18th Georgetown (North) Scout Troop
Jul 23rd, 2008 | By admin | Category: TroopsThe story of the 18th Georgetown (North) Scout Troop is one that spoke of how a small troop with humble beginnings grew to become one of the most respected in Penang.
In its early years of establishment, the 18th Georgetown North Scout Troop of Sri Inai (Secondary) School, Penang is made up of one Scout Master, one Troop Leader, four Patrol Leaders, their Patrol seconds, and ordinary Scouts.
The troop was formed in early 1984, three years after the establishment of the school. The pioneer Scouts attended the Founders Day Rally at the end of February 1984 at the Coronation Camp which was held at the Waterfall Gardens.
Five Scouts from Sri Inai, attended a Scouts Training camp at Teluk Bahang at the end of March 1985. This became one of the biggest events participated by our rather "small" troop during the early years.
Beginning 1990, 18th Georgetown (North) began growing in size under the leadership of a new Scout Master, Mr Raymond Capel and a group of pioneering Scouts. These Scouts soon became the troop's first batch of King Scouts, in what is to become a continuing legacy of the troop to steadily increase its number of King Scouts in the years to come.
In 1995, we went for the annual JOTA/JOTI for the first time. Ever since that year, we have been attending every single JOTA/JOTI event in Penang annually, thus becoming the most consistent troop in doing so. Though the first JOTA/JOTI that we attended was intended to give troop members an experience in jamboree and state events, subsequent JOTA/JOTI camps that we attended gave us a chance to participate in various competitions, which we have been successful in winning through the years.
In 1995, the troop began organizing a campfire, where Scout troops and Girl Guide companies are invited to participate in. These campfires proved to be a major milestone for the troop and became the predecessor to the historic "mimicry" gathering in 2002.
The last few years have been fondly reckoned as the watershed years. The troop has made success after success in competitions that we participated in.
In 2000, 18th Georgetown (North) together with 26th Penang Company and Guides from Convent Green Lane created a historic milestone in the troop by winning 13 trophies at the JOTA-JOTI, including Best Overall for JOTI. Year 2000 was a great year for the troop as it not only made landmark victories in the JOTA/JOTI, but we also managed winning positions in all the major competitions that we participated in.
2002 was the year when the first-ever Sri Inai Scouts and Guides Gathering, entitled "mimicry" was organized. This historic event ended a five-year drought of gatherings/campfires organized by the troop, since the last ever held was a statewide Sri Inai Campfire in 1997. "mimicry" was a success and it was attended by some of the most well-known Scout troops and Girl Guide companies in Penang, namely, the St. Xaviers Scouts and Methodist Girls' School Guides.
As part of the Malaysian scouting projects, we have also helped out in community services, at charity fair, food fair etc..... We always believe in the efficiency of service towards others. The Scouts, in collaboration with the Guides of Sri Inai have held a food fair during Teachers' Day and also carried out duties during major school events such as the Annual Sports Day, Cross-Country, and hoped that this would continue for the many years to come. Every year, the troop never fail to be the top volunteer for community services at the Scout Headquarters in Penang and in organizing State level training camps for Scouts.
On January 15th 2000, the troop launched its first-ever Scouting web site, 18th GT(N) Online, which has since became the most successful Scouting web site in Malaysia and one of the best in the region. The web site soon became synonymous with the troop and its success.
Today, the 18th Georgetown North is a well-recognized Scout Troop in Penang. Through the efforts of our Scout Master, Mr Raymond Capel, we now have about 105 members in our troop, including one Troop Leader, eleven Assistant Troop Leaders, ten Patrol Leaders, ten Patrol Seconds, who assisted the seniors in the running of the troop.
The future of the troop is left in the hands of the new Post Bearers. Every year, in January, the troop appoints a new committee of Post Bearers to run the troop and its activities. The Seniors of the troop which will be leaving will ensure that the troop has been successfully "passed down", continuing the legacy and success it has enjoyed thus far.
Source: Official Website
