Troop History of
18th Georgetown (North) Penang
The 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.
The Pioneers
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.
Turnover
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 Watershed Years
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.
Serving The Community
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.
The Troop Today
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
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.
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