2026 Term 4

Group Leader Newsletter - Term 4 2026

Passing the Tiller

Kia ora St James whānau,

I remember when some of this year’s Venturers first came through the Den door as Keas and Cubs. They were too small to carry an oar and absolutely sure they could. This term, a few of them finish their final season with us. Watching young people grow up and move on from St James is the best part of this job, and the hardest.

Anyone who has sailed with us knows that handing over the tiller is a skill in itself. You don’t just let go and step away. You say it clearly: “you have the helm.” Then you stay alongside while the new skipper gets the feel of the boat, until they’re steering their own course. Looking back over this year’s newsletters, I realise that’s what we’ve been talking about all along. In Term 1, I wrote that Scouting grows great people. In Term 2, I talked about the moment a young person stops asking “What do I do?” and starts asking “What do we need?” In Term 3, I asked all of you to help build the community around them. Each one was a handover done with care. It’s how this group has kept sailing for so many years.

And this year, I got to watch it happen to adults too. If you’ve never been to a National Regatta or Jamboree, picture camping with a very large, very crazy family. Plans change by the hour, youth run in every direction, and somehow it all comes together. At the last National Regatta, a few parents came along just to help out. I watched them get swept up in the chaos and love every minute of it. They didn’t go home and leave it there. They kept turning up: rushing from work for a night at the Den, packing trailers in the dark, helping run Winter Camp, and now helping our Scouts get ready for Jamboree. In Term 2, I promised that if you stepped forward, we would grow you just as we grow our tamariki. Lisa, Mark, Leon, Sylvain and Rachel, you’ve shown me that promise holds. Thank you for joining us and sticking with it. You’re exactly what passing the tiller looks like: someone came alongside you, and now you’re the ones steering.

Some of the most important hands on the tiller never get seen at all. Our beloved wooden cutter, 80, is back on the water, thanks to Merewyn, who gave many, many hours to get her there. Thank you also to everyone who has worked on the boats and sorted WOFs and regos for the trailers. That work happens quietly in the background, but without it nobody goes sailing. There’s more to come: work is starting on the side of the hall to fix up the siding and windows, and we’re sorting out the locks around the Den. Each repair is something we hand on in better shape than we found it.

Not every hand on the tiller needs to be out on the water, either. The committee is looking for a few more people to help behind the scenes, especially someone keen to take on treasurer, and people who can help with grant applications. Many of these jobs can be done from home, in your own time, after the kids are in bed. If you’ve ever wondered how you could help without getting wet, this is it. Come along to a committee meeting or flick me a message. Next year’s crew is being formed right now, and there’s a seat for you.

As the year wraps up, our sections will be celebrating the end of Term 4, and we’d love families to be part of it, so keep an eye on Mahi Tahi for your section’s plans. Come along, meet the other families, and see how far your young person has come this year. Some of the best crew we have started by just turning up. One day, it might be your young person walking out of the Den for the last time, steering their own course and leaving the helm in good hands.

Back on the Water

Terms 1 and 4 are our main sailing season. Scouts and Venturers should bring water gear to every session, even when we stay ashore. You can find the gear list on our website.

• Session time reminder: Venturers and Scouts start at 6:30 pm in Term 1 and Term 4

• Sun smart: UV is rising; sunscreen and hats every week, in all weather.

• Name everything: we have enough lost property at the Den!

Youth Voice

Neve Groom – Venturer

This is my last term as a Venturer at St James, I started as a cub in 2016! Having missed the Kea section - I’m now a Kea leader. I enjoyed all of the sections I have been part of, but Venturers has been my favorite by far. I really enjoy that we get to plan and run our own sessions. It’s so different from scouts and gave me a whole new fun way to be in scouting.

Highlights from my time at St James include going to World Scout Jamboree, winter camp, National Regatta, Venture, summer regattas around Wellington, tramping in the Tararua, making friends, and being able to do things that require support and resources that I could never have done without scouts.

I’m going to Uni at Canterbury next year, but you will see me when I come back to visit!

📷Photo: Little Neve being invested into the scout section… bigger Neve helping invest her fellow Venturers

From the Archive, did you know…?

…our first boatshed was built from old car packing cases? It opened in 1956, and the Scouts launched Southern Cross (No. 39) at the opening. It was the first standard cutter they had built themselves, in a shed at the church hall. In fact, every one of our early wooden boats was built by the Scouts.

…the pale-blue ribbon on our scarf has a meaning? Added in 2021, the royal and pale blue stand for our special spot where the awa (river) meets the moana (sea). Volunteers made over 100 new scarves to kit everyone out.

…we turn 90 on 30 June 2028? So watch this space.

Our Leaders

• Group Leader: Sergei Obruchkov

• Assistant Group Leader: Oliver Thompson

• Kea Leaders: Rachel Prosser (Section Contact), Anna Passakova, Eileen Lett, Caitlin

• Kea Youth Helper: Névé Groom (Venturer)

• Cub Leaders: Oliver Thompson (Section Contact), Liam Ellis, Leon Craze, Jay Abelson, Christopher Erasmus

• Cub Youth Helpers: Tui Groom (Scout), Mackenzie (Scout)

• Scout Leaders: Julie Staunton (Section Contact), Sergei Obruchkov, Malina Stuart, Alex Smith, Lisa May, Mark Van Cooten, Leon Craze and Oliver Thompson

• Venturer Leaders: Merewyn Groom (Section Contact), Julie Staunton, Dominic Taylor

• Water Activities Adult Helpers: Joshua Groom, Mark Van Cooten, Sylvain Farcy, Carla Wellington, and others; Aaron Bilhan for all the boat repairs; plus everyone who helps with towing and getting us to regattas.

Communications Channels

Official communications come out via email through MahiTahi. We also have a WhatsApp community for live updates - please join, say hi, and offer to help:

• St James Sea Scouts WhatsApp Community and Groups

• St. James Group Calendar

• St James Facebook Page

Feel free to contact me or the Group Committee with any issues, comments or concerns. Direct line: +64 27 510 1032

St James Committee

All parents are welcome to join at any time. Meetings are held online on the third Wednesday of each month, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Contact me or message the Committee via the WhatsApp group for details.

Help Needed

If you can help with any of the below, please email stjames@group.scouts.nz or come talk to one of the leaders at the Den. Help can often be done during the session – just stick around.

• Boats & trailers: pre-season boat checks and trailer WOF runs.

• Towing & transport: drivers to get boats to regattas.

• Camping Gear: a quartermaster for the store room.

• First-aid kits: service and restock the Den kits.

• Locks: If anyone knows a locksmith who can help us with locks at the Den

• Electrician: We need our electrical board serviced and covered up

Every hour really helps!

St James Sea Scout Group Updates

Group-Wide

Cutter 80 is back on the water thanks to Merewyn’s many hours of work, and we thank everyone who has kept the boats and trailers in shape. Work is now starting on the hall’s siding and windows, along with new locks around the Den.

We also want to say a big thank-you to Eddie Smith and Serena Ryan, two of our Rover-aged leaders who have been part of St James for many years. Having grown up through the sections, they’ve given back as leaders, sharing their skills and energy, and joining in some antics with our Scouts. They’re now taking a well-earned sabbatical to focus on the next chapter of their lives. Eddie and Serena, thank you for everything you’ve given St James. Once a St James Sea Scout, always a St James Sea Scout. The door is always open, and we look forward to welcoming you back into the fold whenever you’re ready.

Photos at Scouts

We want the Den to be a place where everyone can have fun and be a bit silly without worrying about it ending up online. From now on, only leaders take photos at Scouts, and youth phones stay away unless a leader says otherwise. If this happens, we’ll ask for the photo to be deleted everywhere and follow up with the families involved. Parents, please talk this through at home: a photo that’s been shared can’t really be taken back. Respect for others is part of the Scout Promise, and that includes online.

Keas

Our Kea leader Anna is taking a step back from Scouts for a while to focus on her health. We’re thinking of her and sending our warmest wishes from everyone at St James. Anna, take all the time you need. The Keas are in good hands, and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Den when you’re ready.

Cubs

The Cubs have a busy summer term outdoors ahead. It kicks off with bike skills and a group ride, then a visit to Wainui Cubs for a Navy talk and Senior Cub Day for our older Cubs. They’ll head back out on the water for boating nights, with cooking and fishing along the way.

We have space in the Cub Pack for more young people in the 8–10 age group. If you know friends or family with kids that age, let them know they're welcome to come for a free visit.

Scouts

This term, close to 40 Scouts will be heading out on the water, so our leaders will be kept busy!

The Scouts have planned quite a few of their own activities this term, which is a great show of leadership. We’re especially proud to be investing five Chief Scouts this term. That’s quite an achievement, and congratulations to each of them for all their hard work.

Sailing is on Sundays from 1 - 4 pm, weather permitting. Please make sure your Scout packs their water gear every Thursday, and encourage them to come along on Sundays!

Venturers

The Venturers are already enjoying the warmer weather, and have lots of plans to get outside on the water: rowing, kayaking, sailing, in the water: jumping off the wharf at Days Bay, and on land: going for a walk and the traditional end of term fire on the beach. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, so if forced indoors we’ve got some baking ideas and games to play, plus learning some practical skills including working towards earning a VHF radio operators licence. All this has to fit in around study and exams of course, for some in the group this is their final term before heading off into the big wide world next year.

📷 Photo: Coming in from night rowing/drifting in Term 3

Dates for Your Calendar

Mahi Tahi invites: Please RSVP “Attending” or “Not attending” for each event. Tip: selecting “Not attending” stops reminder emails and helps us plan.

Group

• 17–18 October: Adult Training Weekend

• 15 November: First Aid Course (in person, 9am–2pm)

• 12 December: End of Term 4

Leaders

• 6–8 November: Wood Badge training, Brookfield, Wainuiomata (TBC)

• 28 November: Zone Council and end-of-year dinner, 7:00–8:30pm (venue TBC)

Keas

• 16–18 October: JOTA/JOTI day visit

Cubs

• 16–18 October: JOTA/JOTI day visit

• 15 November: Senior Cub Day, Lower Hutt Zone

Scouts

• 16–18 October: JOTA/JOTI and Jamboree Shakedown Camp

• 30 October – 1 November: Cossgrove (New Scouts)

Venturers

• 16–18 October: JOTA/JOTI day visit

Looking Ahead

• 28 December 2026 – 7 January 2027: 24th Aotearoa New Zealand Scout Jamboree, Mystery Creek, Hamilton

• 29–31 January 2027: Sunburst Nationals

• 5 February 2027: Term 1 starts

• 22 February 2027: Founder’s Day

• 30 July – 8 August 2027: World Scout Jamboree, Poland

• National Regatta 2027 (TBC)

See you on the water,

Sergei Obruchkov – Group Leader