Matabeleland (Zimbabwe) Scout Guestbook
       
 

Guest Book

 Thanks for visiting this Bulawayo/Matabeleland/Zimbabwe Scout Web site. Please feel free to email an entry to the Webmaster for others to read. This is an open guestbook, and your comments will be added overnight.


Name: Lasse Schröder
Date: 2014-12-30

Comments: Dear Boy Scouts of Matabeleland!
Only by chance I found your wunderbar website. May I say Thank You and Danke schön for the great website you maintain. It is so interesting, that I spend hours and hours reading and looking at the pictures. Happy to learn more about your Scout Association and your country, which are so marvelously portrayed by the people who run this web-site.
Happy New Year and the Best Wishes to you all for 2015,
from Lasse Schröder
Germany
 

Name: Fidel Jasper Nkobi
Date: 2014-06-06

Comments: I was part of the 24th Mpopoma Troop, & I'm looking to reconnect with other brothers. My Troop Leader was Ndodana Ndlovu. My email address is fnkobi@gmail.com
 

Name: Thabani NCUBE
Date: 2014-03-03

Comments: Thank you Norman for this great website. I now know a lot about matabeleland scouts. I was a scout at the 31st Sikhulile Byo. and am now a scout leader with the 77th Magwegwe, Byo.
 

Name: Peter Collingwood
Date: 2013-06-09

Comments: Wow, I left Bulawayo in 1977, heading back home to Australia, and was amazed to find this site! I was a Cub from about '73 to '76, and went to the Cuboree in Ruwa Park in '74. I still have the badges from then, sewn to my old junior school hat. I would like to send some photos, if you would like them.
Cheers Pete
 

Name: Corinne (Stone) van Rheede
Date: 2013-02-23

Comments: Thanks to Norman and the website for keeping me informed. As with everyone, my life has been greatly shaped and influenced by the organisation and the people I've met through it. My 2 youngest are now in Beavers in London ...... and whilst camping in the UK will NEVER be as good as in the Matopos ... well, so scouting molds the next generation. Be Well. Corinne
 

Name: Heidi Brady
Date: 2012-06-25

Comments: Hi - I am a leader at 5th Skipton Beavers colony. We are looking to form a link with other countries as part of our ongoing bravers programme and would love to form a link with yourselves. Please contact me if this is possible. Heidi
 

Name: Frank Saur
Date: 2012-04-02

Comments: Looking for games for my cubs here in Canada. I am the Akela for 1st Alliston Pack. Love your website.
 

Name: Richard Hooper
Web site: Sandhurst Scouts Sand Stories
Date: 2011-09-29

Comments: Great site. Nice to see activity north of our border. Have a look at our site and lets share the experiences.
Yours in Scouting,
Richard
 

Name: Asani Alihaki
Date: 2011-09-11

Comments: Its great to keep in touch with all the Scouting News. It brings back alot of fond memories. The Best days of my life I spent as a Scout and nothing can replace that, a lot of life lessons were learnt by me. Am a proud memeber of the first group from the Western Areas to win the Assegai Competition as well as the National Patrols. I am proud to have lead 56th Byo to the National Podium way back then. The friends I made in the Scouts, I have kept for life. Keep up the GREAT WORK!
 

Name: Gavin King
Date: 2011-08-25
Comments: Member at 1st/12th '74 - '77 - many great memories of those times have been resurrected by this site..
 

Name: Trevor Palmer
Date: 2011-04-04

Comments: The mystical Matopos, it seems like yesterday, what happened to the 12th Bulawayo? Hey Pete, Mike, Francis and Zack so pleased you guys are still around.
 

Name: Patrick Gurney
Date: 2010-07-06

Comments: Hi all,
I was a member of the 3rd Bulawayo Cub scouts (1980 - 1982 +/-) with Mrs Moody.
A fab time and I also have a brilliant photo taken of the full group standing next to the plane which was in the grounds.
I can't remember most of the guys names....
Now living in Johannesburg, and planning a trip in Aug 2010 to spend 5 days in the Matopos - cant wait!!
 

Name: Mike Griffin
Date: 2009-08-11

Comments: Really great site. Brought back many great memories of numerous weekends spent in the Motopos. Was part of the 1st/12th troop from late seventies to 1980/81. Was patrol leader of Leopard patrol. My father Ron led the troop for quite some time. When we returned to live in SA he continued with scouting for a short while. Ron passed away in 1991. Will always be grateful for the scouting years in BYO. Well done on this excellent site.
 

Name: Andrea Porteous
Date: 2009-04-16

Comments: Great Website. We have a district hike that we hold annually called "Bulawayo" which is why I found your site. It has been very useful. We are designing a badge for it. I would love to know a bit more about BPs visit to the Matabos mountains in 1896 as it is in your province. (Barry Knights Book can also be found here - ed)

I am a Scout Leader in Victoria Australia.

I am quite happy to be emailed.
 

Name: Howard Gill
Date: 2008-11-01

Comments: Very Interesting site. I'd like to see more photo's and some more history and up to date news of the scout troops in Harare. Good work!
 

Name: Goh YH
Web site: www.08kintascout.com
Date: 2008-09-05

Comments: Gentleman,
This is by far the most knowledgeable website about African/Zimbabwe Scouts that I have ever seen. There is lots of useful information, old pictures and I certainly would love to be in touch with you guys!
I am a scouter from Malaysia and currently residing in Singapore. The website (above) explains about my scout troop in Malaysia for those of you who want to know more about Malaysian Scouting.
Keep in touch.
YIS, Goh YH
 

Name: Philip Jones - 12th Cork Scouts
Web site: http://www.bebo.com/twelvthc
Date: 2008-07-28

Comments: Hello everybody,
I am the Troop Leader of the 12th Cork Scouts, ST Patrick's Unit in the Republic of Ireland.  I was just looking at your site.  I would love to get in contact with a group from Bulawayo,  are the 1st Pioneer still active? I run a group of 24-28 boy scouts, all of whom are 11 yrs old.  I think it would be great to get a pen pal sort of thing going amongst them.  If you are interested please let me know by leaving a comment on our page or by email 12thcorkscouts @ live. com
 

Name: Wayne Renfrew, Australia
Web site: http://www.rosannacubs.org
Date: 2008-05-13

Comments: Great site to show to Cubs from the other side of the world! It's great for them to realise that just about whatever place they can think of in the world, there will most likely be Scouts there!
 

Name: Wesley Connell
Date: 2008-05-01

Comments: Wow the site brought back so many memories of my time in 8th Hillside Bulawayo troop, then the 1st Pioneers.. so good to see the the photos of the 1st Pioneers... if only I could go back to those days...... I'm now living in New Zealand, working on a ship. Be good to hear from anyone from the Hillside troop or the Pioneers.
cheers
wesley
 

Name: Ian Saunders
Date: 2008-04-02

Comments:
Glad to have found this site. It does bring back some fantastic memories. I started as a cub originally at the 20th Fomana pack and then moved to the 7th pack, and became a scout with the 7th at Christ the King Church.
I was a member when the 7th and the 20th groups combined and became the 7th/20th Fomana groups. My father "Jock" was one of the scout leader with Charles Dickenson. I eventually became a scout leader with the 7/20th and my father and I moved to the 5th Bellvue group to try and resurect the movment there but due to the lack of numbers we eventuall closed the group and moved the remaining member to the 7/20th. As you can see a great part of my live was spent in the movement.

It great to see that the movement is still going so strong in Zimbabwe.
Sorry to hear the sad new of an old friend Mike George, he will be greatly missed.
 

Name: David Gelman
Date: 2007-10-04

Comments:

Reading this site brought tears to my eyes as I remebered the great times I had at Gordon Park, Bob-a-Job week, floats down the streets of Bulawayo, the badges, the fun and friends I made at the 1st Bulawayo (Pioneer). I was a wolf cub from 1957 and thence a Scout in the 1960's.


The tradition continues as my youngest son is now a Cub Scout in the 22nd North Leeds Pack (UK) and I am one of the Cub Leaders. My oldest Son was also a cub and scout in Johannesburg and Rustenburg (SA).


How I wish for a return to the fun we had in those days. Sun, bundu, sadza, campfires, Matopos dam ....


Keep the tradition going. All the best. David
 

Name: Ken Wilde
Date: 2007-06-05

Comments:Wishing you all a happy 100 Scouting years birthday.
Ken Wilde
Manchester U.K.
 

Name: Maggi Mackay
Date: 2007-05-28

Comments: Hi
I am so glad to see the Boy Scouts alive and well.
I am not sure how many of you may remember my mom, she was national secretary for the Boy Scouts during the late 70's early 80's - working with Surry Wells, Stan Donaldson (!!), Ann Ritchie (now in East London SA), Marge Cox, John Landau and various other folk within the scouts. I recall the highlight of her time there was helping organise the Jamboree to Switzerland (1979), the planning and getting everyone sorted out.
Anyway mom passed away 11 years ago from cancer. Her name was Maggie Maritz.
Well done guys............
 

Name: Gian Marco Talluto
Web site: www.palermo2.it
Date: 2007-05-06

Comments: Hi,
I'm a wolf cub chief from Italy. In my collection I've many scout shirt from all world but not from Africa! If you want trade with me your scout uniform shirt please write to me!
YiS
Gian Marco Talluto
White Wolf
 

Name: Mac McNamara
Web site: www.bsatroop780.org/
Date: 2007-04-12

Comments: Nice site! Always glad to run across another resource for our kids. Check us out at http://www.bsatroop780.org and let me know what you think.
 

Name: Dwight Touchberry
Date: 2007-03-25

Comments: I really appreciate the amount of information, effort and detail put into your site. In my efforts to research Boy Scouting across Africa and came to your site. It has been very helpful in compiling history, photos and badges as I work through my Wood Badge Patrol diversity project.

Sincerely,
Dwight Touchberry
Eagle Scout, 1977
Troop 321, Mission Viejo California, USA
 

Name: Mark Fulton
Date: 2007-02-19

Comments: Norm,
What a great site, the memories!
Please drop me a line, it would be great to hear from you.
Regards,
Mark
 

Name: Ryan
Date: 2007-01-19

Comments: This website is awesome, Ahhhh The memories! Trying to get in contact with 8th Hillside/Bulawayo from 1996/2000.
 

Name: Ruth Noordanus
Date: 2006-10-20

Comments: Hi I am posting this message for my father who also was a boy scout in Bulawayo round 1953-1960, I am looking for pictures and information round that time. I love this site and think you did a great job on building it.
If anyone would like to contact me with information, here is my email address.
Thanks verry much, and greetings from Holland .
 

Name: Rafael Ramos
Date: 2006-09-26

Comments:

Very nice your website...


I'm an adult Scout Leader interested in Trading. I'm a Scout Leader in Venezuela, and I want to swap scoutbadges with anyone in Zimbabwe.
 

Name: Ryan Bessell
Date: 2006-06-22

Comments: Hey great to see this site. I was a scout with 2nd Borrowdale Harare for many years, but just moved to England. If I had known about this site I would have tried to get intouch more with you guys while living there.
Best wishes in the years to come....
yours in scouting
Ryan Bessell
 

Name: James Hank
Date: 2006-02-18

Comments: Just wanted to say hi to the scouts who visited at Camp Hiawatha in Michigan, USA.  I was given patches by the Zimbabwe Troop and my wife placed them in picture frame and they are displayed at camp every summer. Anyone who likes trading patches please contact me at Scouterhank@charter.net
 

Name: Greylin Mabaso-Mlilo
Date: 2006-01-16

Comments: I was with the 19th Troop throughout my primary schooling at Thomas Rudland school Queens Park with Brighton Khumalo as my scout leader.
 

Name: Havelock.ect
Date: 2006-01-03

Comments: Well! Well! Reading all this has brought a tear to my eye (prop due to 18m old dawns finger, and not you sods telling everybody how good you are) Will add my memories once lord web-baas confirms that I have entered all my infomation into the right boxes on this form

Chow.
Locky
 

Name: Peter Zacharias
Date: 2005-12-23

Comments: I'm glad to see that scouting is still going on. Keep up the good work, all the best,
Peter Zacharias
ex scout leader Gweru 1971
 

Name: Sverre Sverresonn
Web site: www.21stmedway.org.uk/default.asp
Date: 2005-11-23

Comments: Great site! Super Photos! Regards from the 21st Medway Scouts in Rochester, UK
 

Name: Brendon Fisher
Date: 2005-10-12

Comments: This site brings back great memories.

Living in Canada now. But still miss GP
 

Name: Brian Dick
Date: 2005-09-20

Comments: I was with the 14 North End & 19th Queens Park East from 1998 - 2003 and now live in Johannesburg. I'm with a very nice group called 1st C G R Scouts of SA & just can't forget my scouting days. Any way say hi to Norman Scott and Mrs Moody and Kudakwashe Nyoni From Queens Park East, and uncle at the scout shop.
Yours in Scouting
Brian Dick
 

Name: Merrick Scott
Date: 2005-07-05

Comments: Congrats on an awesome website. Although not a scout, many a good time was spent at Gordon Park. Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Merrick
 

Name: David Crowden
Date: 2005-05-22

Comments: We like your website and hope to make contact with your Group as Part of our Troops Goble Challenge.
 

Name: Anna
Date: 2005-05-23

Comments: We are the Guide Leaders from Poland. This year we are realizing the programme about "Scouting all over the world" and we are tying to find something about scouting in different countries. We would like to know something about scouting in your country: what your uniforms look like, what are you doing during your meeting etc. What is more we have one request to you: if it is possible we would be really grateful if you could send us some your badges, pins or emblems. It is important to us. In return we promise send you ours for sure. You can send something also to address:-
Anna Omiecinska
ZHP Hufiec Lodz-Polesie
ul. Pogonowskiego 83
90-569 Lodz
Poland

Thank you. We are waiting for your answer.
Guides from Lodz-Polesie District.
 

Name: Bob Mirtle
Date: 2005-03-29

Comments: 3rd Bulawayo Air Scouts
The picture brought back many good memories of 3rd Air Scouts. I was the Scout Leader referred to and would like to hear from any of Scouts who were with me. I now live in Nova Scotia Canada.
 

Name: Annette
Date: 2005-03-23

Comments: My late brother Charles Maclean was a Cub, then a Scout with the 2nd Bulawayo (Raylton) Scout Troop. It must have been in the 60's. We also lived in West Somerton and Lochinvar in Salisbury, and Broken Hill in Northern Rhodesia.
 

Name: Shaun Hadfield
Date: 2005-02-23

Comments: Hello All

I used to belong to the best scout troop in Zimbabwe, probably the world... 8th Hillside. I recognize quite a few names and people on this site. It's great to see pictures of Gordon Park where I spent a lot of my time as a youngster. Norman will remember me getting my foot stuck in a ride on the lawn mower, oh and getting lost on a hike for a couple of days. Good memories.
 

Name: Neil Williamson
Date: 2005-01-10

Comments: Hey, this is a really impressive site.
I did my time in the 8th Hillside not so very long ago and just happened to stumble across this site. There are one or two familiar faces so please do get in touch (If anyone has spoken to Maurice since he left and knows how to get hold of him, that would be great).
Good to see Gordon Park is still well used, all the pictures bring back memories. Keep it up guys, I've bookmarked this site and I'll be expecting regular updates.
Oh Yeah, my e-mail address is zimbabweangiraffehotmail.com (anyone who still knows me will see that's quite appropriate)
 

Name: Mark
Date: 2004-12-16

Comments: I'd like to say thanks to my pen pal Christopher for giving me a link to your website. It's great! :)
There are certainly a lot of things to look at.
 

Name: Travis Pritchard
Date: 2004-11-15

Comments: Hi
I used to spend loads of time out at Gordon Park. I really miss going there. It is one of the best places in the world and I used to be part of 8th Hillside, but this is a good site as it gives me an idea of what Gordon Park is like now.
Keep up the good work.
 

Name: Andrew Graham
Date: 2004-11-10

Comments: This site brought back a few good memories of when I was at 8th Hillside, and seeing what you guys have been up to,
take care yall ya hear.
(That means you to Ma, Penny G)
 

Name: Michael Nissen
Date: 2004-10-16

Comments: Hello
Greetings from Denmark. I just want to compliment you on your great site, great job!! :yes:
 

Name: Dave Moore
Date: 2004-10-13

Comments: Dear Scouters, I am trying to generate a bit of international communication for the forthcoming JOTA/JOTI weekend, 15-17th Oct 2004. The Pembrokeshire Scouts, Wales,UK, will be camping at St Brides Bay on Saturday and Sunday and are looking for e-mails of support/friendship to which our boys/girls can reply. If you can, please drop us a line!
The e-mail address for the camp is pembsscouts2004joti.org

Yours in Scouting, Dave Moore, Assistant Scout Leader
ps great site!!
 

Name: Brighton Khumalo
Date: 2004-09-20

Comments: Hello,
Keep up with the good work.
Brighton
former 19th and 14th scout leader
 

Name: Gordon Barkhuisen
Date: 2004-09-10

Comments: Great site, it was a surprise to see the photo of the contingent about to leave Harare airport in 1979.
To Zack, I'm sure you were on a camp with us in Durban in 1975/8.
Not from Matabeleland, but keep up the good work.
Gordon (Fred) Barkhuisen ex 3rd Umtali.
 

Name: Francis Zacharias (Zac)
Date: 2004-08-20

Comments: Wow! what fond memories of GP in the 70's - many a day/night spent enjoying the Parks many charms! Lake Scott must certainly have made a big difference to the Park. Bulawayo scouts are really blessed by having a facility of the quality of Gordon Park so close to town.
I was with the 15th Cubs (Milton Junior) 1967-71 then 1st/12th (Pioneer) from 1972-78.
Now living in Oakville, Ontario. Great site guys!! Keep up the good work!
 

Name: Mike Zacharias
Date: 2004-08-19

Comments: A great site with obviously a lot of work needed to set up and maintain - well done!!
Got the address from Colin Anderson (ex 11th Riverside early 70's and I believe involved with reviving my old troop: 1st Byo Pioneer!!!) Very nostalgic time reading through the stuff on Gordon Park and the work being done there!!
Was a member of 15th Cubs (Milton Junior - 1966 - 67), 1st Pioneer, 12th, later to be known as the 1st/12th, throughout the 70's. Many days spent in Matopos and other areas, abseiling, hiking and of course , had few good Assegaai and Rolling Stone competitions against main rivals: 8th (Norman's old bunch of course) and 11th.
Recognise a few names in your guest book - excellant idea!! My regards to any readers/visitors from that era (especially to Norman S!).... What ever became of THE Assegaai??
 

Name: Alan and Joyce Charlesworth
Date: 2004-06-18

Comments: Greetings to all who may remember Alan and Joyce Charlesworth from the (unfortunately) aborted Cleveland Scouts and Guides Zimbabwe 2000 project. We were delighted to meet people when we visited Gordon Park with John Gurney with whom we are still in touch. Greetings also to anyone who met us during the visits to Zimbabwe in 1995 and 1996 for the project at Rukovo near Masvingo.
 

Name: John Gurney
Date: 2004-06-14

Comments: One time Scout Leader of 10th Bulawayo and later 11th Bulawayo, DSC Hwange Scout District, APSC(Matabeleland North), APSC (PR) Matabeleland, and finally APSC(International) Matabeleland. From March 2004 resident in Southampton, UK. Would like to hear from ex Zim Scouts in UK. (Email Address)
 

Name: Aly Abdullah
Web site: www.grscouts.tk/
Date: 2004-05-26

Comments: Great site keep the good work going on:) :yes:
 

Name: David Schembri
Web site: Qrendi Scout Group ?Malta
Date: 2004-05-14

Comments: Congratulations on a brilliant web site that must surely make you extremely proud of your Scout Group and its achievements. Do keep up the good work in favor of Scouting.

A left handshake

David Schembri
Group Scout Leader
Qrendi Scout Group ?Malta
www.qrendiscouts.org
 

Name: Howard Jones
Date: 2004-04-18

Comments: This site brings back good memories. I recall being in the cubs at Milton Junior school in Bulawayo about 1969/1970. I don't recall if it was just a "school" thing or we were attached to another group.
I do recall spending time at Gordons Park and hiking around the matopos hills. My son goes to cubs now here in sunny Wales and is the same age as I was back then in Bulawayo. I tell him about the things we used to get up - you can't compare to what they do now. Mostly indoors because of the weather. I only wish he could grow up in the environment we enjoyed in the late 60's and 70's.

 

Name: "Pete Chadwick"
Date: 2004-04-02

Comments: A fantastic web site, which I have only just stumbled on. Did my time with the 3rd Byo Air Scouts in the 70's, and my son Tim has recently joined the 1st (Pioneer) Troop. Work mostly in SA as a Consulting Geologist, but still live in Bulawayo.

 

Name: "Itayi Pondwa"
Date: 2004-03-10

Comments: ola
A pleasure to see that scouting still lives on...... I'm a fomer 56th Mpopoma (Bulawayo) scout troop member.......just saw the site and will be visiting it a lot, as long as I can
 

Name: "Ricky Harris"
Web Site: Troop 18 Online
Date: 2004-01-22

Comments: Hello.
I am from Troop 18 in Wynne, AR - USA. I found your site in the Boy Scout Directory, which we are also a part of. It is nice to see scouts from around the world on the web. I am a patch trader and I was wondering if anyone in your troop trades, or would like to trade one for an American patch. Also, please visit http://troop18wynne.homestead.com/ and sign our guestbook!!!
 

Name: "Richard Millar"
Date: 2004-01-08

Comments: Blooming heck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am suitably impressed with the site now. Geeze you have done a lot! A bit more work and you could get promotion to PL!!!!
Cheers
Mol
 

Name: "Wayne Skews"
Date: 2003-10-07

Comments: Any news of Mike Brown ?He was the same age as Ian Stone (rocky)
Cheers
Wayne
www.africangold.co.za
 

Name: "Wade Begemann"
Date: 2003-11-01

Comments: What a great site!! I have only looked very fleetingly at it, but I will be going into it in greater depth very shortly (Has definitley been added to my 'favourites'). Very nostalgic. GP & the Matopos is greatly missed. Give my regards to Norman & any of the 8th guys that you may see. (ex 8th Byo. 1965 - 1976, Cubs & Scouts)
 


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