Chief Scout of South Africa visits Bedfordview

Members of the Scout and Guide movements celebrated the birthday of their founder, Robert Baden-Powell on February 25.

This celebration was particularly important as it marked the 100th anniversary of worldwide rovering, a branch of the Scouting movement.

The Chief Scout of South Africa, Dr Brendon Hausberger, this year attended the Northrand district’s celebrations which were hosted by the 1st Bedfordview Scout Group.

The 1st Bedfordview Scout Group turns 90 this year and boasts the longest running rover crew in South Africa.

Bedfordview residents were awoken by the music of the SA Irish Pipes and Drums, who led a parade along Van Buuren Street to the Scout Hall.

Several hundred Scouts and Guides attended the celebrations, which culminated in a Scouting triathlon where participants completed a commando course, had a brief road race and ended up with a swimming race at St Benedict’s.

Ewen McAlpine was awarded a Medal of Merit by the Chief Scout, as well as 1st Edenvale Cubs, Harmelia Gardens Air Scout Troop and 1st Bedfordview Scout Group who were named the best Cub Pack, Scout Troop and overall Scout Group in the Northrand district for 2017.

The Northrand Scout district thanked St Benedict’s College for the use of their hall, the SA Irish Pipes and Drums for the music, the Bedfordview Spar for sponsoring food and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) for ensuring that the event ran safely.

The Northrand district comprises of 10 Scout groups and three girl Guide companies in Bedfordview, Edenvale, Kensington and northern Germiston.

For more information about Scouting in these areas, contact Jean James-Smith at jean@pjsfoods.co.za