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Scouts NSW - 2nd Sutherland (Armco) Scout Group

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A History of Scouting at 2nd Sutherland (Armco)

2nd Sutherland (Armco) Scouts began in May 19491 as a Boy Scouts troop, sponsored by the Sutherland branch of road barrier manufacturer Armco (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. (Armco being an abbreviated form of American Rolling Metal Company). Armco's factory was in Kirrawee, approximately where Bunnings stands now, and the first Scouts held meetings onsite. Later, the troop moved to a shared hall in Sutherland, but had plans for their own hall.

On 13 March 1971, Mr M.H. Bailey, Managing Director at Armco officially opened the doors to 2nd Sutherland's new Scout hall, built entirely by volunteer labour, in its current location on Crown land at 11R Tathra Place, Gymea.2

In 1953 2nd Sutherland (ARMCO) Senior Scouts produced their first Queen's Scout, Richard Smith. In 1964, Rover Scout James Buchan was the first in the Group to receive the Baden-Powell Scout Award.2

Women had been part of Scouting since the beginning, serving on parent support committees and as Leaders (generally in Cub Scouts). However, it was not until 1975 that Scouts Australia allowed female youth members to join, in the Venturer Scouts (formerly Senior Scouts) and Rover Scouts sections.4

In 1988, girls were fully integrated into all areas of the Scouting movement.4

In 1976, 2nd Sutherland Rover Lesley Newham became the first woman in NSW to receive the Baden-Powell Scout Award.3 In 1993 2nd Sutherland congratulated its first female Queen's Scout, Sarah Robinson.5

Since we celebrated our first Queen's Scout, we have congratulated many peak awardees in all our age sections.

In 2018 we celebrated 2nd Sutherland's first recipient of the Australian Scout Award, Ben Nolan. Ben went on to become a Queen's Scout in 2020.

Also in 2018, the first Grey Wolf Awards were presented to Cub Scouts Ella Buckley and Isaac Schippers.2

Recently, Ella became the first of our members to earn peak awards in three different sections, having gone on to receive the Australian Scout Award in 2022 and the King's Scout Award in 2025.2

To date:

  • Eight Cub Scouts have earned the Grey Wolf Award.
  • 16 Scouts have earned the Australian Scout Medallion or Australian Scout Award.
  • 60 Venturer Scouts have earned the Queen's Scout or King's Scout Awards.
  • Three Rover Scouts have earned the Baden-Powell Scout Award over the course of 2nd Sutherland's history. 
    • (Note - we haven't hosted an active Rover unit since the mid-1990s).

See our Honour Roll for the full list of peak awardees.

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Page last updated 29 April 2026.