Farewell Bridgette

Bridgette Kou Fraser

Bridgette passed away on Monday 2nd of June
after a short and courageous fight against cancer.

Bridgette followed her older sister to our Group starting Keas early at the age of 5 – there was going to be no stopping her being involved. She progressed on to Cubs becoming a Six Leader. By all accounts she did not become a Six Leader because it was her turn; she was a Six Leader because she was a leader, and a good one with well rounded leadership qualities displaying everything from leading the way by giving it a go herself, to the people skills.

In 2007 she was awarded our Groups Cub Award; this award recognized her standard of uniform, her attendance and her badge work achievements.

Unfortunately Bridgette was recently diagnosed with an inoperable tumor and given six months to live. It very quickly impacted on her motor skills, thus adding to the challenge of simply dealing with the treatment that goes with cancers.

In her time of good health she attended what must have been most section or Group activities (and in our Group that is no small number of activities). Bridgette has supported the local community through the annual ANZAC parades, the Lions Santa Parades, Lions book sales as well as the Kea and Cub days, local district and group camps, travelled with us to various regattas and events as well as our many Group activities. And she still carried on through the last six months when health would allow.

Of particular recent note was her active participation in the filming undertaken by Tumanako Productions with our Keas and Cubs demonstrating a variety of water activities (sailing, rowing, canoeing, swimming and at play in the water) to create a short film to promote water safety and water activities for young Maori children. This aired on Maori TV on March this year as part of the Miharo series.

I noted at our recent Group family boating days, the way our Scouts looked out for her and despite being practically wheel chair bound still took her out sailing with them. Our Scouts wanted to be with this Cub and her family to support her – and this I believe is a reflection on Bridgette and the impact she has made on so many.

New Lynn is large and strong family focused group (with around 100 youth members) and I know that her passing will leave a lasting legacy for our members throughout our Group. I can but thank her for sharing so much of her short time with us, I thank her for the positive impacts she has made on so many and can only wonder at what we have missed out on through her loss. Bridgette will long be remembered.

Andrew Stevens
Scout/Group Leader

Last month Bridgette was presented with the Cornwell Award by Scouting New Zealand.
In New Zealand only ten awards have ever been made.
It is awarded for ‘Courage and Outstanding Character’.