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Our History

1st Sailors Bay Sea Scouts is local to Castlecrag but has its origins in 1st Chatswood. While Scouts originated in England in 1907, its worldwide growth was almost spontaneous after Sir Baden Powell’s “Scouting for Boys” booklet became a best-seller in 1908.

1st Chatswood was formed in 1914 and resided in the scout hall on Laurel Street, Willoughby. The very active group was state champion for at least four years and won the national competitive shield at the Melbourne corroboree in January 1923. The troop was known as “Lord Forster’s Own”, and on 3 May 1924 the Governor General Lord Forster officially opened the new hall at 56-58 Laurel Street, Willoughby which was built on land donated by Joseph Griffiths of ‘Laurelbank’ in 1922.

In 1932, 1st Chatswood split into Land and Sea Scouts. The Sea Scout arm of 1st Chatswood took up the lease of one of the boatsheds on the southern arm of Sugarloaf Bay in 1935. During World War 2, they moved south of the peninsula to Sailors Bay, renting from Ron Eddies who had taken over Bob Carr’s boatshed, now Castlecrag Marina. Rowing expeditions were made throughout Middle Harbour in the 18’ skiffs “Alice S” (donated by Alice Shipway’s family), “JohnO” and later the whaler “Resolution” (sold in 1958 for £70). Sails were hoisted when wind allowed.

War years Patrol Leader Dick McKenzie returned to the group as a Leader after his RAAF service, and Assistant Patrol Leader Gordon Ingate’s 1972 Munich Olympics trial boat was the original “Tempest” that 1st Sailors Bay sails in Castlecrag’s Twilight racing.

In 1948 the group built its own boatshed next door to the Marina at Mowbray Point with volunteer labour and 1st Chatswood continued to organise the Port Resolution Regatta which had commenced while in Sugarloaf Bay. The boatshed was wired in 1959, the slipway refurbished and a kitchen added in 1969. 

On 11 August 1955, the Sea Scout arm of 1st Chatswood changed its name to 1st Sailors Bay Sea Scouts, with Cliff Bray as Scoutmaster and a few years later Greig Carnell as Assistant Scoutmaster. This active duo ran a very strong group of boys, but their ‘take no prisoners’ approach undoubtedly contributed to the conflict as they continued to share the Laurel Street hall with 1st Chatswood (land scouts) when not at their boatshed.

J.R.(Reg) Warner had established his ‘Waratah’ dairy in Edinburgh Rd in 1914 and in the late 1930s built the milk depot next to Sailors Bay Creek. Eastern Valley Way was only opened to traffic in 1939 after Warner’s subdivision. The cows were moved out to 150 acres of pasture in Minto and from around 1950 Warner replaced the horse and cart deliveries from the depot with trucks. Finally the milk runs and depot were sold to A.G.Lees and on to R.D.Suter, who was obliged to move his milk run for reasons of hygiene.

So it was that 1st Castlecrag scouts acquired the depot in February 1956. 1st Castlecrag had formed in 1953 with Cubs, Scouts and later Senior Scouts and Rovers. Leaders included Helen Ramsay, Gai Weston (nee Hogan), Joan Hogan, Peter Chown, Ernest Isaacs, Andrew Mackay, Michael Milston, Dexter Smith, Leath Vivers, Ron Bailey, Alex Charles, Albert Morris. When it was full, 2nd Castlecrag was formed for Cubs and Scouts born after the mid 1950’s. 1st Castlecrag met in the main hall and 2nd Chatswood met in the anteroom with trophies. Leaders included Vivienne London, Diane Lucas, Leslie Roger, Gordon & Jane Buckley, Ed Kerfoot. A number performed double roles.

However, with declining youth numbers, 2nd Castlecrag disbanded in 1968, and 1st Castlecrag in 1976, leaving the milk depot at 43 Eastern Valley Way empty. 1st Sailors Bay left the hall in Laurel Street in late 1979 and took over the old milk depot, where it remains today. Greig Carnell continued to lead 1st Sailors Bay, other leaders including Peter & Judith Ward, Margaret Carnell, Suzanne Ballinger, Gwen & Bob Cleworth, Patricia Coulson, Leslie Wickham, Paul Langhorne, Michael Murphy. While Cliff Bray moved to lead 1st Willoughby.

1st Willoughby scouts initially met in private homes and a church hall from its inception in 1925 until 1934, when they moved into a shop at 27 Penshurst St which was converted into a hall next to Willoughby Public School. NSW scout numbers peaked in 1971, and the 9th Australian Jamboree at Leppington was attended by 16,000 scouts. 1st Willoughby left its hall in May 1973 to merge with the declining 1st Chatswood in the Laurel Street hall and remains there today.

Greig Carnell was both Scout Leader and Senior Scout Leader, and leather bound journals record many wonderful journeys and escapades from 1962 to 1997. The group sailed 16’ skiffs (named ‘Alice’, “That’s Right” I & II and “Ka-Sam” I, II & III), travelled to many regattas, including the CHS at Belmont, participated in scout swimming and athletics carnivals, won State Rally and made regular trips to the Blue Mountains, Warrumbungles, Snowy Mountains, Tasmania and New Zealand. Greig’s uncompromising standards and unorthodox tutelage did not always agree with the upper scouting echelons, but he enjoyed tremendous respect from the boys, who are now to be found all over the world. He was strong on fundraising through bottle drives and then phone book deliveries (later fertilizer sales and now Christmas trees) which ensured the group was well equipped, and had strict criteria on providing value for money. Some managed to earn their Queens Scout, the highest award in Scouting, which was no easy task with Greig as examiner.

On a 1st Sailors Bay trip to the Americas, Greig Carnell fell to his death on Cerro Catedral in Patagonia in December 1994. Greig had been in scouts 44 years and the boatshed was named after him in 1997.

In the evening of 12th November 1998, 1st Sailors Bay’s 50-year-old boatshed, and many boats were destroyed by a suspicious fire. The 14’ Hobie Cat was saved but suffered heat exhaustion and never sailed the same again, living down to its name “Low Mongrel Dog”. The group endured lean years with limited water access until the new boatshed built on the same site was officially opened by Cr Pat Reilly, Mayor of Willoughby, on 29th November 2003.

1st Sailors Bay has grown significantly in recent times. While the group had female Venturers for many years, the Scout section first admitted girls in May 2007 and Cubs in 2009. In February 2019 the Cub section split into two units, Griffin and Phoenix, followed later that year by the Scouts splitting, with Shark and Flying Fish units forming in November 2019.

The group continues its long tradition of success in Sirius Cup Regattas and Scout Hike, winning many trophies over the years. The group has also been well represented in recent Cuborees and Jamborees.

Timeline

1913
Sir Baden Powell Started Scouting in 1907 in Brownsea Island, England
1913
1914
1st Chatswood formed (located in hall on Laurel Street, Willoughby)
1914
1932
1st Chatswood split into land and sea scouts
1932
1935
1st Chatswood (sea scouts arm) took up lease of boatshed in Sugarloaf Bay
1935
1948
1st Chatswood (sea scouts arm) built a boatshed in Sailors Bay, next to the Castlecrag Marina
1948
1953
1st Castlecrag formed
1953
1955
1st Chatswood (sea scouts arm) renamed to 1st Sailors Bay
1955
1956
1st Castlecrag took over the ‘Waratah Dairy’ milk depot at 48 Eastern Valley Way
1956
1968
1st Castlecrag disbanded
1968
1979
1st Sailors Bay took over the milk depot
1979
1979
1st Sailors Bay took over the milk depot
1979
1991
1st Sailors Bay venturers formed
1991
1998
1st Sailors Bay boatshed destroyed by fire
1998
2003
1st Sailors Bay new boatshed opened
2003
2019
1st Sailors Bay “Griffin” Cub Unit formed
2019
2019
1st Sailors Bay “Phoenix” Cub Unit formed
2019
2019
1st Sailors Bay “Shark” Scout Unit formed
2019
2019
1st Sailors Bay “Flying Fish” Cub Unit formed
2019
The original 50 year old boat shed at Mowbray Point in Castlecrag burnt down in 1998, was rebuilt and officially reopened on 29th November 2003.
Civic presentation to 1st Chatswood Scouts in Chatswood? after returning from winning the E.Trenchard Miller Shield on 11th January 1923 at the 2nd Australian Corroboree in Melbourne. The report the next day in the Sydney Morning Herald read:

The scouts' camp at Flemington Showground was visited today by His Excellency the Governor General (Lord Forster) who was accompanied by Lady Forster and Sir Alfred Pickford.

Early in the afternoon contests for the E.Trenchard Miller shield were commenced. Eight patrols, two each from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria contested, and keen interest was taken in the various items which were not concluded until 6 o'clock. Points were awarded for practical first aid and first aid theory, first stretcher drill, signalling, knot tying and lashing and uniform and general appearance. ......, The total number of points scored by Chatswood was 578 and the 1st Melbourne Patrol was second with 563 points. Dulwich Hill gained fifth place with 544 points. .....

History of Our Boatshed

The original Boatshed was built in 1948 by 1st Chatswood Sea Scouts, which changed its name to 1st Sailors Bay in 1955. The boatshed was wired in 1959, the slipway refurbished and a kitchen added in 1969.

The boatshed with much equipment burnt in the evening of 12 November 1998.

After 5 years of planning and building the new boatshed was finally complete and officially reopened on 29 November 2003.

The Sailors Bay boatshed at the end of Rockley St, Castlecrag continues to be a base for Cubs, Scouts, Venturers & Leaders and their families to learn boating skills and derive much enjoyment on the water.

Photos by Tim Green.
History by Adrian Spragg.