David Cooley has been recognised for his exceptional service to Scouting by receiving a Silver Kangaroo Award.
The Adult Recognition Award is given to those people involved in Scouting who give up their time to equip children with skills they need to serve the community, both now and in the future.
David is a Scout to his core and has always gone above and beyond the expectations of any role he has held since achieving his Leader of Adults Wood Badge in 1999.
He was awarded the Silver Emu in 2014 and in 2015 took on the role of Sydney North Deputy Regional Commissioner specialising in Major Events, as well as becoming ScoutLink Champion and regularly conducting ScoutLink training session for new Formation administrators.
Another project David has completed is rewriting the Sydney North Region website to make it more user friendly.
“It is a wonderful feeling to be recognised for the service I have given”, David explained.
“As an adult in Scouting, you are here not for yourself but for the youth. I feel proud to have been able to help many thousands of youth be set up for life.
“I was delighted when I got the news. All my family have been involved in Scouting at some point. My Grandfather would be very proud of me.”
David’s work at major events included Communications and Transport Director for the 2016 Jamboree and was on the NSW Contingent organising committee for the 2019 Jamboree and was on the Communications Team for 2017 Cuboree.
He is on the organising team for the annual ScoutHike event which includes arranging the Coaches to transport the Scouts into the forests. Whilst at ScoutHike he runs the Communications and Administration teams.
Many will know him as the Manager and one of the duty wardens for Camp Kuring-gai.
Quizzed on why he does what he does, David said it’s simply about giving back to an organisation that gave so much to him as a youth.
He said: “Scouting is all about the youth. Without the youth there is no organisation. I can still remember being invested as a Cub when I was eight. I gained so much from my time as a youth, that when I turned 18 I wanted to return my skills to the next generation.
“I do not consider myself as a volunteer, but a member of a great movement. Without dedicated adults who continue after their kids have moved on, Scouts would not be able to deliver these skills to the next generation.
“This a movement, a passion, a mission. Working hard to make sure that they can have the best time in Scouting and set them up with the life skills they need for them to lead us in time.
For me, Scouts is still as important and relevant as when BP started it in 1908. What Scouts offers is the same as when I was eight, to gain life skills and experience to make them better citizens.”
Massive congratulations to David from all at Scouts NSW!
