Extracts from the Annual Reviews 1993 to 1997

"In the Beginning...":

In September 1993, a new Venturer Group with eight members was formed in the De La Salle Unit. In the year that followed, an active and varied programme was followed which demonstrated to everyone what a Venturer Group could do when given the necessary leadership, enthusiasm and support. The group held weekends in Dundrum and Cobh, participated in rock climbing, canoeing, orienteering and mountaineering and became the first Venturer Group in the region to take part in the National Scout Show in Dublin. The "School Around the Corner" was an immense success at the show.

Above: The De La Salle Venturer Group in 1994 from L-R from Back Row: David White, Liam Power, John Hennebry, Jamie Farrell, Eoin Tobin, Michael Rowe, Christopher Mulligan, Mark McLoughlin, Roy Collins, Colm Ennis, Liam Flynn, Kenneth Whittle, Keith Cunningham, Paul O'Shea.

The most important activity of the year for the Group was the organisation of their own Group Expedition in Galway and Mayo. Six Venturers, led by John Hennebry spent a week touring and cycling in the West and they also spend a day at the Delphi Adventure Centre where they went canoeing and abseiling. The group were fortunate to have been able to hire a car for their gear for the week, with sponsorship from the V.E.C. The expedition was a huge success and was surely an important factor in the groups achievement of "Venturer Section of the year" at the Regional Mass in September 1994.

Above: The De La Salle Venturers perform "School Around the Corner" at the National Scout Show.

In 1995, the De La Salle Venturer Group were fortunate to have the chance to send a group on the Explorer Belt to Hungary. Before they went, Liam Power and Michael Rowe only knew which country they were going to. They didn't know which part, until they were dropped off a bus and had to start walking. The lads had to report to the expedition staff at regular intervals over the ten day hike. Enormous blisters, long roads, miles of sunflowers, fifteen projects and buying food in Hungarian all formed part of what the lads admit was probably the "experience" of their lives. In the end, the lads just missed out on the Belt, but their successful completion of the expedition and Liam and Michael returned in 1996 to the Explorer Belt in Wales for yet another gruelling two weeks and brought back the first belts to the Unit.

Above: Explorer Belt Award Recipients Liam Power and Michael Rowe.

In the scouting year, 1994\95, the De La Salle Venturer Group reached new heights. The numbers grew to twenty and the activities became more challenging and diverse. After having day trips to Wales and to Dublin to visit the navy flagship the L.E.Eithne, the group organised another very successful weekend in Dublin as well as a 'working' weekend in Faithlegg. Also, there were numerous trips to Laserworld, to Wacky Warriors, and to the Galtees , the Comeragh's and the Knockmealdowns.

Above: The Venturers at Laserworld in Tramore.

The group invited the Comeragh Mountaineering Club , the R.N.L.I and the Waterford Orienteering Club to give presentations to them as well as organising presentations on individual interests from the groups own members. One of the most successful activities of the year was canoeing, when fifteen members of the group took part in two canoeing courses which were held in Dunmore, Tramore and in Ballyscanlon. As a result there is now a majority of the group who are competent canoeists.

The crowning achievement of the year 1994/95 was our Group Expedition to London. Ten Venturers led by John Hennebry and John O'Donoghue (on loan from the Macaoimh) travelled to Gilwell park in London for eight days. During their time in London, the Group visited Wembley Stadium, the Tower of London, the Britain at War Museum and Oxford Street (three times!). The group travelled to Birmingham to visit Alton Towers, where the "Nemesis" - the worlds most intense rollercoaster experience was the order of the day.

Above: The DLS Venturers on their London Expedition 1995.

The lads also took part in the on-site activities like swimming in the outdoor heated pool, canoeing, archery and rifle practice. The Group also did its bit for European Unity when close links made with a group of Dutch Scouts with whom they also went on a day trip to London and miraculously (for a Venturer Group) organised two very successful campfires. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the week which had a good share of exciting episodes on the Tubes, bomb scares and nearly missed trains!!

"Wacky Warriors"

One of the main activities we participated in during 1996 was a Paintball Championship at Wacky warriors Indoor Paintball Arena in Waterford City. From a starting field of 36 and after many battles to to the near death and nerve wrecking playoffs we won our qualifying group and made it into the Quarter Finals. There we were knocked out (annihilated) but only because the other team could afford more paintballs! We also held a number of "Night Treks" which involved us all being blindfolded and dropped out of a car somewhere at different points on the backroads of Waterford and having to make our way back to a fixed point in teams of about 3. The important thing here is to ensure that the drivers in an attempt to lose the teams don't get lost themselves.

Above: Robert Windle, Colm Ennis and Liam Flynn at Glenbeigh during the Venturer Expedition 1996.

Another big event of the year was our Annual Expedition and this year we headed to Kerry. Our basecamp was at the Flesk campsite in Killarney and though we didn't get to stay at the Gleneagles Hotel we got use out of their Leisure Centre and Pitch and Putt Course. From Killarney we cycled to Cappanalea Outdoor Education Centre which is near Killorglin. We stayed there for two days and took part in orienteering, canoeing and mountaineering. The Camp was a great success for the group and it was the third year that Venturer Leader, John Hennebry had led us and put up with us on our Annual Expedition.

Above: The Venturers in the Macgillycuddy's Reeks.

Explorer Belt 1997

The basic elements of the Explorer Belt are a 10 day hike, covering 200 km, while living on a limited budget and completing a number of projects along the way. The aim of the Explorer Belt is to get to know a different culture from our own, and the method is to meet people from the country concerned and learn about their way of life, their traditions and customs.

The De La Salle Venturer Group have sent teams to the previous Explorer Belts in Wales and Hungary and this year it was the turn of Venturers Paul Hewetson and Fergus Moloney to represent the group. The lads are both former members of the 13th Waterford Scout Troop and live in the Lismore Heights area of Waterford City. In preparation for the Belt they had to fundraise to pay for their entry fee. They also had to embark on a gruelling training schedule which included walking, running, cycling and mountaineering. There was also a training weekend for all the participating teams from around the country at the start of July. There were 5 teams from the Waterford and South Kilkenny region of Scouting Ireland CSI taking part in the Belt in Slovenia that year and Liam Power who is an ASL with the 7th Scout Troop as well as being a Belt holder was part of the staff contingent on the event.

Fergus and Paul achieved the prestigious Explorer Belt as did the teams from Kilmacow and St.Pauls who were also taking part in the Belt.

Above: Group Leader, John Hennebry at Cappanalea.

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