International Jamborees: 1959 Report Rhodesia
1959 - Central African Jamboree, Ruwa Park, Southern Rhodesia
4th to 11th May / South Africans 94
Scouting in the former Rhodesia and Nyasaland started in 1909 when the first Boy Scout troop was registered and this Jamboree celebrated 50 years of Scouting in Rhodesia. The great popularity of the Boy Scout movement in Rhodesia was due to its outdoor programme of hiking, camping, cooking and pioneering.
The Rhodesian Scout emblem featured a Shona shield, a symbol in use since Rhodesia was a colonial branch of British Scouting. The Jamboree badge was based on the balancing rocks in the nearby Giant's Playground.
The site of the Central African Jamboree was Ruwa Park, over 150 acres in extent, and twelve miles from the centre of Salisbury. Ruwa Park was the camping and training headquarters of the Mashonaland Province of Southern Rhodesia, and although close to the Federal capital, it had not been affected by the encroachment of civilisation, and retained the original attraction of the African scene.
The South African contingent consisted of approximately 94 Scouts and Scouters and their leader was Richard Day who at the time was District Commissioner for Sea Point.
The main idea of the Central African Jamboree was for Scouts from various territories to get together, and to know one another. Particularly for those who did not come from the Salisbury area, the Jamboree provided a wonderful opportunity of seeing something of the Federal capital and its surroundings.
For this reason, a number of organised tours had been laid on, and each participant would be able to go on at least two of these.
The cost of these tours was be covered by their camp fee, and there was nothing extra to pay.
The tours took place during the mornings, when there were no important events taking place in camp, and Senior Scouts from the Salisbury area were their guides. Most of the seven tours were undertaken by bus and included places like, Salisbury's biggest buildings, a modern bakery, a tobacco manufacturing company, Lake Mcllwaine, Salisbury Kopje.
One of the best tours for the out-door Scouts was a hike of about four miles to the Giant's Playground at Epworth, southeast of Salisbury (Harare), where they could see the famous balancing rocks which had been incorporated in the Jamboree Emblem.
The formation of rocks are perfectly balanced, without supports and were created when ancient granite intrusions are exposed to weathering, as softer rocks surrounding them erode away. The town of Epworth was established in 1890 as a Methodist Mission Station.
Monday 4th May, Opening Ceremony. The Jamboree Opening Ceremony was performed by Lord Rowallan and in the presence of the Chief Scouts of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, plus a number of distinguished guests.
There was a very colourful March Past of contingents who had arrived from Basutoland. Belgian Congo, Bechuanaland, Kenya, Matabeleland, Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Pakistan, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanganyika, the United Kingdom, the United States, and, of course. from all parts of the guest country, Southern Rhodesia.
The programme was varied and well run. In the morning there were different Scout activities and each afternoon at 3.00 o'clock there would be Scout shows and displays, such as pioneering, Boys' Brigade displays, band music, tribal dancing, Judo, police dog displays and Beating the Retreat performed by the Salisbury Boy Scouts. Each evening there was a film show and, of course, campfires.
Among the 24 Queen's Scouts to receive their certificates from Lord Rowallan were 9 from South Africa.
Quoting from the souvenir programme On Tuesday, 5th May, our Guests of Honour will be His Excellency the Governor-General of the Federation, Lord Dalhousie, who is also Patron of the Movement in all three territories, and the Federal Chief Justice, Sir Robert Tredgold, who is an Old Scout.
On Wednesday, 6th May, we will particularly welcome Sir Robert Armitage, Governor and Chief Scout of Nyasaland. Over 800 Wolf Cubs visited the Jamboree.
On Thursday, 7th May, it will be our turn to greet the Federal Prime Minister, Sir Roy Welensky, and the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, Sir Edgar Whitehead.
Had it not been for the assistance of the two Governments they lead, this Jamboree could never have taken place.
For Guide Day, on Friday, 8th May, the Guest of Honour will be Lady William-Powlett, President of the Girl Guides Association in Southern Rhodesia."
The closing ceremony, on the evening of Monday 11 May 1959 at 8:00 pm was performed by the Chief Scout of Southern Rhodesia, Vice-Admiral Sir Percival William-Powlett, was a spectacular sight: a torch light parade, in which two Scouts led their contingents by flaming torches to their appointed places on the arena. One Scout from each contingent said one part of the Scout Promise and, finally, the singing of Auld Lang Syne and the fire-works, in which the Fleur-de-lis was displayed, brought the Jamboree to its close.
S A Scout Heritage