Western Cape Jamborees: 1979 Report
Gilcape: Join in Jamboree
Saturday 29 September 1979 and the start of one of the biggest Scouting events ever seen in the Cape Western Area. One thousand one hundred and seventy Scouts and Scouters had taken up their places on the main arena, and our Guest-of-Honour, Admiral J Johnson, took up his position. And so in brilliant Gilcape sunshine Scout Bonanza '79 was opened.
The tea parties followed, with the V.I.P.'s taking a quiet stroll around to meet Scouts and Scouters in their campsites. The gateways with flags of 30 nations added to the colour of the day, together with the striking red berets of the USA Contingent from CW 13/21, and, if you managed to get into the Norway campsite, from CW 3/4/5, you might have been lucky enough to watch the Curry Cup final on TV. Give-away mementos were in great demand - from woggles to the clogs from the Dutch Contingent CW 6. After the joy of experiencing tea and something to eat in the Japanese Camp of CW 14/22, you raced off to find someone who would invite you to yet another tea party.
The wide-game followed late on Saturday afternoon and Scouts in Patrols tried to beat the time limits that had been set. How fast over a wall; or through the tunnel; and how far the Patrol could jump, all added to the Jamboree fun.
The trumpeters from the Scout Band played as the 30 camps lowered their flags at sunset. We then watched the inflating of a hot-air balloon. The crowd swelled as they watched 30 metres of balloon slowly being inflated, this even managed to get the Chief Scout to move off to find a better vantage point as the wind bounced it around from time to time. Finally the balloon was fully inflated. The people inside the basket and a few brave Scouters helped to keep it on the ground. It was now ready and off it went as cameras clicked away. Now Scouts turned back to camp to cook supper and await the campfire-in-concert.
Ogie-ogie-ogie, and so the campfire-in-concert got off to a fine start. Jamboree Scouts helped lead the singing, and who can forget expecting that Buzz Macey would fall off the table as quickly as he had got onto it. But alas, the crowd waited in vain and he managed to get off without breaking his leg, or coming out with a head like a ping-pang ball. Pick-a-box saw Scouts winning tapes and records.
Sunday, 30 September, 1979, saw 170 Roman Catholics at Mass bright and early at the start of a new day. The wind had come up and the weather did not look too promising. The Scouts' Own, with Major Bert Pfuhl, M.C., giving the yarn, followed the Mass at 08h30. Major Pfuhl spoke about a trapdoor opening when speakers had reached their time limits, but I don't think he bargained on the chair being blown into the swimming pool! The laughter could not be held back any longer and after a good laugh, the Scouts' Own closed with a message to us all.
The Bonanza Carnival then got off to a good start, with Scouts trying to win more and more turns on every stall, sometimes lucky and sometimes not. Hitting each other off the log in a pillow fight proved to be a great hit, as did the 'car driving' stall run by CW 34. And, if you did not like that, why not have a ride on CW 9's merry-go-round?
The Cape Times Cross-Country followed next at 11h00, and Scouts fought to hold their places, or gain a lead on their fellow-runners.
After a hard run, what better than an ice cream or pancake from the Canadian stall of CW 1/2, or Brazilian coffee and coffee cake from the stall of CW 12.
Yes, the lunch stalls had opened and what fun it was to see the different array of menus from the different food stalls. The Irish stew and even Irish coffee from CW 32 were good - or why not try the kebabs from Greece.
Then the tug-a-war play-offs, and then the great moment had arrived - 26 Drum Majorettes marched on in fine style and many a wolf-whistle was heard. I heard a Scouter say, "Gilcape will never be the same! That's something you would never have seen in my day!" The Western Province Dog Club closed the arena events as the wind became colder, and so the final march-past began. Troops marched in and passed the saluting base as the Chief Scout of South Africa took the salute. Scout Bonanza 79 closed at 15h30.
I would like to thank all the Scouts and Scouters, as well as Local Associations, for having given this event their full support. Last but not least, the staff of Bonanza. We only had a staff of 24 Scouters to control the camp, and hats off to the Duty Patrol, made up of Jamboree Scouts, who worked like ten dozen slaves.
DARYL McEWAN
Chairman - Planning Committee - Bonanza '79