The Chief Scout Commendation - Ronan Sutcliffe

By Mark Russell | Posted: Thursday August 30, 2018

"He dragged the spluttering youngster out from under the water in the lazy river and carried him out.

On the 11th of July Ronan Sutcliffe in Room 9 saved a toddler from drowning at the new Taiora QEII Recreation and Sport Centre. He dragged the spluttering youngster from under the water in the lazy river and carried him out. The wee boy's dad was looking for him and was super relieved.

Steve Macmanus  got to be part of presenting The Chief Scout Commendation to Ronan. Steve wrote "I don’t know that he understands right now how big a deal it is that he did what was right at the time it mattered. But we really appreciate him. Presentation message (with apologies for borrowing from a movie).

"Four or five moments, that’s all it takes. To be a hero. Everyone thinks it’s a full-time job. Wake up a hero. Brush your teeth a hero. Go to work a hero. Not true. Over a lifetime, there lare only 4 or 5 moments that really matter. Moments when you’re offered a choice. To make a sacrifice, conquer a flaw, save a friend… spare an enemy. In these moments, everything else falls away.

This commendation is rarely issued (less than one a year in New Zealand) and represents meritorious behaviour in a Scout. 

He has received congratulations from Scouts around the world:

• "You are a true Scout Ronan. Many congratulations from 13th Ipswich Sea Scouts in Suffolk, England"
  
• "Outstanding! Well done from all at 1st Lostock Scout Group in Detroit, Michigan, USA"
  
• "The sort of person who saves a drowning child does it from instinct. He doesn't examine what will I achieve if I save this person, they only act" - Hamesley Scout Group in Warwick, Western Australia"
  

He did the right thing. He is a hero. Well done Ronan."