Honoured for service to Scouting

From left, Gordon O’Neill, Kerry Hudson, Tony Bartlett and Iain McInnes with certificates marking their combined 90 years of volunteering service to Scouts Aotearoa. Picture supplied

Many years of leadership in Scouting were marked with the presentation of service awards at the Tainui Sea Scouts and Mangapapa Land Scouts end-of- year event.

In true Scout style, a group of Venturers (14-18 years) took to the Waimata River and cooked up a successful meal with a small fire they had made on a pontoon raft, while the Scouts got out their kayaks and joined in on the adventure.

As part of the combined evening event, the Venturers presented several leaders with service awards from Scouting NZ.

Iain McInnes received his 10-year award, Kerry Hudson 15 years, Gordon O’Neill 20 years and Tony Bartlett 45 years of service.   The combination of 90 years of volunteer scouting leadership led to an impromptu “Bravo” call-out of congratulations from their troops.

“It was nice to be recognised because you do put a lot of time in,” Mr McInnes said. “Everyone is strapped for time these days.  But what’s really satisfying is seeing the youths develop, arriving shy and quiet and before too long you’re hoping they will shut up,” he laughed.

“They gain a lot of confidence and I got a lot out of it growing up. Now my own three kids are involved.”

Mr McInnes  said it was also good for non-sporty kids, with its “active recreation”, doing outdoors activities such as lighting fires and camping as a group.

Soon thousands of Scouts will converge on Mystery Creek in the Waikato for the eight-day Scout Jamboree. Five Scouts and two leaders from Tainui Sea Scouts and Mangapapa Land Scouts will be travelling there this year.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet other Scouts from across the country,” Mr McInnes said.

This is the 23rd Aotearoa New Zealand Scout Jamboree. Among the many activities over the eight days there will be abseiling, camping, water activities and community service.

“It’s really good for personal development.” Mr McInnes said.

While they have been fortunate to have such committed leaders, Mr Hudson and Mr O’Neill are taking a step back next year, so the groups are looking for more leaders to help share the work.

Anyone interested in becoming a scout leader can register their interest on the Scouts Aotearoa website or alternatively Mangapapa Land Scouts have their own Facebook page.