Hamish Smith
Scouts have renamed their annual Lake Arapuni capsize camp to honour a late leader.
Over and over: Hamish Smith teaches scout Samuel Moore how to right a sunburst after capsizing at Lake Arapuni. Photo: Becky Kemp.
The camp, held annually at Bulmer’s Landing in Wharepapa South for nearly 30 years, has been renamed the Kahawai Capsize Camp after St Peter’s Scout Group leader Alan “Kahawai” Batey who died last month.
Kahawai was part of a cohort of leaders who organised the first capsize camp at the turn of the millennium to coincide with the fruiting of a peach tree in the vicinity.
With a few exceptions, the camp has been held at Bulmer’s Landing every year since it started.
Kahawai served St Peter’s Sea Scout Group for 42 years and gave Kirikiriroa and St Peter’s Scout Group another three. One of his proudest moments was receiving the Royal New Zealand Navy Recognition Badge earlier in the year after the group was recognised with 14 others nationally for the highest standards of scouting and seamanship.
Alan and his wife Jan Batey, back row, with their family, L-R Marion, Irene, Margaret and Phillip.
Almost 50 scouts, venturers and kaiārahi (leaders) from Kirikiriroa and St Peter’s Scout Group and Te Awamutu Scout Group participated in the three-day capsize camp at the weekend. They learned fundamental seamanship including recovering from a capsized scout standard cutter and sunburst.
Venturer Hamish Smith, 15, became a scout shortly after Kirikiriroa and St Peter’s scout group partnered in 2022, and he benefitted from some of Kahawai’s knowledge.
“I think adding Kahawai’s name to the capsize camp is a fantastic addition,” said Hamish. “I was always mesmerised by his immense knowledge of boats and knots and his attitude towards scouting.”
The late Alan Batey “Kahawai”, seen investing his youngest grandson Marshall Prodger into Scouts, has been honoured with the Kahawai Capsize Camp being named after him.
As well as boating, Hamish learned fishing from Kahawai.
“I remember him showing us how he put his bait onto his hook and various other fishing skills that helped us optimise our fishing experience.”
Hamish served the scout section as a senior team (or patrol) leader after earning his Chief Scout’s Rimu Award. He is also the recipient of the Scouts Aotearoa Bravo Award for serving the Scout section as a sailing coach. Hamish is working on his bronze Duke of Edinburgh International Hillary Award.
Scout Kaiārahi Matthew ‘Kākatai’ Kemp also received a Bravo Award for his work restoring two scout standard cutters used by Kahawai for use by scouts.
Cutter 210 failed its swamp test three years ago at Bulmer’s Landing, but was ready for use this season, – 129 is yet to be surveyed for use.
Te Awamutu scouts will join Kirikiriroa and St Peter’s Scouts for the 24th Scouts Aotearoa Scout Jamboree at Mystery Creek.
Over and over: Hamish Smith teaches scout Samuel Moore how to right a sunburst after capsizing at Lake Arapuni. Photo: Becky Kemp.
Over and over: Hamish Smith teaches scout Samuel Moore how to right a sunburst after capsizing at Lake Arapuni. Photo: Becky Kemp.
Over and over: Hamish Smith teaches scout Samuel Moore how to right a sunburst after capsizing at Lake Arapuni. Photo: Becky Kemp.
