Our history - Scouting since 1938

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St James Scout Group Highlights

The First Meeting was held on 30 June 1938 in St James Church Hall – The Group was originally formed as a land Scout Group. The scarf was blue with a yellow ribbon.

In 1955 the Group became Sea Scouts – during a Summer day the Scouts had a day rowing on the lake in Masterton. The leader “Skip” Markin was a boat builder so it seemed like a good idea.

1956 the original boatshed was built from old car packing cases and officially opened.  It was added to over the years.  The first standard cutter to be built by the Scouts was 39 “Southern Cross.  It was built in shed at the hall and then moved and launched at the opening. All the wooden boats were built by the Scouts.

1991 – St James won the total number of points at the 22nd National Regatta winning the Cornwall Shield that always goes with the Trident but for some reason the Trident went to Westshore – who brought the Trident to St James saying “we know you won it.”

1991 The current boatdeck was built and the Hall (the former Hospice) was moved to the present site

2017-2018 Regatta Season we won the St James Shield for the most points in the Lower North Island regattas.

St James Turns 80

In 2018 the group celebrated 80 years. The cake was cut by former member Roger Linkhorn, helped by one of our youngest members Tui Groom.

In line with our 80th birthday as St James Scout Group we had new Colours made and dedicated. Many thanks to Christine Freeman – who's sons were Scouts at St James.

Our new flag was commissioned for service. Derek Keatley , a long time Scout leader and recent recipient of Scouting’s Highest service award, the silver tui led the ceremony. The idea of a new flag was suggested by Venturers, Alex and Charles during our 80th celebrations. 

This is the fourth flag for our Group. The first was lost when St James Church burnt down in 1947. The second is a Union Jack, The third flag was presented by the Thomas family in 1953. 

The crest on our flag is the crest of St James Church where the group Started. It has symbols of St James on a background of the red and white shield of St George. There is a pilgrim’s hat and scallop shell which link to St James travelling to spread the Gospel to Spain. The sword is because he was the first of Jesus’s close friends to be killed.

Although our group no longer has any religious affiliation, St James was a fisherman so probably knew a lot about boats so he is a good patron saint for us as Sea Scouts.

100 Years of Sea Scouting

2010 was the 100th anniversary of the Sea Scout Branch of Scouting New Zealand

Sea Scouts started in England one year earlier by Warrington Baden-Powell, Lord Robert Baden-Powell's older brother, with an activity on board the Training Ship the Mercury from 7th - 21st August 1909. It was, if you like, the Sea Scout equivalent of Brownsea Island.

Source http://www.seascouts.org.nz/2009.htm

from 1979 Girls could join as Venturers and from 1989 in all sections of Sea Scouts 

LNI Sea Scout Regatta Results

2024 - 2025 Season

2024 - 2025 29th National Regatta - Overall Regatta Winners

St James attended this National Regatta in a combined contingent with Kotuku Sea Scouts. Kotuku - St James were overall regatta winners taking home the Robin Hood Memorial Clipper among other trophies. In a very unusual result, Kotuku - St James narrowly missed out on the Trident.

The two groups were successful together due to their complimentary strengths, sea scouting spirt, and stong positive team culture. This regatta was a transformative experience for youth and leaders alike. Lifelong friendships were born, and there will always be a special bond between the St James and Kotuku groups.

St James again recieved Naval Recognition.

2023 - 2024 Season

2018-2019 Season

Overall aggregate winners and placed in all events.

2017-2018 Season

BRAVO -St James Scouts, Venturers (and cub swimmers), leaders and parents we won the overall aggregate shield for the 2017-18 regatta season - the St James Shield.We have not won this for a number of years.

2018 Cutty Sark

1st Venturer sunburst, 1st Venturer Cutter, 1st Venturer rowing, 2nd Venturer seamanship, 2nd Venturer canoeing, 3rd Venturer iron-man, 3rd scout sunburst, 2nd scout cutter, 3rd scout rowing, 3rd scout seamanship and 1st caterpillar.

2017-2018 28th National Scout Regatta

1st Senior Lifesaving, 3rd Senior Cutter and 3rd Overall Senior Sailing and we gained Naval Recognition (Thanks to Chris for organising the paper work to apply for this - it is awarded to only 15 groups and over 80% must be achieved over a range of criteria). 7th placed overall (out of 18) in the regatta.

Onepoto Regatta 2017

1st Senior Rowing

1st Intermediate Rowing

1st Open Rowing

2nd Junior Rowing

1st Junior Seamanship

2nd Intermediate Seamanship

2nd Senior Seamanship

3rd Senior Kayak

2nd Senior Ironman

3rd Intermediate Ironman

2016-2017 Season

Well done to our Cubs, Scouts and Venturers who all won awards, for their efforts Sailing, Rowing and Swimming this season.

1st Hickson Regatta - Scouts - 

1st Hickson Regatta - Scout/Cadet - 

1st Kapiti Regatta - Scout Cutter - 

1st Lowry Bay Regatta Overall - 

1st Junior Rowing - 

1st Senior Rowing - 

1st Junior Cutter - 

1st Aggregate Junior

2nd Kapiti Regatta - Venturer Cutter

2nd Intermediate Rowing

2nd Open Rowing

2nd Overall Rowing

2nd Junior Sunburst

2nd Aggregate Intermediate

2nd Aggregate Senior

2nd Aggregate Open

2nd Aggregate Overall

3rd Cubs Swimming

3rd Onepoto Regatta Overall

3rd Intermediate Cutter

3rd Open Cutter

3rd Overall Cutter

3rd Open Sunburst

2015-2016 Season

Well done to our Cubs, Scouts and Venturers who all won awards, for their efforts Sailing, Rowing and Swimming this season.

1st - Intermediate Rowing

1st - Open Rowing

2nd - Rowing Overall

2nd - Junior Sunburst

3rd - Senior Rowing

3rd - Senior Aggregate

3rd - Intermediate Sunburst

3rd - Intermediate Aggregate

3rd - Junior Rowing

3rd - Junior Cutter

3rd - Cubs Swimming

2016 Cutty Sark

1st equal in Scout Canoeing 

1st in Scout Sunburst 

2nd Scout Rowing 

2nd equal Venturer Canoeing 

3rd Scout Cutter sailing

2014-2015 Season - St James

Well done to our Cubs, Scouts and Venturers who all won awards.

1st - Intermediate Rowing

1st - Open Rowing

2nd - Rowing Overall

2nd - Junior Sunburst

3rd - Senior Rowing

3rd - Senior Aggregate

3rd - Intermediate Sunburst

3rd - Intermediate Aggregate

3rd - Junior Rowing

3rd - Junior Cutter

3rd - Cubs Swimming

2016 Cutty Sark

1st equal in Scout Canoeing 

1st in Scout Sunburst 

2nd Scout Rowing 

2nd equal Venturer Canoeing 

3rd Scout Cutter sailing

2014-2015 Season

Well done to our Cubs, Scouts and Venturers who all won awards.

2nd - Junior Rowing

1st - Intermediate Rowing - Wooden Oar Trophy

2nd - Senior Rowing

1st - Open rowing - "OPEN ROWING" Shamrock Lemonade Bottle Trophy

1st - Rowing Aggregate - "Port Nich Trophy"

3rd - Junior Sunburst

3rd - Kapiti Scout Cutter

3rd - Onepoto Invitational

3rd - Improvers

3rd - Junior Regatta Overall

3rd - Cubs Swimming

2013-2014 Sailing Season - St James

Congratulations to all, especially the Intermediate crews. 

It was great to see all the Scouts in Full Dress Uniform to collect the trophys at the Prize Giving.

2013-2014 Sailing Season

Congratulations to all, especially the Intermediate crews. 

It was great to see all the Scouts in Full Dress Uniform to collect the trophys at the Prize Giving.

Senior Regatta Aggregate - Second Place

Senior Rowing Aggregate - Second Place

Intermediate Regatta Aggregate - Second Place

Intermediate Sunburst Aggregate - Third Place

Junior Rowing Aggregate - Third Place