Rover Scout Moot and SARSI
Rover Scout Moot and SARSI
A Rover Scout Moot is customarily a gathering on an informal basis with plenty of special activities and sight-seeing, getting to know each other, and useful discussion while all that is happening. The word "Moot" is an Old English word meaning assembly or gathering.
A SARSI (South African Rover Scout Indaba) was traditionally a gathering of Rovers from all over Southern Africa with a formal Conference to discuss Rovering with Crews submitting items for discussion on the Agenda. The get-together also included some enjoyable visits to local places of interest. The last one was held in 2002 and seems to have been superseded by Moots.
| 2018 |
Arrowe Park, Benoni, Gauteng 2018 marked 100 years of Rovering and in true SA tradition it was celebrated at Arrowe Park from 22 to 24 September at the SSA Centenary Rover Moot. |
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| 2013 |
Gilwell, Florida, Gauteng Adventure highlights included a dragon boat race on Florida Lake on the first day and a city wide amazing race of the south of Jo'burg on the second last day. On the 'Business side' there was a discussion on the new Rover program and Challenge Awards. |
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| 2012 |
Lexden, Pietermaritzburg Lexden had not held a Rover Indaba or Moot since 1955, which made this Provincial Moot an exceptional historic event for this campsite. The Moot was attended by 13 crews from all over South Africa; a total of 48 Rovers attended the Moot. |
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| 2007 |
Mafikeng The Centenary Moot was held in partnership with The Scout Association UK, and was attended by participants from Austria, Sweden, Finland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia, United Kingdom and South Africa. Activities included renovating a neglected school, the presentation of toys to an AIDS orphanage, a viewing game (where they saw a white rhino at 10m!) and the opening of the 20 kilometre B-P Trail. |
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| 2002 |
Durban The weekend was attended by 70 delegates from all over South Africa, who spent catching up on past events, meeting others, exchanging ideas and a small tour of some of Durban. |
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| 2000 |
SAS Unite, Cape Town Harbour Activities included breakfast at Kirstenbosch, tour of SA Breweries, a boat trip to Seal Island and a tour of Groot Constantia. |
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| 1998 |
Addo Elephant Park, near Port Elizabeth S.A.R.S.I. 98 was organized by Eastern Cape, Area Rovers and held in Port Elizabeth in September. A most successful event with constructive discussion during the Conference session to the benefit of better Rovering country wide. |
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| 1996 |
Florida Lake, Roodepoort, Johannesburg 42 Rovers attended coming from the Western Cape, Gauteng, Natal and Eastern Cape. Places visited were the miniature stream trains at Len Rutter park, the old jail in Florida and the emergency services. |
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| 1994 |
Cape Town The Indaba was a great success with Rover Crews from Edenvale, Rhodes, Bedfordview, Southdowne, Port Elizabeth, Walmer, Newton Park, Sanddrift, Factreton, Steenberg, Mitchells Plain and False Bay attending. The opening ceremony was performed on top of Table Mountain at sunrise, thereafter the Crews had breakfast at Kirstenbosch and a great Rover dinner was held at Sandvlei. |
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| 1992 |
Port Elizabeth On the Friday evening there was a Civic Reception arranged by the Mayor Alderman K Nel and Councillors. A trip on the Apple Express on the Saturday was one of the highlights and in the evening was the formal banquet that was held at Gilsands Training Centre.
The Chief Scout officially opened the Moot. |
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| 1990 |
Durban There were 105 Rovers from all four Provinces and the event was held in Durban for a most memorable four days. Friendships from previous SARSI's and Moots were renewed and the true spirit of Rovering and Scouting prevailed throughout the weekend. Friday was a day of sightseeing, made up of:
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Badge not found |
| 1988 |
Glencairn, Cape Town There were 88 Rovers from 22 Crews and were from the Transvaal, Northern Transvaal, Natal, Midlands and Cape Western.
The opening ceremony was held on the top of Table Mountain and was performed by Garnet De La Hunt the Chief Scout. It was then on to breakfast at Kirstenbosch, a boat trip to Seal Island, a visit to Groot Constantia.
Sunday was a day of Base activities at Glencairn and the formal dinner was at the Sea Base in Sandvlei. |
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| 1986 |
Sulkerbosrand, Transvaal 80 Rovers of which 38 were from the Western Cape. The activities were a visit was to the ERPM Gold Mine where they also enjoyed their hospitality at lunch and then on to Gold Reef City. The official opening ceremony was at Gilwell in Florida and the guest Speaker was Carveth Geach, a former Rover and Chief Scout. Supper was a Travelling Dinner - Soup at Emarentia Crew, Main Course and Sweets at Bedford View Crew. |
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| 1982 |
Glencairn, Cape Town Activities included a tour of the submarine base at Simonstown, a hike up Table mountain and a sunset cruise to Clifton. Supper was on the go from Milnerton (starters), to Monte Vista (Main), to Constantia (sweets) and Glencairn to end off. |
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| 1977 |
Cape Town Unfortunately, no additional information found |
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| 1973 |
Cape Town There were 55 Rovers from Natal, Transvaal and Cape Western and the programme included a dawn landing on Fish Hoek beach from a vessel anchored approximately 250 yards off the beach and breakfast was served at the 2nd Fish Hoek Scout Hall. On the Sunday afternoon they boarded a Dakota aircraft at CT Airport for a scenic flight over the Peninsula. The formal Dinner at the Savoy Hotel in Somerset West and was attended by Col. de Wet Venter, Mayor of Somerset West. |
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| 1969 |
BP Park, Durban Scout Heritage were unable to confirm if this was a bona fide SARSI, however a conference was held to discuss reviving Rovering. |
No Badge |
| 1965 |
Rugged Glen, Drakensberg, Natal Unfortunately, no additional information found. |
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| 1955 |
Lexden, Pietermaritzburg It was still a semi-rural part of Pietermaritzburg and as one Scouter recalls, one had to lock away your food to stop the monkeys stealing it. |
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| 1953 |
Matopos (Matobo) Hills near Bulawayo, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) For the first time Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) was host to the South African Rover Scout Indaba and a real good show was put on by them. |
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| 1950 |
Pretoria The organisation of the meeting was first class and the bus tour extremely interesting indeed. The campfire was also "Topping what"! Indeed it was. |
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| 1948 |
East London This was the first SARSI following the second world war and coincided with East London's centenary. |
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| 1937 |
Kroonstad, Free State In many ways the Third SARSI has been a memorable one, with unusual features helping to keep it interesting. Every camp differs from another, and this Indaba has been no exception. |
No Badge |
| 1934 |
Glencairn, Cape Town The Glencairn Camp was attended by nearly 100 Rovers from all parts of the Union where they assembled to discuss matters of Scouting importance. |
No Badge |
| 1931 |
Lexden, Pietermaritzburg |
No Badge |
There are some gaps in the recorded history and should anyone have more facts or the missing Badges, they are welcome to fill in the gaps.
There is also a record, from a South African view point, of the experience of attending an overseas International Moot. Sourced from old reports, personal scrap books, photos and logbooks, the links provide a never before published account by the South African Rovers that were there to witness these Moots.
Scout Heritage 2018