1st Austinmer
Status: Still operating
Registered: 16/11/1923
Hall: 20 Moore Street Austinmer
Scarf: Scarf black base, ½ in sky blue border.
District: North Illawarra, Keirawarra
History
In March 1920 G Smith spoke to Progress Association regarding starting a sea scout troop as he had seen sea scouts operating in UK. Meeting 20 August to discuss forming troop. Group 16/11/1923, was 1st day new recruits welcomed. South Coast Times 16/11/1923 said as results of efforts of Miss Pringle troop formed previous week, 16 boys had joined and meet at “Playden” and DSM Jackson was running troop while seeking a SM. Troop started 8/11/1923, registered 16/11/1923 (rego card says 18th), Pack started February 1924 (J Parkes CM, later W Kinnersly CM), registered 17/4/1929 (K Pickthall CM). In February 1924 had 1st camp and on 6/3/1924 Parents & Supporters Association formed, and troop was meeting in garage at Playden, The Grove, Austinmer loaned by Miss Pringle and all boys had passed tenderfoot. Troop sworn in 27/3/1924 at hall followed by social evening and supper at Progress Association hall.
South Coast Times 16/5/1924 said at Parent & Supporters meeting on 8/5 20 boys applied to join but was only space for 3, 6 boys of cub age were selected by Mr Parkes who was to train them and when they are proficient he will form a cub pack who would also meet at Playden. On 12/6/1924 cubs invested, and troop flag dedicated, and troop equipment presented (Morse set, bugle & Boxing gloves) at special meeting at Surf Club Hall. 2 weeks later CM Parkes was running at a cub activity, put his foot in a hole, fell and broke his collarbone. In July Mr Moore was SM but in August he had been ill for some time and CM Parkes running troop. In August 1924 Miss E Pringle had applied to Council to erect a temporary building for use by the scouts. In May 1925 CM Parkes moved to City for work and Mr Kinnersley was new CM (he became SM in March 1926).
Attended District Court of Honour March 1928, Area Challenge Flag Camp 1934. H Blitson appointed ASM in 1933/ resigned in 1935, in 1934 Miss D Paton became CM, in 1935 S Anderson GSM resigned.
3rd at HR Lee Flag competition 1928, 1930, 1934, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1st in 1929, 2nd in 1931, Cubs 2nd at Pax Flag 1930-31, 1938, 1943, 1st in 1941, equal 1st in 1944. Won District Challenge flag in 1929 & Surf Shield for land events in 1932. Had 3 patrols of 8 in 1929. 12 scouts went to Sydney for Baden Powells’s visit in 1931.
At 30/6/1933 had 12 cubs, 20 scouts, 9 rovers, 4 leaders, in 1936 had 16 Cubs/20 Scouts/2 Leaders, in 1937 14 Cubs/14 Scouts/2 Leaders, in 1938 15 Cubs/20 Scouts/2 Leaders, in 1939 24 Cubs/18 Scouts/2 Leaders, in 1940 16 Cubs/18 Scouts/2 Leaders, in 1941 16 Cubs/23 Scouts/3 Leaders, in 1942 18 Cubs/18 Scouts/6 Leaders, in 1943 19 Cubs/20 Scouts/6 Leaders, in 1944 14 Cubs/14 Scouts/4 Leaders, in 1945 15 Cubs/14 Scouts/3 Leaders, in 1946 19 Cubs/16 Scouts/4 Leaders, in 1947 21 Cubs/13 Scouts/6 Rovers/4 Leaders, in 1948 13 Cubs/15 Scouts/5 Leaders, in 1949 8 Cubs/12 Scouts/4 Leaders, in 1950 12 Cubs/14 Scouts/3 Leaders, in 1951 12 Cubs/14 Scouts/3 Leaders, in 1952 14 Cubs/12 Scouts/4 Leaders, in 1953 17 Cubs/17 Scouts/6 Leaders, in 1954 22 Cubs/16 Scouts/5 Leaders, in 1955 24 Cubs/18 Scouts/5 Leaders, 26 Cubs/15 Scouts/4 Leaders, in 1956 20 Cubs/7 Scouts/3 Leaders in 1957, 19 Cubs/13 Scouts/2 Leaders in 1958, 41 members in 1960, 52 in 1961, 57 in 1962, 58 in 1963, 59 in 1964, 51 in 1965, 48 in 1966, 42 in 1967, 57 in 1968, 54 in 1969, 46 in 1970, 41 in 1971, 46 in 1972, 51 in 1973, 2 Cubs/10 Scouts/2 Venturers/5 Leaders in 1987, 25 Youth/5 Leaders in 1989, 22 Youth/5 Leaders in 1990, 24 Cubs/11 Scouts/5 Leaders in 1991, 20 Cubs/8 Scouts/6 Leaders in 1992.
Rover Club started in January 1932, Crew started 7/9/1932 (RSL S Anderson), registered 28/10/1932, closed 1935, reregistered 17/10/1946 & existed 1946-47 with W Scarborough appointed RSL in October 1946. Closed 1948. Senior troop registered August 1962 with G Watts as ASSL. Venturer unit registered May 1998 with Chris Harvey as VL. Rover crew reregistered January 2005. In 1946 scarf colour sky blue (Fairy Meadow hall opening program).
Hall (in Moore St) built in 1926 and mostly funded by donations. A memorial tablet, once attached to building’s retaining wall /now fixed to stone in garden, commemorates Frances and Elizabeth Allen for their generous contribution (£80) to hall fund. In December 1925 both guides and scouts agreed to cooperate to build hall and by September 1926 had raised £130. Land bought for £275 and foundation stone laying ceremony was on 4/9/1926 , was 1st Guide/scout hall on South Coast. Hall built in 3-4 weeks mostly by volunteers but not lined or furnished then. Collection on that day raised £103. Hall timber with iron roof with hall, 24 ft by 46 ft with 8 ft wide verandah at front and on east side. Hall officially opened 28/1/1928 by Mayor of Wollongong N Smith. A Fancourt became RL August 1928. S Anderson RSL became GSM in 1935. Mrs M Christian ACM became CM May 1942, Merv Tuck became ASM June 1942. In January 1940 were guard of honour at Official opening of Thirroul Swimming pool and in October 1940 celebrated groups 17th birthday at their hall in Moore St. Scouting in NSW October 1961 said Lions Club helping to rebuild hall.
In 1939 a public meeting was held at Scout hall to see if enough support to continue scouts in Austinmer as most scouts and all Group committee were from Thirroul and to decide if form another Group in Thirroul and keep Austinmer running or close and transfer assets to Thirroul. Chief Charles Jackson got group up and running. Northern Illawarra DC 1975-90 and regional commissioner (adult training) till 2004, Ron Critcher, remembers Chief Jackson as a man who rarely sat still. ‘‘He was a tremendously energetic guy, to say the least, and that energy brought about an organisation and a process to make the movement grow, whereas before it was haphazard. His arrival gave it [Scouts] that anchor into the Wollongong society,’’ / ‘‘He was a real tremendous organiser and enthuser of people to do things, it was almost impossible to keep up with him.’’
Other groups were formed in Illawarra before 1st Austinmer, but they closed, leaving Austinmer as the region’s longest-lasting Scout troop. ‘‘Like most of our groups it went through its ups and downs, sometimes quite strong, other times not as strong as we would have liked it to have been’’ Ron Critcher said. Venturer unit registered August 1986 deregistered February 1995. In 2013 more than 100 members were in 1st Austinmer Scouts with sections from cubs to Rovers. ‘‘A lot of the girls join Scouts because they’re friends with other kids. We do have it off balance, we’ve even ended up with Cubs being all girls at one stage – the Boy Scouts were all girls,’’ laughs Turner. Turner has been involved with the Austinmer Scouts for more than 50 years. He joined in 1958, when he was 8 years old, walking to the hall 1 afternoon a week from the other side of the suburb. Turner was group leader for approximately 20 years.
Rover Crew (1ARC) founded 2003 and in 2024 1 of largest crews in region with 25 members. Crew registered 17/1/2005. Scouts won State rally in 2005. Hall at 20 Moore St.
Previous leaders
1924 – 1925 · J. Parkes · Cub Master
1924 – 1925 · P. J. Moore · Scout Master
1925 – 1928 · William Kinnersley · Cub Master
1928 – 1934 · Anthony (Tony) Jones · Scout Master
1929 · K. L. Pickthall · Assistant Cub Leader
1930 · Anthony (Tony) Jones · Campers Licence
1930 – 1932 · K. L. Pickthall · Cub Master
1932 · S. L. Anderson · Rover Leader
1932 – 1934 · Sidney B. Andersen · Rover Scout Leader
1932 – 1935 · H. L. Butson · Assistant Scout Master
1934 – 1935 · Sidney B. Andersen · Group Scout Master
1934 – 1940 · Dorothy Paton · Cub Master
1939 · Madeleine Jackson · Assistant Cub Leader
1939 – 1939 · Madeline Christian · Assistant Lady Cub Master
1941 · Philip Christian · Assistant Cub Leader
1942 · D. Harris · Assistant Cub Leader
1942 · R. S. (Stan) Tuck · Assistant Scout Master
1942 – 1943 · Madeline Christian · Cub Master
1942 – 1944 · Dorothy Scarborough · Assistant Cub Leader
1942 – 1944 · Gladys Scott · Assistant Cub Leader
1942 – 1946 · Mervyn Tuck · Assistant Scout Master
1943 – 1943 · Mabel Inger · Cub Master
1943 – 1946 · Lois Campbell · Assistant Cub Leader
1944 · Anthony (Tony) Jones · Scout Master
1944 · R. S. (Stan) Tuck · Scout Master
1944 – 1946 · Norman Simpson · Assistant Scout Master
1946 · William Scarborough · Rover Leader
1946 – 1947 · Ethel Teal · Assistant Cub Leader
1946 – 1948 · Lois Campbell · Cub Master
1946 – 1951 · Harold Kaye · Scout Master
1948 · G. Wells · Cub Master
1949 · H. Macleod · Assistant Cub Leader
1949 – 1950 · E. McCauley · Assistant Cub Leader
1950 · Heather McLoud · Cub Master
1951 · F. J. Richards · Assistant Scout Master
1951 · J. D. Macleod · Assistant Scout Master
1952 · B. Stockwell · Assistant Cub Leader
1953 · D. Mobbs · Assistant Scout Master
1953 · N. Johnston · Assistant Scout Master
1954 · Lionel Bravery · Assistant Scout Master
1956 · K. W. Platt · Assistant Scout Master
1958 – 1958 · P. J. Klaus · Assistant Cub Leader
1958 – 1960 · H. McLeod · Assistant Cub Leader
1958 – 1964 · Norma M. Grant · Cub Master
1959 – 1959 · Alfred T. Bartlett · Group Scout Master
1959 – 1961 · R. Sanders · Assistant Scout Master
1961 – 1963 · R. Sanders · Scout Master
1962 – 1963 · G. F. Watts · Assistant Senior Scout Leader
1962 – 1965 · Alan F. Drysdale · Assistant Scout Master
1963 – 1965 · R. L. Nixon · Assistant Scout Master
1963 – 1965 · Walter L. G. Nelson · Scout Master
1965 – 1966 · John Roberts · Cub Master
1965 – 1967 · Raymond J. Positti · Assistant Scout Master
1965 – 1967 · Richard J. Oliver · Assistant Scout Master
1966 · H. R. Burrows · Assistant Cub Leader
1966 – 1966 · John Roberts · Scout Master
1966 – 1967 · Brian A. Batt · Senior Scout Leader
1966 – 1967 · Heather R. (nee BURROWS) Positti · Assistant Cub Master
1966 – 1967 · Janet B. Morrison · Assistant Cub Master
1966 – 1976 · John F. Allen · Group Scout Master
1967 – 1968 · Edwa A. Bartlett · Assistant Cub Master
1967 – 1968 · Janet B. Morrison · Cub Master
1967 – 1970 · Brian A. Batt · Scout Master
1969 · Betty J. Hurley · Assistant Cub Master
1969 – 1971 · Allan B. Cross · Assistant Scout Master
1969 – 1972 · Anne M. Tvedskov · Assistant Cub Master
1971 – 1972 · Jytte Tvedskov · Assistant Cub Master
1971 – 1975 · Gregory C. Lamond · Scout Master
1972 – 1974 · Gordon C. Oliver · Senior Scout Leader
1973 · Anthony L. Hall · Assistant Scout Leader
1973 · Dinah E. Koperberg · Assistant Cub Leader
1973 – 1976 · Kevin Donald · Assistant Scout Leader
1974 – 1975 · Barry J. Cubitt · Assistant Scout Leader
1975 – 1977 · Brian L. Mckay · Assistant Scout Leader
1975 – 1980 · Denis R. Mckay · Venturer Leader
1975 – 1982 · Barry J. Cubitt · Scout Leader
1975 – 1984 · Michael E. Saul · Group Leader
1976 · Carole Y. (nee GRAINGER) Donald · Assistant Cub Leader
1976 – 1982 · Nannette Ross · Assistant Cub Leader
1977 – 1978 · Darryl A. Johnston · Assistant Cub Leader
1977 – 1981 · Paul W. J. Desborough · Assistant Cub Leader
1978 – 1980 · Donald Kettley · Assistant Venturer Leader
1978 – 1982 · Geoffrey N. Turner · Assistant Venturer Leader
1980 – 1982 · William McNally · Assistant Scout Leader
1981 – 1982 · Michael Snell · Assistant Cub Leader
1982 – 2003 · Lynne Sim · Cub Leader
1983 · Anne L. Lefevre · Assistant Cub Leader
1983 · Kenneth Le Fevre · Assistant Cub Leader
1984 · John Davies · Assistant Scout Leader
1984 · Kenneth Lefevre · Scout Leader
1984 – 1990 · Norman F. Smith · Group Leader
1985 – 1986 · Christopher Winning · Scout Leader
1985 – 1990 · Kevin Donald · Assistant Scout Leader
1986 · Paul W. J. Desborough · Assistant Scout Leader
1986 – 1988 · Robert Kershaw · Venturer Leader
1987 – 1991 · Scott Grover · Assistant Cub Leader
1987 – 1993 · Kate Woods · Assistant Cub Leader
1989 – 1991 · Christopher Harvey · Group Leader
1990 · Neville E. Brown · Scout Leader
1991 – 1997 · Scott Grover · Assistant Scout Leader
1992 – 1998 · Katherine Cleaver · Assistant Cub Leader
1992 – 1998 · Stephen Hartman · Assistant Cub Leader
1994 · Daniel Purcell · Assistant Scout Leader
1994 – Current · Stephen Turner · Group Leader
1996 – 1997 · Helen Whelan · Assistant Scout Leader
1997 – 2001 · Stephen Kearns · Assistant Scout Leader
1997 – 2005 · Rosemary Attwood · Assistant Cub Leader
1998 – 2003 · Christopher Hardy · Assistant Venturer Leader
1998 – 2003 · Christopher Harvey · Venturer Leader
2003 · Christopher Hardy · Venturer Leader
2003 · Gregory Pearce · Assistant Scout Leader
2003 · Robert Hatton · Cub Leader
2003 – 2004 · Christopher Harvey · Group Adviser
2004 – 2006 · Deborah Eccles · Assistant Scout Leader
2004 – 2006 · Victor W. Cochrane · Assistant Scout Leader
2007 · Christopher Wood · Assistant Venturer Leader
2007 – 2009 · Jennifer Yule · Associate Leader
2008 · Kristal Jollie · Associate Leader
2009 · Jennifer Yule · Assistant Cub Leader
2009 · Renee Buchan · Associate Leader
2010 · Janet White · Assistant Scout Leader
2010 · Kristal Jollie · Associate Leader
2010 · Sean Smith · Assistant Scout Leader
2019 · Gregory Pearce · Scout Leader
2020 – Current · Jai Paegle · Assistant Cub Leader
2022 · Claire Pearce · Venturer Leader
2024 · Scott Bradburn · Cub Leader
2024 – Current · Philip Martin · Assistant Venturer Leader
2024 – Current · Ryan Cunningham · Assistant Scout Leader
2025 · Korrin Marshall · Trainee Youth Program Leader
2025 · Michael Whitehouse · Assistant Joey Scout Leader
2025 · Sean O'Leary · Trainee Youth Program Leader
2025 – Current · Jonathon Fife · Assistant Scout Leader
2025 – Current · Martin Hesse · Assistant Venturer Leader
2026 – Current · Laura Kierse · Assistant Venturer Leader
2005 – 2006 · Christopher Wood · Crew Leader (Appointed)
2015 – Current · Peter Hines · Rover Advisor (Responsible)
2019 – ? · Peter Hines · Leader in Charge
? – 1967 · Denis R. Mckay · Assistant Scout Master
? – 1967 · Geoffrey R. Pryor · Assistant Scout Master
? – 1967 · Malcolm J. Rothe · Scout Master
? – 1968 · Ross R. Gollan · Assistant Scout Master
? – 1980 · Kevin H. Archbold · Assistant Scout Leader
? – 1983 · Nanette Ross · Cub Leader
? – 1990 · Christopher Willing
? – 1997 · Samuel Bateman · Trainee Leader (Cub Scout)
? – 2007 · Dinah Wilson · Trainee Leader (Joey Scout)
? – Current · Emily Irish · Trainee Leader (Joey Scout)
? – Current · Jason Hanford · Trainee Leader (Joey Scout)
? – ? · Colleen E. M. Cheadle · Assistant Cub Leader
? – ? · David I. Reidy · Assistant Scout Leader
? – ? · Diane L. Cheadle · Assistant Cub Leader
? – ? · Emily Whitelaw · Crew Leader (Appointed)
? – ? · Finlay Murphy · Trainee Leader (Scout)
? – ? · George Fitzpatrick · Assistant Scout Master
? – ? · Gregory Bateman · Instructor
? – ? · Jennifer May · Assistant Cub Leader
? – ? · Julie Cassar · Assistant Cub Leader
? – ? · Lauren Bowie · Assistant Scout Leader
? – ? · Lawrence G. Jones · Non Warranted Rank (Instructor)
? – ? · Martin Van Elsland · Assistant Scout Leader
? – ? · Michael Stubbington · Assistant Cub Leader
? – ? · Nicholas Barnett · Assistant Cub Leader
? – ? · Robert Chinchella · Rover Advisor (Responsible)
? – ? · Samuel Drayton · Assistant Cub Leader
? – ? · Scott Bradburn · Assistant Cub Leader
? – ? · Stanley K. Davis · Senior Scout Leader
? – ? · Susan G. Mckay · Assistant Cub Leader
? – ? · Susan L. (nee LANGRIDGE) Sallans
? – ? · Tamlyn Rigden · Assistant Venturer Leader
Awards
Joey Scout Challenge Award
2024 · William Marshall
2025 · Charlotte Edwards, Hugo Tyler
Cub Scout Grey Wolf Award
2007 · Calum Yule
2009 · Timothy Denham, Brandon Grainger
2011 · Taryn Boyle, Ruby Brown, Patrick Denham
2012 · Liam Dale, Brendan Hardie
2014 · Jace Bulger, Tyler Figueroa, Noah Titmuss
2015 · Robert Denham
2016 · Brendan Spiers
2017 · Daniel Stuart
2018 · Mungo Cullen, Eleanor Denham, Scott Moore
2019 · Emily Purcell, Ciaran Stuart
2020 · Ryan Bayguzin, John Stuart, Arlo Walkley
2021 · Jeremy Purcell, Emily Spiers
2024 · Matilda Bradburn, Bon Madden
Australian Scout Award
2007 · Jennifer Green, Nicholas Whitelaw
2008 · Solange Handley
2010 · Annabel Smith
2018 · Jace Bulger
2020 · Finlay Murphy, Brendan Spiers
2022 · Lani Taylor
2023 · Emily Purcell
Kings/Queens Scouts
1940 · Harold Kay, Stan (Merv) Tuck
1942 · Sid Jackson
1963 · Rodney Bartlett
1964 · Terry Bartlett, Denis McKay
1965 · Alan Hayse
1968 · Allan Cross, Pat Stortz
1969 · Kevin Cross, Robert Ogden
1977 · Kevin Archbold
1979 · Colin Attewell
1999 · Philip Harvey
2002 · Samuel Green
2005 · Raymond Lewis
2006 · Michael Carroll, Alan Green, Alexandra Hardy, Emily Whitelaw
2007 · Erinn Cochrane, Celli Lloyd
2010 · Jennifer Green, Matthew Kusi-Appauh, Nicholas Whitelaw
2011 · Bradley Thomas Saywell
2013 · Harrison Paul Lantry
2025 · Blake Smith, Daniel Stuart
Baden Powell Award:
2006 · Christopher Wood
2008 · Gregory Pearce
2010 · Kristal Jollie
2013 · Keith Critcher
2014 · Emily Whitelaw
2016 · Mark Critcher
2018 · Matthew Kusi-Appauh
2020 · Meg Cummins, Bradley Saywell
2021 · Laura Kierse
Silver Emu
1998 · Neville Brown
Silver Koala
2024 · Daniel Purcell
2026 · Gregory Pearce
Silver Wattle
2019 · Stephen Turner
2023 · Clair Pearce
Outstanding Service Award
2017 · Stephen Green
Meritorious Service Award
2015 · Robert Hatton, Stephen Turner
2018 · Jennifer Yule
2021 · Peter Hines
Special Service Award
2017 · Daniel Seddon-Powell, Matthew Kusi-Appauh
2018 · Janet White, Kim Bennett
2021 · Kristal Jollie
2023 · Jai Paegle
2024 · Scott Bradburn, Jayne Hanford, Laura Kierse, Jamie Madden, Philip Martin
Rover Scout Service Award
2013 · Keith Critcher
2022 · Laura Kierse, Matthew Kusi-Appauh
Silver Arrowhead
2014 · Robert Chinchella
Medal of Merit
1993 · Edwin Brown, Lynne Sim
Thanks Badge
1930 · E. Smallman
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