Fun camp for special Scouts

Participants painting batik at the 14th Penang Cheshire Agoonoree at Penang Water Sport Recreation Centre in Tanjung Bungah, Penang. ― Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star

FIFTY-one special Scouts had a whale of a time taking part in station games with their able counterparts during the 14th Penang Cheshire Agoonoree.

The five-day camping programme was attended by 118 participants joined by

special Scouts from the Penang Cheshire Home, School for Mentally Retarded Children, SK Pendidikan Khas Jalan Hutton, the Cerebral Palsy (Spastic) Children’s Association of Penang and the Penang Special Children Centre.

Wheelchair-bound Lim Chun Tian guided by a volunteer while playing paintball.

Among the activities were backwoods cooking, paintball, tug-of-war and canoeing.

The special Scouts, aged between 10 and 58, also visited the Audi Dream Farm, Penang Aquarium, Snake Temple, Entopia, Penang Gold Museum, Penang Science Cluster and enjoyed a ‘night walk’ with Friends of Penang Botanical Gardens Society.

Participants and volunteers playing bubbles at the camp

Event organiser Veronica Pau Mei Ling, 52, thanked the Scouts from SMK Jalan Damai in Bukit Mertajam for volunteering at the Agoonoree each year since 2006.

“It is not easy to handle individuals with special needs but we are happy that the Scouts from SMK Jalan Damai return to help us every year,” she said at Penang Water Sport Recreation Centre in Tanjung Bungah.

Special Scout Ng Suan Yen, 47, was seen happily blowing bubbles.

“This is so fun!” she said.

The Special Scouts were paired up with regular scouts while canoeing at Penang Water Sport Recreation Centre..

Being on a wheelchair did not stop Lim Chun Tian from playing paintball with the help of the volunteers.

“I am very happy to be here. The volunteers are very nice as they helped me to play paintball which was new to me,” she said, adding that this was the second time she attended the camp.

Another special Scout Seetha Pandian, 20, participated in a tug-of-war game assisted by Pau.

Participants painting batik at the 14th Penang Cheshire Agoonoree at Penang Water Sport Recreation Centre in Tanjung Bungah, Penang. 

Penang Cheshire Home president Datuk Seri Khoo Keat said the theme for this year’s Agoonoree was ‘adventure, culture and friendship’.

“Show what you are capable of and have fun, and treasure all the sweet memories,” he said.

Also present were city councillor Connie Tan who represented Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari, Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee, district Scouts Commissioner of George Town (South) Oi Siou Hean and state Scouts Commissioner Zulkafli Kamaruddin.