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Joy Merryweather Smith recently received her 50 years of service to the Scout Movement! Joy is known in the Western Cape Scouting Community for her endless enthusiasm and passion for child development. We sat down with Joy to find out what drives her to serve.
“My Scout journey started when I was 13 years old as a Scout instructor! When I was 7,5 years old, I became a Brownie at 2nd St Barnabas, I went up to Guides when I was 11 years old and by the time I was 13 I was volunteering for 1st Rosebank Scout Group. It all started when one of our Guide Leaders, who also volunteered with the Scout Group, asked us to help at a camp one Saturday morning. After that, I was hooked and came back every Saturday for many years. I was also a Brownies instructor at that time. I’ve really loved it! Guiding and Scouting are really a true passion,” she says with a chuckle.
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“I loved being a Guide but was never able to get the top award as when I was 16 the group closed due to a lack of leaders. I continued as an instructor and so was able to feed my Scouting passion. When I was 18, Rene Hall’s from 9th Cape Town reached out as they needed a Pack Scouter. That is when my leadership in Scouting started. I absolutely loved it! I met my first husband Peter who was an Assistant Pack Scouter at 1st Rosebank and he had previously been a Scouter at 1st Claremont. We both shared a love for Scouting, for youth development and the outdoors. When he stepped down as a volunteer, he stepped into the Committee at 9th Cape Town, so it really was a family affair.”
Joy has three children: Sally, Nicholas, and Andrew. “When Sally was three we moved to Rondebosch. When I heard that the 6th Rondebosch Pack Scouter had left it made sense to step into that role as the Hall was so close to our home. At that time, I was running both Packs which was easy as they run on different days and I could use the same programmes. The children and the dynamics are very different, so the programmes end up feeling very different each time. I really love the rush I get every time! In Scouting you can just be yourself – both as an adult leader and as a young child. Life and school are so competitive. There is always that underlying feeling that you need to keep up, excel or stand out in something. Within the Cubs, that is not the case. You just need to turn up and do your own best. Everyone has their own best and that is okay. People don’t judge. And let’s be honest, children just want to learn something new, have fun and be around their friends. It really is a happy environment!”
Clothes can be washed, memories stay with us forever.
Over the years Joy has stepped up to help with multiple Scout Groups as Pack and Den Scouter. “During Covid we continued to run meetings virtually to stay in touch with our Cubs and their families. We could not run standard programmes, but we played games and did badges together. It was fun. I think this is what kept 6th Rondebosch and 9th Cape Town going. Sadly, 3rd Claremont struggled with this as all of their Cubs are from the South Africa College (SACS). Given the long history with SACS, we are now working with the school to revive the Scout Group and give their learners the opportunity to thrive through Scouting.“ Asked how she manages to juggle being a kindergarten teacher with her volunteer roles in Scouting, she starts laughing and says: “I love it! It is pure joy for me. Before the meeting I put on my ‘feel good suit’ (uniform) and Scout scarf and the emotions of the day fade and only excitement and eagerness to serve and have fun with the Meerkats and Cubs are left.”
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Joy’s children haven’t followed her into adult leadership in Scouting, but her daughter Sally was a Brownie, and both her boys enjoyed their Cub adventures. Her second husband Clive was just as eager to allow her to continue with her Scouting journey and encouraged her in every way. Sadly, as he became ill, he would sit at Cubs and became known as ‘the guardian of the teddy bag’! “Over the years, the Cubs become like your own children. Seeing them thrive and their children join the Pack is just wonderful! When I look at Bevan as a Cub and who he is now, as the Scout Group Leader, or Aaron as a Troop Leader, I could just burst with pride! I have seen children join Scouting that were struggling to fit in and struggling to control their emotions and behaviours. To see where they started and the people they have become is just mind-blowing! I truly believe that every child should get the opportunity to do Scouting. It would make this world a better place for sure.
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My favourite things to do with my Cubs are wide games. I love playing games like duster hockey where the Cubs can run and play and have fun. Too often they need to sit still, be quiet, constrain their energy and emotions. So when they are at Cubs, I make sure to include activities where they can just be children, be loud, run and let out their energy. They need to have a place to play. Where possible I also take them to Keurboom Park. Truth be told, I ask them to wear wellies when we go as they will return muddy and wet. But clothes can be washed, memories stay with us forever.”
Scouting is not something that stayed in the Scout Hall for Joy. She purposefully included Scouting in the decisions made at home. “When my daughter was small, we bought a pram that would be suitable for Scouting. It was like a 4×4 pram with lots of storage. We brought her with us when we went camping. It was so much fun! I also remember camping in the Cederberg and my children were so young at the time but those are the memories we never forget. Personally, I have also grown through Scouting. I think I learned to be independent, I can do anything I set my mind too and have learned not to give up. Hang in their and do your best and it will work out.”
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Behind Joy’s never-ending optimism also lies deep gratitude for the people in the Movement who came to her family’s aid when her son Andrew was left wheel-chair bound after an assault. “They say angels step into your life when you need them the most and then step back when you can handle life again. I cannot describe the feeling of family, support, and generosity. We were in and out of the hospital and trying to find our feet, while the Scouters started a fund to help with the costs, and to this day a Scouting dad is mentoring Andrew. In times of need, the Scout family really does come together for each other. I have experienced it and it is so humbling.”
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At the recent Western Cape Adult Awards evening Joy received her 50-year Long Service Award. “Oh, it was amazing! I was so excited,” she exclaims. “It felt like I was on cloud nine. Scouting is such a passion of mine, it fills my soul. It is my happy place. I have never had a day that I did not want to go. So being rewarded for doing something I really love doing was so humbling but really lovely.”
So how long will she still be giving her service to Scouting? Joy bursts out laughing and says” I don’t think I have given enough hours yet! When I reach my limit, I will know. Young people need to be given a chance to get away from their screens and reconnect with nature, with themselves and others. I also think parents would benefit from giving their time. Perhaps they could volunteer for a term, just commit to one term of service as a parent helper. After that, if they want to continue, they could commit, put on their feel-good suit and have a lifetime of adventures. I have found some amazing people within the Groups I am serving. Watching them as adults and teens step up and make such a difference is so special as it means you’ve touched someone’s heart to serve. Scouting is not just about the programme and skills. It’s about so much more. It has given me strength and a story of a lifetime!”