RC Neil O’Brien and Cotswold TS Justin Grobler congratulating Arnold
Many will know Arnold Witte for his last role – Regional Finance Representative. However, he has been one of the pillars in the Scouting community for decades, serving in a finance function for 52 years! That is not all he has done as you will see below. A picture of selfless volunteering who always seems to be able to smile and whistle under all difficulties. While he has recently stepped down from the Regional Finance Representative position, he remains in the Movement providing support to the rebirth of Cotswold and an advisory role on the Regional Team. He was recently presented with a ‘Thank you Award’ at Cotswold Hall, a place close to his heart containing many fond memories. He was asked to write a few words on his Scouting career, which is provided in full below. Take the few minutes to learn something about him and his contribution to Scouting.
My life at Scouts
I started at 1st Cotswold just before my 12th birthday in 1966. In those days 1st Cotswold met at the old 2nd Kabega Hall at Sacred Heart next to the old Cape Road drive-in. My scout master at that stage was Flame. I remember getting a lift to scouts in his old Volvo 404. Those days scouts was just a big game each meeting. We ran 2 patrols then.
Scouting became serious for me at about 13 – 14 years old when Tiger Wright became our scout master. Under Tiger the troop soon became 5 patrols strong. We also had a large cub pack run by Akela Shiela Laing. We were bursting out the 2nd Kabega hall, so it was decided to build the small hall at Cotswold. Soon that hall also became too small and we had to go on a fund raising drive to build the existing hall. We used to drive around the neighborhood and collect newspapers. These were then packed and sold at quite a good rate per ton. The parents did the packing while we had scouts. (Because we were so keen to go to scouts, our parents wanted to see what we were doing and so they became involved.) My mom was secretary of the group for many, many years and at the death of Mr Ray Presley, my dad became Chairman.
1st Cotswold continued to grow and at 56 scouts (8 patrols) we had to close the troop. (In fact, the pack also became so large that they had to run a “B” pack.) Tiger ran the troop mostly on his own, BUT he used the patrol system extensively. We would meet as the court of honour and plan the month forward. These programs would then be presented by the troop leader and the PLs. Tiger was at the troop meeting as the overseeing person. We used to have a hike or camp each month with the whole troop and another in the month with the older boys over 14 years of age.
I received my Springbok badge at 17 and went on to get my Chief Scout Award too. When I became 18, I became ASM and at about 20 SM when Tiger became too old and emigrated to his son in Canada. I was scout master for quite a few years during which time I did my Wood Badge. But eventually basketball together with the compulsive military duty in those years it became too much and I just had no time left and something had to give. Unfortunately the uniformed side of scouts had to give.
At 18 years of age the bookkeeper for the Area resigned and I was nominated as her replacement. So I have been doing the bookkeeping / treasurer / finance function for the Area / Region for 52 years.
At about 30 something I was nominated to help with the National Financial function. This I also did for about 20 years till I became Area Chairperson. Our area in those days included the whole Eastern Cape and we would have 3 meetings a year in Transkei. We would leave PE at 5am, ride 5 hrs to Umtata, start our meeting at 10am, finish the meeting at 3pm at the latest as we needed 2 hours to get out of the Transkei in day light, and then get home at about 8-9pm. This we did for many years with Scottie (Martin), Eagle (Jeff) and Tiny mostly driving together.
During my time at National I received my Silver Protea award from the Chief Scout.
Now at 70 that is all history and I have gone full circle and am involved with the 1st Cotswold start up again.