Mayah and Moxie, photo supplied
Recently Lupine Knights Rovers Mayah Potgieter and Moxie Lombard received the SCOUTS SA Bronze Cross for Gallantry for saving a young girl from drowning. Today, Mayah and Moxie share how Scouting is full of fun twists and adventures, and how it prepares you for when the unexpected happens.
Mayah joined the Scout Movement as a Scout and has loved the adventure! “My Scout journey began in 2018 when I was 12 and had just started home-schooling. I was desperate to get out of the house, meet people and keep busy. My mom discovered 1st Margate Scout Group less than 20 minutes away, and one visit was all it took! I still remember that first meeting. The Scouts were making twists over the fire. I was worried that I’d be left out but everyone made such an effort to make sure I was included and also made such a mess of the twists! Some of the dough for the twists ended up meeting the floor personally leaving their twists with a lovely earthy flavour,” she laughs.
Mayah Potgieter, photo supplied
“Looking back, Scouting has taught me that I am far more capable than I give myself credit for, it gave me confidence as not only a leader and a Scout but as a person. It has also taught me that I can trust others, as anyone who knows me knows that my delegation abilities left much to be desired. I realised just how much I could achieve when I was busy with my Springbok badge. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I had dreamt of completing the badge since I had first joined. When I was actually doing it, I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to do it justice and let everyone down. The only thing keeping me going, other than my refusal to back down, was my Troop Scouters. They always had this confidence in me that never wavered. They so firmly believed in me and my abilities that it helped keep me going. It helped me step back from my insecurities and actually see me.”
Years later, that sense of belonging continued to shape her journey as a Rover with Lupine Knights Rover Crew. “I didn’t want to leave Scouting. It has been a huge part of my life and helped form the person I am today. I wanted to continue to learn and push myself. I also get to be surrounded by wonderful people I would have otherwise not met had I not continued my journey.”
For Moxie, this is where her Scouting journey began! “When I was 18, Mayah was working on her Springbok, and I began to hear all about Scouts and its intricacies. When she joined Rovers, she convinced me to join together,” she laughs. “I enjoy social interactions and fun activities, either indoors or outdoors, and the adventure and camaraderie I found in Rovering did not disappoint. One of my first adventures as a Rover was a day-hike in Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, we explored this beautiful plateau cliff over the river. On our way down we decided to dip into the river, hiking clothes and everything, to cool off the heat! What I have realised in my Crew is that you can be weird and be completely accepted for it. We also get opportunities to give back to the community and engage with peers, exchanging skills and knowledge.”
Rovers Moxie and Mayah, photo supplied
When not Scouting, both Mayah and Moxie study and work in the Agricultural Sector on organic farms and are avid surfers. Their surfing experience, combined with their Scouting First Aid skills, came in handy when their quick thinking and actions saved a young girl from drowning.
“Moxie and I had been helping at a surfing camp. There were 74 kids aged between 13 and 18, as well as 4 instructors. After initial training we had separated the kids into groups, greens were allowed to go in the water without specific instructors, orange only needed a bit of help and supervision, and red needed direct help and supervision. I was on the beach talking to another instructor when I saw Moxie rushing over to a girl who needed help. The girl she was helping had just moved from red to orange,” explains Mayah.
“A lot of the kids were on the beach eating lunch or relaxing because the waves had picked up and were too bowley for beginners, so I had some free time,” explains Moxie. “I had brought my boogie board and had just caught a wave when I saw a girl who was struggling to keep her chin above water, surfboard completely astray. She was gasping and asking for help so I paddled to her and pulled the surfboard closer by the leash, asking if she was okay as she held onto it. She didn’t respond to me. I figured it was from either heat-exhaustion or because it was right before lunchtime and didn’t have enough energy. I tried convincing her to lie on the board so I could help her get back to shore but she was not responding, so I gave her my boogie board instead since it’s easier to hold. We paddled back to shore, me constantly checking on her. As soon as we got to the shore she fainted. I rushed to her side and put her in the recovery position and called for help. Mayah came bolting down the beach to help.”
“As Moxie and I were helping her, camp leaders and a lifeguard came to help too,” continues Mayah. I kept talking to her to get her to wake up to no avail. I also periodically checked to make sure she was still breathing. One of the adults got the Voortrekkers Nurse on the phone, who asked us to take her to the nearby hospital. At this point she would wake up for a second convulse and then go unconscious again. The issue was that the car couldn’t get onto the beach, so we had to get her to the car. We used the lifeguard paddleboard as it had handles to carry her. We were quite worried about her and were very relieved that that evening when we received a message that she was alright. We also were able to visit her the next day. She said that she couldn’t remember anything about what happened and she was more upset that she wasn’t allowed to surf for the remainder of the camp due to her concussion,” explains Mayah.
When asked if she feels Scouting helped prepare her for that moment, she thinks and says: “Everything to do with First Aid and the situation I learnt thanks to Scouting and I couldn’t be more grateful. When I was doing my Springbok, I had to do a bunch of simulated first aid situations and to say that I would panic is an understatement. I would see that someone was “hurt” and my brain would be too quick for me to understand what I had to do even though I knew what to do. Then when I was met with the real situation, I felt surprisingly calm. That panic didn’t grip me the way it had before.”
Rover First Aid Training, supplied.
Moxie agrees, “I attended the Rovers First Aid course a month prior and had learnt the recovery position and HHHCAB, which helped in the initial faint. I felt so relieved in the moment to know how to use the recovery position and to check for hazards and call for help. When Mayah arrived, she started the CAB part: circulation, airway, breathing. I am eternally grateful that I went on that course, I would not have otherwise known what to do in the moment. I felt competent and confident in what I had to do. Looking back I realise that I can be calm in emergencies, keep my head down and keep going. The incident also taught me that you can have an impact, even if you’re not that experienced.”
SCOUTS South Africa’s Bronze Cross for Gallantry recognizes bravery, deliberate action, and selflessness in the face of danger. Mayah and Moxie both received the award for their actions earlier this year.
“Moxie and I didn’t even know it existed at the time. One of the Rovers had asked us to attend a prize giving in Durban so that there would be some Lupine Knights present. My old Troop Scouter had also asked me to bring my Springbok Award so that they could award it to me again. I now realise it was quite a smart ploy. So, when the award ceremony started and they started talking about these “amazing Scouts that saved a life”, I was so curious as to who they were and why I hadn’t heard of this before?” says Mayah with a grin.
Photo Supplied
Moxie jumps in as continues: “Mayah and I were confused with all the “coincidences” adding up: our parents showing up, people in fancy uniforms arriving – who later turned out to be the Voortrekkers, and Rhino our Adult Leader started talking about the award and two “special people”. As soon as we heard our names, we looked at each other with the widest saucer-eyes. I felt very flattered at seeing who was cheering for us and seeing the lengths they went to to make it happen. Two younger Scouts from another Troop came up to us and asked to take a picture with “The Heroes”, it made my heart melt completely.”
“I am so honoured that I was even considered for the award let alone received it, and it means the world to me to share it with Moxie,” continues Mayah. “I currently volunteer at 1st Margate Scouts and am looking forward to getting my Warrant so I can be a formal Adult Leader within the Group. I hope I can teach not only Scouts but others of what I’ve learnt and how it can help them. I hope that the Scouts and people around me learn to understand that they are so much more than what they give themselves credit for.”