14 MARCH 2025
THURSDAY 20/03/2025
HONOURED TO WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE A lifetime of commitment to building kids’ resilience has led local resident Daryl Scott to receive The Member of the Order of Australia (AM) as part of the 2025 Australia Day Honours list. The award recognises Daryl’s significant service to youth in leadership roles, and to the community, particularly focusing on his lengthy involvement in Scouts Queensland. “To receive the award is lovely and I think represents the community’s recognition of the value that volunteering provides,” Daryl said. As Chief Commissioner of Scouts Queensland from 2016 to 2022, and a member of the Branch Executive Committee from 2012 to 2022, Daryl engaged his leadership skills to further the education of young people, encouraging them to build a better world where people play a constructive role in society. The Chief Commissioner is the highest position in Scouts Queensland and is accountable for all Scout activities state-wide. Daryl became involved in Scouting as a Wolf Cub during the 1960s, earning his stripes to become a Cub Leader at the age of 18. “I got a lot out of Scouting in terms of leadership, especially leadership when you do not have formal position-based authority, the friendships, the meaning of respect, the resilience, the technical skills, the concept of service and the love of the outdoors.” While Daryl was still a Rover, he developed and ran a subcamp welcoming 1,600 Scouts to the 1982/83 Collingwood Park Australian Jamboree. From there he joined the adult leader training team and then moved into Scouting management roles.
After completing his engineering degree, Daryl went straight into junior engineering management positions, which he believes was due to the skills he learnt in Scouting. In 2001 Daryl’s children followed his footsteps into the great outdoors, joining in Samford Scout Group where Daryl found himself back into uniform as Assistant Group Leader, ensuring his children and the children in Samford were exposed to the same positive Scouting experiences that he received. “I was not in the Assistant Group Leader role for long when the then Chief Commissioner, who knew me from my earlier days, asked me to take on Brisbane North Region (29 Scout Groups and 1,600 youth members) and from there, nine years later into the Scouts Queensland Chief Commissioner role,” Daryl said.
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“I was determined to put back into Scouting to repay what I got out of my involvement as a youth member.” Daryl has also received the Silver Emu which is awarded for distinguished service to Scouts Australia by an adult member in an active leadership role. Daryl’s untiring service to Scouts stems from a belief in the importance of equipping young people with core life skills. “I think the majority of the youth crime that seems to be becoming more prevalent in the community could have been prevented by having the young people in our community learning about respect from home and the concepts of leadership, resilience, and service from Scouting. It would be lovely to see Scouting embraced more widely to provide this community benefit.” To any families inspired to become involved in the local Scout group, Daryl only sends encouragement. “Do it! It is an incredibly positive organisation for your children to be involved in. They will develop the positive skills and attitudes that the community needs. Parents are expected to get involved and that involvement can be fun and fulfilling!” Ever community-minded, Daryl was also involved in Rotary for 26 years, where he served as President of three different Rotary Clubs. From a local community that has benefitted
greatly from your camaraderie and guidance, thank you Daryl and congratulations on another well-deserved honour. Tanya Hall