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| The Story Of Our Founder | ||
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In 1887, B-P was in Africa, taking part in the campaigns against the Zulus, and later the tribes of Ashanti and the Matabele warriors. The tribesmen respected him so much that they gave him the name of "Impessa", the "wolf-that-never-sleeps", because of his courage, his scouting skills and his amazing tracking abilities. In 1901, B-P returned to England from South Africa after a victorious siege of Mafeking, a town in the heart of Africa, to be showered with honours and to discover to his amazement, that his personal popularity had given popularity to his book for army men - Aids to Scouting. It was being used as a textbook in boys' schools. He saw this opportunity to help the boys of his country to grow into strong manhood. He set to work adapting his experiences in India, and in Africa and many other parts of the world. Slowly and carefully, B-P developed the Scouting idea. He wanted to make sure it would work, so he took a group of 20 boys with him to Brownsea Island in the summer of 1907. This was the first Boy Scout camp the world had ever seen which ended in a great success. Scouting was born! In the early months of 1908, he brought out his handbook for training, Scouting for Boys - without dreaming that this book would set in motion a movement which was to affect the boyhood of the entire world. B-P, finally reaching the age of 80, having seen his movement grow into tremendous proportions, his strength began to wane. Because of this, he returned to his beloved Africa with his wife, Lady Baden-Powell. They settled in Kenya where on January 8th 1941, B-P passed away, a little more than a month before his eighty-fourth birthday.
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| HISTORY OF SINGAPORE SCOUTING | |
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1910's 1910 Scouting in Singapore began with the 1st Sand’s Troop of 30 boys under the sponsorship of Young Men’s Christian Association, whose building also served as the Scout Headquarters . 1915 Scouts rendered valuable service by taking over from the police and army the duties of dispatch riders, telephone operators and clerks during the period of the Sepoy Mutiny by the Indian Light Infantry 1916 Younger boys were brought into the Movement as Wolf Cubs. The Scout Headquarters moved to Zetland house at Anson Road. 1919 The 1st Malay-speaking Scout Troop was formed.
1920's 1920 Scouting from Singapore spread to the mainland of the Malay Peninsula and Frank Cooper Sands assumed the post of Chief Commissioner of the Scout Branch Association, Comprising of the British Crown Colony of the Straits Settlements (Singapore, Penang and Malacca) and the Federated Malay States. The Scout Headquarters moved to a building vacated by the General Post Office at Clifford Pier. 1922 Recognizing the extensive role of Scouting in the lives of young people, the schools in Singapore adopted the Scout Programme as an extra-circular activity resulting in the formation of school-sponsored troops registered as 2nd Raffles Institution, 3rd Anglo-Chinese School and 4th St Joseph Institution in numerical order of formation chronologically after the 1st Sand’s Troop an open troop. 1927 Senior Scouts were established as Rover Scouts
1930's 1932 Mr Ng Seng Choy loans his land for use for camping. That piece of land was situated at Wing Leong Road, Changi, and was named Purdy Camp. Many Scouting veterans remember their camping days at this very memorable site. The loan continued for 21 years. 1934 Baden-Powell’s visit was resoundingly acclaimed at a mammoth rally organised specially for this occasion. It was held at Jalan Besar Stadium. 1938 Sea Scouting was introduced with the formation of the 1st Trafalgar Sea Scout Troop. Their base was on the ‘SS Lumut’ moored in the Telok Ayer Basin. 1940's 1941 The effects of World War 2 were being felt in Singapore and Scouts took up positions of responsibilities by qualifying as Air Raid Wardens, Fire watchers, First Aid Men and Police Officers are serving bravely in their respective units until disbanded with the fall of Singapore to the occupational forces of the Japanese Army. 1942 Under fear of Japanese Military action, Scouts clandestinely met to keep the Scout Movement alive. 1945 Senior Scouts had opportunities to work for the King’s Scout Badge as their highest award. 1946 Arrangements were carried out for Singapore to gain Association status with the UK Scout Association. 1950's 1950 Branch Association status was accorded with Reverend R.K Adams as Chief Commissioner. 1952 Singapore Scouts went on their first Job Week and raised funds to send its first contingent overseas to Australia to participate in the 2nd Pan-Pacific Jamboree in Sydney . 1953 Fund raising efforts were fruitful enough for the Association to purchase a 27 acre land in Jurong, for a permanent campsite, named Jurong Park. It was situated at the old Boon Lay Road. 1958 The Association build its permanent headquarters. The Association Headquarters was thus able to vacate from its borrowed premises at Armenian Street to Sands House, Clemenceau Avenue. 1959 Singapore Scouts acquired a 1 acre land at Telok Paku, Changi for camping and sea activities, the campsite was named Jubilee Camp. It continued with the lease for 14 years. Singapore participated in the 10th World Jamboree at Makiling, Phillipines. 1960's 1964 A standard uniform of khaki shirt and trousers with the distinctive scarf of white and red was established. 1966 Singapore was admitted as a full member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Jurong Park was acquired for industrial projects. Sarimbun Camp a 27 acre campsite, situated at Jalan Bahtera, Lim Chu Kang was leased by government on the basis of a temporary occupation license. 1967 Government's recognition was registered in the selection of the scouts marching contingent at the Singapore's National Day Parade for its illustration on the $1 "bird" series currency note. Its printing having since stopped, the currency note is now a collector's item. 1969 1st President's Scouts invested.
1970's 1970 A two-storey bungalow at the Martia was acquired for scouting activities and named Ee Peng Liang Building . 1971 Singapore participated in 13th World Scout Jamboree and 23rd World Scout Conference, both in Japan. 1974 Singapore hosted its first regional conference, the 9th Asia- Pacific Scout Conference, at Hotel Royal Ramada. 1980's 1980 First National Jamboree (JAMB 10-80) was held at Sarimbun Scout Camp to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Singapore Scouting. 1982 A set of stamps depicting our scouts in various outdoor activities was issued by the postal department to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of World Scout Movement. 1985 The eight-hectare Sarimbun Scout Camp was developed at a cost of 1.7 million to better serve campfire needs with a multi-purpose hall, modern washrooms, dormitories and a central kitchen. 1987 Sands House at Clemenceau Avenue was acquired and the HQ moved to a two-storey bungalow at 305 Tanglin Road. |
| Scouting In St. Gabriel's Secondary | |
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Scouting found its way into St. Gabriel's when Mr. Francis Khoo and Mr. Francis Sim initiated the scout group 2006 on 4th June 1958. It started off modestly with the formation of only 4 patrols. Later, Adventure scout unit was started with the same unit number. Mr. Nicholas Tang became the unit's first President Scout.We had our share of success when our scouts began to achieve national recognition through participation and winning awards of activities planned by the Singapore Scout Association. Our first official activity outside Singapore was led SPL Gary Tan on an expedition to Mt Ophir in 1987. In 1983, we were known as Serangoon 06, Southern Cross Scout Unit which symbolises consistency.
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