - so go out there
and make new friends!
Many long years of Service
You have all had the chance to experience the
wondrous experience of camping out at Gordon
Park, but have you ever thought of all the hard
work that has gone into the daily maintenance of a
campsite this size?
He works tirelessly to ensure that there is firewood
available, that the grounds are kept neat
and tidy, that the roads are kept in a good condition,
and that the Park is secure.
In the Chapel, behind the altar
attached to the rock face, one
can find a series of plaques, all
dedicated to the memory of
Scouts, and those intimately
connected with the ideals and
aims of Scouting, who have
given a great deal to the world
and Scouting.
Ground in memory of him and
his dedicated spirit of generosity
and hard-work.
Movement, and the high value of
Scouting in his own life. |
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himself used to do, getting the
Camp underway with the
Morning Parade at 9 o’clock.
Have you been watching the amount of
water you use? Have you been washing
under the tap and wasting water? You know
if you have or haven't...
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Matopos Mumblings |
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Monday's Programme: |
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The
History of Gordon Park - Part 3
The camping site chosen was in the Rhodes
Matopos Estate, none other than the site which
the 1st Bulawayo Troop had been using for the
previous six years. On 16th February 1936 the
camp was formally declared open by Colonel
Granville Walton, Imperial Headquarters Commissioner
for Overseas Scouts who accompanied
the Chief Scout to South Africa.
area, now known as "The Bowl" was acquired
increasing the total acreage to 285.
As the Camp draws to a close,
we hope that everyone has had
a good time, and that everyone
has learnt something new, experienced
something new and
made new friends.
Monday will see the departure
of all the Scouts from Camp,
after the final Closing Parade
held at the Skipper Knapman
Training Ground in the early
afternoon.
binding them under one
promise to celebrate 100 years
of World Scouting. Remember
the ideals that B-P founded 100
years ago, and help keep them.
Sunday saw the Centenary
Ser vice being held in St.
George’s open-air Chapel, behind
Gordon Park Rock, with a
large proportion of Scouts in
attendance.
After the Service however, all
those in Camp assembled on the
Skipper Knapman Training
Ground, as magically, cakes
began to appear on a trestle
table set-up close by.
After the Slicing of the Presentation
Cake, everyone on Camp
was given a slice of cake, which
were wolfed down in no time! A
Hope for Tomorrow
We often dwell on the problems our country has
been facing recently, moaning and gripping about
the politics and other issues we face today. We
tend to dwell on the negative side of life, forgetting
often how beautiful and positive life can be.
They ask me and I am not ashamed,
"It was a great experience" says
Edmore Mhazo, Hike Leader,
who hiked from G-P to Nkantola,
Fort Usher and back again
with Hike Leader Mthabisi
Mphofu, "we managed to make
it alright."
with their chaps - we had some
minor problems here and there,
but we tried to go as quickly as
possible." Hiking can easily be
made an integral part of Troop
activi ties: try going for a
monthly hike, and see the difference
it will make to your Troop
and your Patrol.
Forces during the Matabele
Rebellion in 1896, and were also
briefed about the history of the
Fort, with which B-P was directly
involved, lending some
history to the area they were
hiking through. |
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himself used to do, getting the
Camp underway with the
Morning Parade at 8 o’clock.
The Last Day of Camp has come! Well done
on your water usage, though a lot has been
used, we haven’t been over-excessive.
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From the 11th to the 14th of August, hundreds of Scouts descended on G.P. for the National Join-in-Centenary Camp held there, at the same time as the Jamboree was being held in England, to celebrate 100 Years of World Scouting.
The Camp was a great success, with about 350 Scouts in Camp for the four-day weekend. A number of people came from around the country, with large contingents from other Provinces. The Service on the Sunday was celebrated by Father Benno Holtz, and was followed by the customary braai. A large Presentation Cake, beautifully iced by Merle Cavill, was sliced on the Training Ground, and smaller cakes, made by the De Swaart’s was handed out to each Scout present.
During the Camp, the plan was to produce a daily newsletter, under the name of Matopos Mumblings, and the paper, ink and printer was kindly donated by several people. Unfortunately, we ran out of ink on the third day, and the replacement cartridge also failed. However, copies were printed on each day, but only a few Scouts could receive a copy.
Now that the Camp is over, the Newsletter has been redone slightly – mistakes have been corrected, and now that colour has been used, it looks a look better. The articles have been kept the same as much as possible, but some articles have been added to.
The intention was to produce a “Special Issue” and send it via e-mail to those who would be interested, who knew the Park, and who would appreciate reading about our continuing exploits here. We hope also that it will soon be on the internet at our angelfire website.
It just goes to show that no matter what is thrown in our way, a Camp of this magnitude and standard can still be held, and enjoyed. Not all is gloom and doom here in Zim, and like always, we’ll keep persevering and carry on doing what we have always done.
“Don’t let the world get you down…” and enjoy.
Leon.
PS: Hi, Harry, please forward this on to National Headquarters, perhaps the Chief Scout would like to see it too, and if possible the other PC’s so that they can distribute it to their Scouts as a hardcopy. I may be able to print a colour hardcopy for our own Headquarters, but I cannot guarantee anything yet. Thanks a lot, and well done for a very good Camp.
This is a new webpage - that should be ready tomorrow. But incase you cant wait till then...
Here are the 4 grand .pdf files that you can download to your pc, to read up on what all happened during Zimbabwe's Join-In-Jamboree at Gordon Park:-
Matopos-mumblings-scouts-bulawayo1.pdf
Matopos-mumblings-scouts-bulawayo2.pdf
Matopos-mumblings-scouts-bulawayo3.pdf
Matopos-mumblings-scouts-bulawayo4.pdf
(You'll need Adobe pdf Reader installed on your pc to read the above 4 .pdf files).
With thanks to Ntokozo Ncube & Leon Wuyts.
