From the

Courtyard

Issue 89

October 2014

Ed Sciberras is an (ex?) SAC scout who lives in the sunny North of England. He tries to spend

weekends out climbing or on a mountain bike, and having promised Andre that he would write an

article for this newsletter, Ed finally tells us a bit about a weekend spent on Ben Nevis last March.

I was cold. Really cold. And hungry. Fortunately I wasn’t wet as well, so it was all right! Lewis was just

above the crest behind me – just out of sight, but he could feel the rope not moving. “Is everything all

right there?” came the question. “Of course”, I said too quickly, masking my nervousness, “just check-

ing out where the route goes”. “Well there’s only one way you know!” came the reply. Still I pon-

dered.

The journey to this spot on the side of Ben Nevis started off from Wied Babu back home in Malta,

where I had started getting in to rock climbing. Scotland in March four years later and I was facing the

notorious Tower Gap, the last difficulty on the Tower Ridge route with the summit of Ben Nevis practi-

cally in sight! This was the last day of a trip with my climbing club spent on the mountain. We had

been staying at the CIC Hut, which is situated about an hour’s walk from the closest car park high up

on Ben Nevis. This means that you’ve got to carry all your food and supplies in addition to the rest of

your climbing equipment. And it’s all uphill!

The CIC hut - home for the weekend.

sac scouts newsletter

From the Courtyard

feature of the month

WINTER IS COMING

Issue 89

October 2014

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From the

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Issue 89

October 2014

What this means is that you’re then only about half an hour’s walk from most of the climbing on Ben Ne-

vis itself. If only the weather permits. We managed one climb on the Friday evening before the weather

closed, leaving us to take our rucksacks out for a stroll in the snow on Saturday! Keen to get something

out of the trip, everybody was hoping for a clean break in the weather for Sunday. And we were in for a

treat.

After a slightly dubious start to the day, we decided that the only safe route would be Tower Ridge, one of

the classic routes on the mountain, which takes you all the way to the summit of Ben Nevis practically

from the doorstep of the hut. After 600m of climbing. We set off in a team of three, myself leading the

way, followed by Lewis and Tim. (Worth pointing out that I was in front simply as I was told in no uncer-

tain terms that being the youngest it was only fitting that I broke trail through all the fresh snow!)

Deep snow for breakfast.

After the first hour or so, we slowly realised that the wind had died down, and this rare orange disc called

The Sun was making an appearance. As some of the photos can attest, the result was absolutely awe-

some. We climbed on, pleased with ourselves for having pressed on, and I’ll let the next couple of photos

speak for themselves. The snow was great (not too mushy, not too hard), the conditions were excellent

and all in all a grand day out. We pressed on, getting closer and closer to the summit

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From the

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Issue 89

October 2014

Yepp, that's where we go.

Just savouring the view.

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Finally it was my turn to be in front, within sight of the summit, I had to step through Tower Gap, which is

a little cleft in the ridge, preceded by a narrow ‘saddle’ to get to it. After much pondering and oohing and

aahing, the result wasn’t elegant, but it got me there. One final push, and we were finally on top. And it

was worth it.

You could practically spit at the summit – just Tower Gap in the way. Inset shows one way

of getting there.

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From the

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Issue 89

October 2014

Apart from the buzz of having gotten to the highest point on the British Isles, the scene from up there on a

day like that was priceless. You could see for miles the landscape of snow covered peaks as far as the eye

could see, and in the stillness of it all – I could hear the waterfall from the valley below!

A very happy Malteser on the summit of Ben Nevis yey!

After a full day out on the mountain, it was another hour of climbing down to the hut, and then another

hour walk back to the car. After a five hour drive back, I finally got home at two am on Sunday night. The

next morning at the office, I was a barely functioning zombie sitting in front of my computer. As my col-

leagues trickled in and talked about their weekend spent doing DIY round the house, I couldn’t help but

smile. I had been somewhere awesome.

Sitting here in the North of England writing this in my dinosaur pyjamas, steaming cup of tea, rain outside

and temperatures well within the range which I would call ‘cold’ I can’t help but look forward to the next

season of mountain action. Most of the time you’d be cold and generally miserable, but for those mo-

ments at the top…I will take the cold. Looking outside, winter is coming.

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From the

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Issue 89

October 2014

The view on the way down. All photos were taken by either Tim Hakim or Lewis Preston –

all credit to them for the scenes.

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From the

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Issue 89

October 2014 G

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Ninety-Eight

Last 16th October was our Group's Official 98th birthday. I am sure that this must have gone un-

noticed by most of you but we are doing our best to ensure that the 100th anniversary will not

go unnoticed in two years time. A special committee will be set up to organise the events to cele-

brate this event in order to ensure that we celebrate 100 years of continued and uninterrupted

service.

HQ update

Some of you may be wondering what has happened to the planned works at our HQ. I assure all

members and parents that we are doing our best to get things done properly and November will

be a busy month where progress will be registered in the courtyard. The project for the new roof

is being planned for next January if we manage to secure enough funds to get the project started

and finished at one go as we cannot afford to start stop this initiative based on funds generated.

Activities

Settling down after summer camp took some time and things and equipment are finally back in

place although our HQ never seems to be in order for some reason or another.

A number of activities have taken place this month and I am sure you will read about them in the

following pages. We are also currently planning our usual annual trip to Gozo for the Bulwark

Shield on November 8th to the 9th. Scouts and Ventures will be participating in a two day expe-

dition around Gozo where they will get to actually implement the scouting skills they learn during

the year.

A number of Rovers will be also participating in the Remembrance parade in Floriana on Novem-

ber 9th representing our Group as part of the Scout Association of Malta Contingent.

Annual General Meeting

We are planning to organise our annual general meeting for parents and members during Janu-

ary 2015. The date will be confirmed in the near future. In the meantime we encourage all mem-

bers to get their uniforms ready by then. Please ask your respective section leaders about what

you should buy and from where you should get it.

Thanks

Finally, I would like to thanks parents for all the support and assistance they give us during the

year be it financial or by being there when needed. You make our scouting life easier and

strengthen our determination to carry on.

GSL’s note

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From the

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Issue 89

October 2014 Fro

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Hiking is definitely the ‘pezzo forte’ of our Scout Group. This month’s newsletter surely is proof of that. So

there is no surprise in reading that decades after having moved on from the Group ,our Ex-Scouts are still

fond of this activity. Ex VSL Alexander Borg explains why these fully grown adults left the perfect comfort

of their sofas to brave the elements in good company and tradition.

We don’t physically carry the official SAC banner, since most of us are no longer an official part of the

Group. Our uniforms have long faded and are lying somewhere in a drawer filled with scouting memora-

bilia. It is highly unlikely that any of us can get into the scouting kit that we used to wear during parades

and activities when we were in our teens and twenties! However, we do consider ourselves St Aloysius

Scouts, and that’s what we call ourselves when friends, relatives and colleagues wonder why we leave the

comfort of our homes every October to go on our yearly expedition to Gozo. We are the ex-cubs, scouts,

ventures and rovers, and I like to call us “SAC Veterans”. And the SAC banner is still proudly fluttering in

our hearts.

We’ve kept this going, without gaps, since we were an active part of the group in the late 90s. Living

abroad, work and family commitments have not stopped us from attending. Every October we hike

around Gozo for 4 days and 3 nights, camping at a few expertly selected spots which, by now, we know

very well. The route varies slightly each year. Sounds repetitive? Not at all! Each year brings new experi-

ences. We always meet some interesting characters. And who can ever get bored of the Gozitan country-

side and villages? Especially when the hot weather has turned milder and the fields don that lush green

coating that is breath-taking to look at.

Day 1: Near Hondoq ir-Rummien. From left to right, Mark Cassola, Stephen Coppini, Vladimiro Comodini

(seated), Alexander Borg, Trevor Schembri, Stephen Spiteri Staines (seated). Note the remains of yester-

day’s meal in the foreground!

SAC VETERANS EXPEDITION

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The route is planned weeks before, and Stephen Spiteri Staines sends us a Google Maps route by e-mail.

We team up as “buddies”… groups of 2 or 3 people who share the weight of tents and food, share the

same pots and stove, and prepare their own menus. Buddies are also established ahead of the event, al-

though most of us stick to the same group, like a marriage which has stood the test of time.

This year, we met on Thursday 30th October and took the ferry to Mgarr. The “advance party” consisted of

Trevor Schembri, Mark Cassola, Alex Borg and Stephen Coppini. According to the metaphorical coin flip

from a few weeks before, we started walking anti-clockwise along the coast. Our first night was in a field

near Hondoq ir-Rummien. We waited for the “kaccatturi” to stop their infernal massacre, and then

pitched our tents and cooked our meals. We were later joined by Vladimiro Comodini and Stephen Spiteri

Staines. Short spells of rain did not dampen our spirits, although there was a respectable downpour dur-

ing the night.

Day 2: Leaving Ramla. From left to right: Stephen Coppini, Vincent Micallef, Stephen Spiteri Staines, Mark

Cassola, Alexander Borg, Reuben Xuereb, Andrea Gera de Petri, Johann Bellizzi. Behold the view!

The following day we walked through Qala and Nadur to reach our “secret” campsite at Ramla. Ruben

Xuereb and Andrea Gera de Petri joined us at Nadur, while Johann Bellizzi met us at Ramla. Vincent Mi-

callef, Mark Busuttil and Kevin Alamango came to swell our ranks during the night. The weather was kind

and we had no nasty encounters. The perennial threat is from “kaccatturi” and farmers who claim to own

the land we’re camping on…we do our best to keep a low profile! A massive campfire kept us warm

throughout the night. Johann Bellizzi gave us a professional fire juggling display.

SAC VETERANS EXPEDITION

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Saturday morning breakfast was soon followed by an arduous climb up to Calypso cave. Then followed a

most pleasant walk to Marsalforn. We stopped at a restaurant to pig out on pizza. Hiking is hard work and

we need the calories! The final leg of the day was a most scenic walk along the Qbajjar coastline on our

way to camp in the shadow of the Gordan lighthouse. Although there was the threat of wind, which can

ruin plans as much as heavy rain, the weather had settled down nicely and the evening was most enjoy-

able. And in case you’re wondering what a bunch of 40-plus-year-olds do in the middle of a field in pitch

darkness…well, we just do what all scouts do – we cook, eat, compete on who cooks the best meal, joke,

chat, play music, sing and feel pretty grateful for the company of friends and beautiful surroundings.

Day 3: Tal-Gordan campsite. Boys will be boys. From left to right: Trevor Schembri, Mark Cassola, Reuben

Xuereb, Alexander Borg (lying down), Stephen Coppini, Vladimiro Comodini, Vincent Micallef, Andrea Gera

de Petri, Johann Bellizzi

The early hours of Sunday morning brought the inevitable “kaccattur” who came to complain about our

presence on “his” land. We followed our well-rehearsed script, said sorry and we’re leaving soon, thank

you. We made our way to Mgarr Harbour, and parted. And that was it for this year. We had families,

work and a shower to get back to, and some us had a flight to catch over the next few days to take us

back to our overseas homes. But we took back memories of a wonderful expedition, embellished by great

weather and a good catching up with old friends. I will conclude by saying to younger scouts that I wish

your time in scouting proves to be an opportunity to form everlasting bonds with friends, as it has for us.

Never let the pressures of work and study take this away from you, and cherish every moment you spend

with your fellow scouts. If you do so, although life may take you in unexpected directions, you will never

fail to look back at these times as a precious gift.

SAC VETERANS EXPEDITION

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Written by Rikki-Tikki-Tavi—Joanna Camilleri Ellul

Cleaning of Cub room

During the month of October cub leaders decided to give the Cub Room a thorough cleaning and reor-

ganisation. The storage cupboards were emptied and several things which were not needed were thrown

away, while things which are still needed were stored away neatly while an inventory was drawn up. All

the books which were found in the cub room were placed in a new unit with glass doors and these will

eventually be sorted and organised logically. Other items which do not belong to the Cub section were

either stored in the other cupboards or storage areas in the room or given to their respective sections.

The files with the documents, application forms, past circulars and resources of the Cub section have also

been revised and updated.

Work on the Cub Room is expected to continue in the coming weeks so that it may once again be used by

the Cubs now that the winter months are drawing in.

Cubs Halloween Party

On Wednesday 29th October the Cub section had

their annual Halloween party organised at the SAC

Headquarters.

Cubs were invited to attend in their Halloween cos-

tumes and cubs turned up in a variety of scary cos-

tumes including zombies, ghosts, skeletons, vam-

pires and wizards.

The party consisted of a variety of Halloween-

themed games and activities. The cubs were divided

into different groups and once the party started

each group could participate in any of the games or

activities that were available. The games and activi-

ties included eyeball throwing, shrinking island,

wrap the mummy, witch washing, Halloween cor-

ners, Halloween ship racing, and climb the web. The

cubs also had an activity of trick or treat. The cubs

also had a food station where they could eat and

drink between taking part in the various activities.

Accompanying the there were fantastic muffins and

cakes prepared specially for the occasion by some

parents.

CUBS HALLOWEEN PARTY

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Chocolate making was definitely the highlight of the event. Cubs

were given the opportunity to make chocolates by pouring

melted chocolate into Halloween themed moulds after which

they were given the opportunity to decorate the chocolates

once they had cooled down.

At the end of the party the cubs were given a pack to take with

them with the chocolate moulds they had made.

We would like to thank all the people including parents, friends

and Rovers who offered their help on the day so that this even

could be a success.

CUBS HALLOWEEN PARTY

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Operation Bulwark Shield, our annual 2 day expedition in Gozo was this year postponed due to the freak

‘Medi-cane’ or Mediterranean hurricane which struck the island with terribly strong winds and storms.

Keeping in mind the Scout Association’s

policies of risk assessment and basing on

inconclusive weather reports, it was un-

fortunately decided to postpone the ex-

pedition, which is considered to be the

highlight of the scouting year for the

Troop, to a later date this or next year.

Waiting till the last minute to decide the

fate of the activity, the decision was

taken at 6am on the day after having

established that although Gozo Channel

would be operational, the trip across to

Gozo would have been very uncomfort-

able if not dangerous.

Notwithstanding all this, the major factor which led to this decision was the number of dropouts on the

eve of the event. Whilst we completely understand the concerns for safety, one must also appreciate that

as a scout group we always keep the safety of our members and leaders at the highest point of impor-

tance while balancing it out with adventure, fun and learning.

At the same time, scouts must also understand that even though this expedition might sound like a daunt-

ing feat, hiding away from it will not make life any easier. On the contrary, participating in certain ‘hard‘

activities will strengthen your endurance and character and prepare you for life’s real challenges, which

you can’t choose not to attend!

BULWARK POSTPONED

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As the fields start getting greener and the days get

cooler, there’s no better way to spend a Sunday af-

ternoon than in the countryside away from the ur-

ban areas we spend our lives in.

With this in mind, our AVSL Isaac took us on a hike in

one of the most remote areas of the island. This hike

started and finished at the Paradise Bay car park and

took us around the tip of Malta’s ‘tail’.

From the photos one can see that this was a very ad-

venturous walk in an area seldom visited by people.

In the first part of our trek, under the cliffs we had to

climb over, under and in between huge boulders, we

found a sizeable natural rain water pond and some

interesting rock formations. No wildlife was seen un-

fortunately, although we did find a few skeletons of

dead birds. We carried on until we reached the sea

and figured out that the only way out was to head

up. Fortunately, close by there was a way out so we

climbed up towards a rock cut staircase which must

have been used by fishermen in times gone by.

WINTER HIKING

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Once we reached the top of the cliff, the view was breathtaking (or maybe we had lost our breath on our

way up!) so we stopped to have our packed lunches to regain those calories we had used up. Following

the trail ahead of us, we walked on towards Qammiegh Point. Along the way we observed various illegal

manmade dwellings and wondered at how smart these people are, to build their little houses in such a

beautiful and peaceful place.

Next, we lounged along the road towards the Red Tower however this was boring, so instead, upon reach-

ing one of the wartime pillboxes on the ridge, we cut down into the valley through the countryside and

followed some farmers’ paths in a general direction towards Paradise Bay car park which we could see up

ahead. Soon enough we got there and the hike was brought to an end. We all headed off to the nearest

ice-cream kiosk to celebrate the day’s event which, although being a relatively short hike and activity was

thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended and also proved to be somewhat educational for most of us who

had never visited this part of the island.

Andre Brincat—VSL

WINTER HIKING

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LAN PARTY 2.0—Liam Curmi De Gray

The Rover committee planned to have our yearly Lan Party. After our great experience first time round

(and annihilation by a specific person) it was decided to give it another go. This time round we included an

extra game instead of just one. The second game of instalment was called Flatout 2 which is not your typi-

cal racing car game. Sure, it included races but the fun of it was that we could totally destroy each other’s

cars. We ended up playing mostly derby which is the game setting where last man standing wins. The

races were pointless because it was the first two competing for first place whilst the others were a lap be-

hind. Sadly we only played a total of three hours of this game.

The majority of people who came only wanted to play our last year’s game which was Call of Duty 2. This

is where people started getting serious, improvising tactics, being a total annoying camper, teamwork and

just being a noob (Gaming term where you have no idea how to play and just get destroyed by the other

team). We kept on playing this game for a total of nine hours filled with rage inducing curse word and the

typical gloating where one team completely walks their way to victory. Call of Duty 2 has many different

types of game mode, there are; Free-for-all , where it’s every man’s for himself killing everyone as much

as they can. Team Deathmatch, where two teams compete each other and win who kills the most. Finally,

Search and Destroy where there are two teams and the only way to win is that you manage to kill every-

one in that round or else manage to plant a bomb in the specific place and allow it to detonate. It’s a De-

fence versus Aggressive game, where one team has the bomb and try and detonate it while the defending

team try and kill all the aggressive team. Even a 3 – 1 match was close with our reining superior Lewis with

his fully decked up gaming computer versus 3 laptops.

Like last time, we stayed in the Troop room to have our party on. The people who showed up were David,

Matthew (Meli) , Liam , Lewis , Albert , Simon and Emma doing her own weaving hobby. We all met at HQ

at 9am and people came later till 9;30pm , a total of twelve hours playing ,swearing and piss breaks. Like

last time it was very enjoyable and I hope we do another one soon. But not COD 2 , I’m getting pretty sick

of that from our last Lan party.

ST MARTIN’S COLLEGE RAFTING—Albert Galea

The St. Martin’s Raft-Building activity has become something of a tradition for our group as time and time

again we have been asked to organise this fun day out for the new St. Martin’s sixth-formers. This year

was no different. Our plan was to arrive there, organise some simple command tasks as ice-breakers and

then to split the group up into 2 teams and assist them in building a raft each.

Sadly, due to transportation issues, our planning got thrown into turmoil and we had to scrap the com-

mand tasks from the programme. Instead we built only the rafts which were made up of 4 barrels one

either end, connected in between by 2 joint 4 metre spars. This hence created a surface area big enough

for the majority of the big group to fit onto.

The rafts were launched at around 11:30am and even though a lot of the students took to the water, eve-

rybody still had great fun!

ROVERS REPORTING..