Pinelands teen earns Springbok award

Pinelands teenager Malini Mistry received the prestigious Springbok award at the 1st Pinelands Scout Hall last Friday, March 28.

Malini,18, has been a member of 1st Pinelands Scout Group since she was 7. During the years she became a patrol leader at 14 and most recently a troop leader at 17.

As part of receiving her Springbok award, she had to finish various activities split into six theme badges which includes, adventure, living outdoors, service, scout skills, personal development and safety. 

For her service project she led 26 other scout members to renovate Salt River High earlier this year. Malini and her fellow scout members helped paint the teacher's lounge, paint the pond, and planted spekboom trees along the boundary fence of the school. She helped to raise over R3200 for this service project with support from her family, friends and scouts.

She and the scout members put in 40 hours of work over seven days towards the end of January and the beginning of February.

Salt River High principal Donavan Nicholas says his staff were grateful for the commitment and perseverance shown by the Pinelands scout team led by Malini. “Their dedication in this community work is admirable,” he says.

1st Pinelands Scout Group leader, Norman Davies says the Springbok award requirement is extremely demanding. "Every candidate is pushed out of their comfort zone by aspects of the requirements that initially seem beyond their capabilities. However, their prior training and experience in scout skills and leadership get them through such challenges." 

Mr Davies says they are proud of Malini's accomplishment. "She rose to such challenges with grit and fortitude to become the 50th Springbok Scout at the 1st Pinelands Scout Group," he says.

Malini is completing her A Levels at the Wingu Academy online school and is planning on studying conservation ecology or a similar degree at a university next year.