EVERYTHING SHIP SHAPE AT SEA SCOUTS AWARDS DAY
EVERYTHING was ship shape at the 52nd AGM and awards night for the 1st Wexford New Ross Sea Scouts last Wednesday night.
Scouts, parents, friends and special guests were welcomed to the scout hall in Marsh Lane by group leader Alex Kelly.
Sea Scout Mairead Royce led the group in the scout promise before Phil Croarkin summarised activities of the youngest section the beaver scouts, including visits to Wells House, Kennedy Park, Kelly’s Wood, Lacken and Ballykelly with orienteering, kayaking, hiking and fire-pit dinners.
Tom Geoghegan described the cub scouts’ adventures including camping in Piercestown, Ballykelly and the National Heritage Park, a visit to Tramore lifeboat station, fishing in Oaklands, celebrating world orienteering day and surviving Junior Hell and Back.
Sarah Meehan then described the sea scouts’ ten camps this year in Lacken, Graig, Lough Dan, Ballykelly, St. Mullins, Comeraghs, the Sionnach survival weekend and the group’s triathlon. Following a winter maintenance programme, the group also sailed, rowed or kayaked every weekend on the River Barrow.
Sarah highlighted reunions with other groups, joint activities and camps and the first ever visit to New Ross by the Chief Scout for the group’s Founder’s Day in February, which was attended by almost 300 scouts.
Retiring cub leader Mary Kavanagh received a presentation in appreciation for her many years’ service to the group and her commitment and energy to the cub scouts in particular. Presentations were also made to Chris and Eva Kelly for facilitating weekly boating activities, mooring the group’s boats and making boats and equipment available to the group over the years.
Eva praised the sea scouts and ventures as exceptional young people.
Following a year long preparation, County Commissioner Dano O’Leary presented sea scout Eve Maher with her Cub Chief Scout Award. County Trainer Caoimhin O’Byrne presented leaders Mark Deegan, Breda Mackey and Alex Kelly with their wood beads as part of their leader training.
Orla Murphy and Saoirse O’Connor Roche received special neckerchiefs for their help with the beaver section.
County Commissioner Dano O’Leary then invested new beaver, cub and sea scouts into the group. Beavers, sea and venture scouts received badges for progression in the programme and the cub scouts received certificates for their 20km hike.
Group leader Alex Kelly acknowledged support from Waterways Ireland, the Education and Training Board and Wexford County Council’s Sports Active in running the triathlon and investing in more group equipment.
Next year the cub scouts are planning a camp in the new International Outdoor Adventure Centre recently opened in Tagoat.
The group is also joining other sea scouts to travel to an International sea scout camp in Holland next August with 10,000 sea scouts attending.
The sea scout group are also looking for brave volunteers for another parachute jump next year to raise funds for a much needed boat shed for the group.