Above (L-R): Billy Collins, Scoutleader 7th Waterford; Martin Burbidge, Chief Scout; Maurice Kavanagh, Chief Scout Award Recipient and David Rogers, Group Leader.

 

The annual Group Christmas mass was held on Saturday 17th December in the De La Salle College Chapel. There were a number of presentations made during the ceremony most notably to Maurice Kavanagh of the De La Salle Venture Scouts and formally of the 7th Scout Troop who was presented with his Chief Scout’s Award by Martin Burbidge. The Chief Scout spoke of the exceptional detail and quality of Maurice’s project on the law and congratulated Maurice on achieving the highest award which youth members in the association can achieve. Maurice was congratulated by the entire group as well as his family and former leaders.

Above: Cian O’hOgartaigh receives his award from the Chief Scout, Martin Burbidge.

Other awards included a special presentation to of the 3rd Scout Troop who was one of the winners in the 2005 County Mountain Pursuit Challenge photo competition sponsored by Altitude.  Cian took the prize for the photo of a goat after his impressive endeavours up the steep gully at Foill an Priosun to take the shot. Colm Ennis of the 3rd Scout Troop was also presented with his 10 year service award as well as a Bronze Medal of Merit.  Ray Smith of the 3rd Beavers was presented with his 20 year service medal. Group Leader, David Rogers congratulated all those who had received awards and thanked all of the group’s members and supporters for their hard work in the past twelve months.  He spoke of the challenges that lie ahead in the next 12 months including securing the group’s future with a new scout den.

A Peace Light which had began its journey in Bethlehem was also present at the ceremony. The light with us had travelled by railway through middle Europe to Paris then on to Calais, over the English Channel to Dover, up through England to Scotland, where it was collected by Scouts from Derry and carried by Ferry to Larne, then taken by road to Dublin and on to us here in Waterford.