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.
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