Embedded Files
Following is an abridged history of the St. Chads Scout Group. It is taken from the minute books of the Group/Parents Committee.
The Beginning
May 1956 – Meeting convened of interested parents to start a Scout Group. First Cub Meeting held 31 May, 36 boys in attendance, Green Scarf adopted. Initially at Meadowbank Community Hall.
June 1956 – Cubs move to newly constructed St Chads Church Hall
14 June 1956 – First Scout meeting held, at 71 Waiatarua Road. 8 Scouts.
March 1957 – Census Scouts strength 12, Cubs strength 39
June 1958 – Census Scouts strength 30, Cubs strength 42
October 1958 – Cubs and Scouts move to new St Chads Church Hall in Meadowbank street
February 1959 - Census Scouts strength 34, Cubs strength 42. Leadership is a major problem.
Sep 1959 – May 1961 – Den sites assessed, eventually Rutherford Reserve preferred. Residents delay project raising objections to Scout Den being built in Reserve.
Lack of Scout Leaders puts the Scout Troop into Recess.
February 1962 – Census Scout Troop reactivated, initially with 12 boys.
May 1962 – City Council grants permit for Rutherford Terrace site.
May 1963 to August 1964 – Original den building moved onto the site. Services etc connected. New floor laid.
November 1964 – Hall now officially in use.
The Growing Years
March 1965 – Tenth AGM held. Scouts strength 20, Cubs strength 24
July 1966 – Second Cub Pack commences. Packs named Hillary after Sir Edmund Hillary and McLaren after Bruce McLaren
March 1969 – Census Scouts strength 42, Cubs strength 40
Sep 1969 – Venturer Unit formed.
March 1970 – Discussions commence on hall suitability.
Oct 1971 – Lack of Leaders a problem
March 1972 – Venturer Unit reformed.
March 1980 – March 1981 – New Hall built on site – Labour provided under Labour Dept Temporary Employment Service.
February 1981 – Rutherford Cub Pack commenced, Group now has 3 Cub Packs and 2 Scout Troops – Hobson and Tasman.
1986 – Basement area under Den excavated gear storage area built.
February 1987 – Venturer Unit reopened
1988 – 1989 – Census Group membership peaks at 190 members (incl Leaders)
July 1990 – Leadership peaks at 28 Leaders and helpers.
The Dark Years
Sometime after Sep 1992 – St. Chads Scout Group closes and walks out of Den
upto 2007 – City Council (as Lease holder) administers den and sub lets to community organisations. No Den upkeep performed.
The Wonder Years
Aug 2007 – Restarted in 2007. Leonie Duthie as Cub Leader, Erik Jorgensen as Kea Leader. Cubs strength 12, Keas strength 10
Akarana Zone representatives Sheryl Baron and John Dukeson assisted in the restart of these groups.
Sep 2008 – Group Committee formed – Bruce Tait as chairperson, John Dukeson as Group Leader.
Nov 2008 – Census Cubs strength 26, Keas strength 19
May 2009 – Scouts started with Pip Taylor and Jonathan Taylor as leaders. 7 Scouts invested on May 4th.
July 2009 – Census; 37 fully paid up youth, 11 on waiting list and 9 Leaders.
Oct & Nov 2009 – begin re-establishing the Den, new chairs and trestle tables purchased (via Community Group grants), exterior deck rebuilt (via Remuera Lions grant).
June 2010 – Census; Scouts strength 11, Cubs strength 23, Keas strength 13, Leaders 11
Dec 2010 – 19th NZ Jamboree held at Mystery Creek, Hamilton – 6 Scouts and 2 Leaders attend at Mystery Creek Hamilton
July 2011 – Census; Scouts 14, Cubs 20, Keas 17, Leaders 13
Jan 2012 – Completion of Bathroom renovations
March 2012 – Second Cub Pack established on a Thursday – initially by David Caird, John van Meeuwen and Justine Jorgensen.
April 2012 – First Group Camp held at Steadfast Park, Piha. Attended by 55 children and 22 adults.
July 2012 – Census; Scouts 14, Cubs 31 boys and 4 girls, Keas 21, Leaders 17. Cubs and Keas requiring a waiting list
Feb 2013 – Significant gear purchased - New Patrol tents purchased (via Pub Charity grant)
April 2013 – Second Group Camp held at Hunua. Attended by 74 youth and 49 adults.
May 2013 – Kitchen renovations completed
2013 Census Scouts 28 and 6 Leaders, Tue Cubs 18 and 2 Leaders, Thu Cubs 23 and 6 Leaders, Keas 22 and 6 Leaders.
Dec 2013 – 20th NZ Jamboree held in Fielding. 18 Scouts and 4 Leaders attend. 2 Cubs attend Future Scouts day.
Feb 2014 – 3 St Chads Scouts move up to form new Zone Venturer unit.
Apr 2014 – Third Group Camp to be held, at Muriwai.
There are many names not mentioned above – Current and Past Leaders, Committee Members, dedicated helpers who have played an integral part in the current success of St Chads. Sorry to those not mentioned – (the above was longer than anticipated anyway..)
This history is being sent out to show a few things.
St Chads has a proud past, whether that be measured by growth and size, length of history, number of sections or vision of people to make it happen. From a volunteer basis, to establish/re-establish the group, the den and all its resources. Plus provide leadership and experiences to the many youth who are past and present of St Chads.
The history shows that a strong Section can fold and worse a strong Group can fold. Momentum is lost when this happens. (Leaders cannot learn from each other’s experience. The state of the Den and the resources still in the building in 2007 was appalling and is still being caught up on)
St Chads of Today should carry some of this History over – at Group Camp there will a ceremony for this regard.
After 2014
This section needs work.....
Dec 2016 - 21st NZ Jamboree held at Mystery Creek, Hamilton
Dec 2020 - 22nd NZ Jamboree held at Mystery Creek, Hamilton
Covid period
Dec 2023 - 23rd NZ Jamboree held at Mystery Creek, Hamilton
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