Scouts rewarded for hard work

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 20, 13 October 1987, Page 5

Scouts rewarded for hard work

Seven scouts and two scout masters of the Raetihi Scout Troop were honoured and presented with the Chief Scout's Commendation for Meritorious Conduct recently. The award was in recognition of their efforts in the initial and subsequent searches in 1985 for lost scout

John Brough and also for the safe exit of the rest of the group from Mount Ruapehu on 1 December 1985. The function was attended by the troop, their parents, cubs, Ohakune Police Sergeant Neil Coker representing Waimarino Search and Rescue, Raetihi Mayor

Garrick Workman and New Zealand Scout Association Zone Commissioner for the Central Region, Allan Davenport. Area Commissioner Keith Malcolm presented the awards to former Scout Master Ian Horne and Assistant Scout Master, Les Chandler (John's stepfather), who also received a Continued on P13

Scouts rewarded

Contd from P5 Scout medal. Assistant District Commissioner Ernie Cooksley presented certificates to the seven boys: Nigel McDonough, Glen Ritchfield, Garth Rogers, Douglas and Steven Sattler, Nathan and Mark Donghi. All recipients had, in recent months, also received a special fabric badge of merit to wear on their uniforms.

The actions of Scout Master Ian Horne who walked from Mangaturuturu Hut to raise the alarm and attempted to walk back again to rejoin the group, and Assistant Scout Master Les Chandler who brought the troop safely off the mountain in adverse weather conditions, were honoured once again. In his report on the tragic event, Mr Horne praised the scouts for the way they all pulled together "and kept their Scout promise of helping other people at all times." Mr Chandler's report recommended that all the boys involved be rewarded, "for pain, hardship and gallantry," for the ordeal that they went through in helping save the life of Scout Master Ian Horne who suffered from exposure during the search.