Jeff and Neil
During the course of Walmer’s centenary celebrations, and amongst the other special moments, recognition was given to a dedicated son of 1st Walmer Scout Group and Eastern Cape Scouting. Jeffrey Ferreira was awarded his 50-year bar of service in front of a packed hall and provided with a standing ovation.
Jeff’s Scouting record is best summarised as five decades of sustained service, leadership and leader development.
Jeff began his Scouting journey as a Cub in 1967 and later became a Scout at St Hugh’s and 1st Walmer. In February 1976, he began his adult service as an Assistant Scoutmaster at 1st Walmer—the start of 50 years of active adult membership. He went on to serve as Scoutmaster, Group Scouter, District Commissioner, and RTC: Rovers, holding leadership roles in successive iterations of the current Eastern Cape South Region as well as KwaZulu-Natal.
A key feature of Jeff’s contribution has been his commitment to training others. From the early 1980s, he served on numerous Patrol Leader Training Unit courses as a tutor, programme director and deputy course director. He later became an Assistant Leader Trainer and Leader Trainer, served on regional and national adult leader training teams, and was appointed a Regional Course Director. His work has helped equip generations of young leaders and adult volunteers to serve Scouting effectively.
Jeff has also contributed to major Scouting events, including national jamborees, the Cedarberg Adventure and the 35th World Scout Conference in Durban, where he chaired the Functions and Excursions portfolio. His extensive training includes Wood Badges in the Scout, Cub, Rover and Group Scouter/Commissioner branches.
His latest term of service was as the RTC: Adult Leader Training, beginning in 2022, tasked with reconstituting the defunct Adult Leader Training Team. This was no easy task and fraught with difficulties. Despite this, he navigated his way through it all and remains a member of a Movement that he has dedicated so much of his life to.
We thank him for his decades of service and contributions to Scouting in our Region.
His service has been recognised through the Certificate of Merit, Medal of Merit, numerous expressions of appreciation and long-service awards, culminating in the 50-Year Bar. Jeff’s journey is a story of a lifetime devoted to developing people, strengthening Scouting structures and living out the promise of service.