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Adam Schafer's Article on the Gordon Shield 1996

TAKE TWO

Wow! Where to start ?

Well, how about “viva la cell phones !”

Our cook and pet rooster (Warren) forgot our veggies, rice and garlic at home, so thanks to Rory (who let us know about this blunder on the cell phone), Mr Berry and Warren were able to make a detour to storm Wellington on a veggie buying blitz!

They arrived at Hawequas 30 minutes later, to the relief of all, bearing sheepish grins and the needed veggies.

Now let’s get on with the competition.

I had to report in and read the instructions, while the rest of the patrol carried the equipment to the campsite. Saturday comprised 23 various Bases including supper. The 5 night Bases were great fun, especially making a small raft to transport members over the dam one by one, using cardboard boxes and black bags as floats. Finally we literally fell into bed at midnight.

On Sunday rise and shine was at 5.00am. Well, no shine, and more a rolling and groaning motion than rising! Our pet rooster’s job was made easier by some forward thinking by Mark, who brought an amazing alarm clock with him. Breakfast was a packet of chips and pancakes, washed down with some coffee!

The morning inspection went well, with all our Spare Time Activities completed, leaving only our day Bases to do. The 14 Bases were done after the Scout’s Own. By lunch we were all desperate for a swim. This we did in the pools and natural slides in the river.

Our oven STA proved itself and produced surprisingly good scores for our second last Base. The oven was a reflector oven made by Gunther and Mark out of an old oil tin and some tin foil.

We started to strike camp at 3.15pm and fell in for final inspection and prize giving at about 4.30pm. Tension mounted as the Chief Judge got closer to the top 3 places. Pinelands, who beat us by 2 points in the Rayner Trophy, came 3rd; Rosebank came second. And finally the winning Patrol was called forward.

WE DID IT ! We had successfully defended our title and won the Gordon Shield for the second consecutive year!

The elated team consisting of Warren Berry, David Glass, Savvas Bizinos, Mark Ferry, Gunther Henshilwood and myself went forward to receive the Trophy.

Our thanks go to Mr Berry, Mr and Mrs Bizinos, Thomas Henshilwood, Nigel and my dad for help with transport. Thanks to Nigel for the meal he promised to the team if we won.

Well done and thanks to the whole team.

Adam Schafer

Patrol Leader - Gordons 96.

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