About

About 2nd Gymea (St Catherine's) Scout Group

Serving the Sutherland Shire since 1956, the 2nd Gymea Scout Group offers youth adventure, leadership, and community spirit from our hall on June Place. The group, which offers a free trial for new members, is structured around three core sections—Cubs, Scouts, and Venturers—that meet weekly on weeknights.

Want to check out the fun? We offer a free trial for all new members!

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Our Sections & Meeting Times

We offer fun activities for our youth members throughout the week, alongside optional weekend and holiday adventures:

Cub Scouts (Ages 8–11): Mondays | 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Scouts (Ages 11–14): Wednesdays | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Venturers (Ages 14–18): Thursdays | 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Quick History Timeline

For a quick snapshot of our 70-year journey:

1956: The group was founded, starting with a Scout Troop and Cub Pack.
1958: The first wooden hall was constructed by volunteers.
1960–1966: The Group established a Senior Scout section and saw membership rise to nearly 80.
1970–1974: A notable audience with the Pope in 1970 was followed by the inclusion of female members in the Rover Crew.
2006–2007: After winning the State Dragon Skin competition, the group relocated to their current, renovated June Place hall.

Our Story: 70 Years in Gymea Bay

1956 – 1969: Groundwork and Growth

2nd Gymea (St Catherine's) initially met in 1st Gymea's hall before moving to a wooden hall on the north-western corner of the St Catherine Labouré Catholic school and church site on Gymea Bay Road, where they met for many years. The group opened with Cubs in mid-1956. The Scout Troop started in late 1956, later celebrating its 4th birthday party in November 1960.

The Cub Pack officially registered on 25 October 1956, the Scout Troop on 20 September 1956, and the Senior Scouts on 27 November 1958. The Pack and Troop initially met at 50 Gymea Road, while the Seniors met at 8 Walker Avenue (the home of Group Scout Master Joyce).

By March 1958, the group consisted of 24 Cubs, 31 Scouts, and 3 leaders. A Senior section was established by July 1960, followed by Rovers by 1966. The Rover Crew officially registered on 29 September 1966, with the warrant list finalized in October 1966. According to a 1988 list at the Scout Memorabilia Centre, the group was originally sponsored by the St Vincent de Paul Society, though it later became unsponsored.

Sutherland Shire Council granted development consent for the hall on 7 July 1958 and building approval on 5 August 1958. The hall cost £566 to build. According to former Cub and Scout Terry Jones, the hall sat on church land between the old church and Turners Lane. He recollected that it was largely constructed from second-hand materials, having originally been an old house that was completely gutted.

Former Cub and Scout Terry Jones recalled parents and scouts helping build the hall using second-hand materials from a gutted house, with his father handling the plumbing. While a school building now occupies that site, the hall was a significant project. Scout News reported in late 1958 that the troop met in the open air during construction, with parents working on weekends. Improvements continued, with a new ceiling and roof painting noted by June 1964.

1st Gymea Hall circa 1982 (From Scouting in St George)

1^St Gymea Hall circa 1982 (From Scouting in St George)

Cubs doing 1-2-3 Wolf in hall under construction (Scout Archives) An early 2nd Gymea Cub photo (Source: Scout Memorabilia Centre)

Cubs doing 1-2-3 Wolf in hall under construction (Scout Archives)
An early 2^nd Gymea Cub photo (Source: Scout Memorabilia Centre)

2000 – Present: Resilience and Our New Home

The turn of the century tested our group's resilience. In late 1999, we temporarily moved to 1st Kirrawee's Scout Hall while St Catherine's Primary School underwent major additions. We were later allowed to use the school's new multi-purpose hall from 2003 until 2007. However, on May 31, 2007, we received notice that we needed to vacate the school site permanently.

True to our history of volunteer grit, our leaders and families rallied. In Term 4 of 2007, we officially moved into our current home—the former 1st Gymea Bay hall at June Place. The hall had been vacant and required major restoration, including a completely new roof. Around this same era of transition, our senior youth proved their outdoor elite status by winning the massive, state-wide Dragon Skin Venturer competition at Vulcan State Forest in 2006. Today, our group continues to thrive from June Place, shaping the next generation of resilient Sutherland Shire youth.

2nd Gymea Scout Hall today

2nd Gymea Scout Hall today

Our Traditional Scarf

Our iconic scarf represents our deep history and local identity:

1957 Traditional Design: Maroon with a 1/4-inch sky-blue border and a white inner stripe.
Modern Design: Grey featuring distinctive sky-blue and white bands.