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Stan Bales Rover Service Award

Stan Bales Rover Service Award

The Stan Bales award is the peak good service Award for NSW Rovers. Recipients are recognised for exceptional and continual service to the Rover Section. For Rovers this means a minimum of 5 years of outstanding service (which can be accumulated concurrently) and for non Rovers 10 years.

Nominations are made in secret and the recipients only find out when the award is announced. Awards are then presented at the annual Rover Award Dinner.

The award is named after Stan Bales who was heavily involved in Scouting, particularly the Rover Section over many years.

Stan first became a Leader at 1st Newtown (St Stephen’s), in 1928 and then moved to 1st Petersham, where he was involved with the Scout Troop and then the Rover Crew. In 1954 Stan became Area Commissioner for Rovers in what was then Central West Metropolitan Area. In 1955 Stan moved to Branch and was NSW Branch Commissioner for Rovers until 1978 – an amazing 23 years! Stan saw many changes during his term of office including the introduction of women in Rovers and increasing self-government for the section.

As well as assisting in various roles at a large number of national Scouting events, Stan was Deputy Moot Chief at the 7th World Rover Moot held in Melbourne in 1961/62 and Moot Chief for the 6th Australian National Rover Moot held in Sydney in 1974/75.

Stan was always willing to share his knowledge and assist any new leader. Any Rover could approach Stan and he would willingly assist or advise when he could.

For those who were Rovers during Stan’s era, his red nightshirt and cap, and 6.00am wake-up calls with a hand bell at the annual NSW Rover Moot will always be fondly remembered. Stan was also always proud to proclaim “I’m an Aussie Rover”!

In 2001, the prestigious Rover Service Award in NSW was renamed the “Stan Bales Rover Service Award” in recognition of Stan’s great contribution to Rovering in the state. Stan himself was presented with this award in 1994.

Stan passed away April 29, 2003, at the age of 92.

Other States and Territories may have their own name for this award. Nationally it is known as the Rover Scout Service Award.

Nominations for 2024 have now opened! 

Should you wish to nominate someone for this award, please fill out the nomination form below and email it to rovervice@nsw.scouts.com.au. NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON THE 3RD OF FEBRUARY, 2024. If you have any questions, please email rovervice@nsw.scouts.com.au. 

*Please note: All nominations are made in secret. Please do not go talking about any nominations. Potential recipients of the award will find out on World Scarf Day if they have won the award. 

Complete the Nomination Form here!

Stan Bales Rover Service Award Honour Roll

1986

John Gale

Powell Heuer

1991

Therese Gallagher

Andy Rosen

Nick Buchner

John “Spud” Murphy

Brett Walker

1994

Desmond Henry

Stan Bales

1996

Ron Pound

1997

Peter Oliver

2001

Andrew Graham

David Slattery

Wal Scott-Smith

2002

Warwick Bateman

David Antrim

2003

Jeff Hook

Jim Munro

2004

Ron Critcher

2005

Charles MacKenzie

Ian Russell

2006

John Williams

Mark Absalom

2007

Leah Bach

2008

David Ravell

John Kane

Trevor Nickl

2009

Bob Baker

Levi Boes

2010

Jenny Wardell

Nick Wolf

Greg Pearce

2011

Andrew Clark

Andrew Davis

Kent Palmer

Michael Weatherly

Jeffrey Rose

Robert Shreeve

2012

Peter Favelle

Matthew Lee

Matthew Riley

Alex Motyka

Simon Blatchford

2013

Warren Goodall

Bob Nightingale

2014

Alison Maynard

Amy Campbell

2015

David Twist

2016

Adam Butler

Luke Pullan

Mitchell Rath

Jamie-Leigh Ride

2017

Robert Zamora – Haberfield Rovers

Hugh Mooney – Region Commisioner (Rovers) Hunter & Coastal

Clair Udy – Gosford Rovers

Walter Waerner – State Commissioner Rovers (2013-2017)

2018

Ayla Jones – Castle Hill Rovers

Angus Boxall – Nepean Rovers

Phil Smith – Riverina Region Commissioner

2019

Linda Mitchell – Epping Rovers

Christopher Ward – Castle Hill Rovers

2020

Joseph Attard – Assistant State Commissioner (Heritage & Archive), NSW HQ

Paul Hennessy – Rover Advisor, Bathurst Rovers 

2021

Courtney Turner – Platabeen Rovers

Elyse Versace – Kananga Rovers 

2022

Jay Edwards – Coogee Rovers

Laura Kuerse – Venturer Scout Leader, Austinmer Venturer Scout Unit

Matthew Kusi-Appauh – Assistant Scout Leader, Austinmer Scout Unit

Harrision Lantry – Fellowship Member, South Coast & Tablelands Scout Fellowship

Henry Wong – Dulwich Hill Rovers

2023

Serene White – Hunter & Coastal Region

Jasmine White – Hunter & Coastal Region

Kate Zuiderwyk – Riverina Region

Natalie Castellanos – Greater Western Sydney Region

Macca Pearce – Hunter & Coastal Region

Cameron Letta – Greater Western Sydney Region 

2024

To be announced! 

If you believe the honour roll is incomplete or inaccurate please email roverpr@nsw.scouts.com.au with your concern and we will work to rectify it.