Nev Cowgill has been named Senior Volunteer of the Year for the South Coast and Southern Inland region in recognition of his 46 years of work with the 1st Eden Sea Scout Group and other community projects.
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The modest and humble 76-year-old Eden resident said he simply liked to help people when asked what was the motivation behind his extraordinary contribution to the community that also includes volunteering at the SES, RSL, Eden Marine Rescue and Eden Foreshore Committee.
"Volunteering is a wonderful way to get things done in any town," Mr Cowgill said.
"People need something done and they say 'we'll ring Nev, he's retired', and I just can't say no."
"It's in my nature I suppose, I just like to hep people," he said.
Mr Cowgill's award from the Centre for Volunteering acknowledged his work with the scouting movement.
As Southern Coast District cub scout leader he has about 80 cubs from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border under his charge and he also acts as an advisor to other scouting leaders.
"I firmly believe in the principle behind the scouting movement," Mr Cowgill told the Magnet.
"It teaches young people to be responsible for their actions, it encourages them to get out from behind their computers and into the outdoors, and generally makes them better citizens," he said.
For 28 years he has manned the radio at Eden Marine Rescue and recently, with his SES hat on, was called out to assist at the flash flood in Merimbula.
He is also a popular figure at the Twofold Bay Yacht Club.
Mr Cowgill moved to Eden in 1969 from Southport in Queensland, lured by the opportunity to buy the town's school bus run.
He had been to Eden only once before - as a 16-year-old in the middle of the night.
"As soon as we came over the top of the hill I said 'this'll do'," Mr Cowgill said of the town he clearly loves.
He said the scout movement was a way for him to get involved with the community.
"We arrived here on a Wednesday and I went to my first scout meeting on the Friday, " he said.
Apart from Eden's natural beauty, he says it is the people that are the town's greatest asset.
Mr Cowgill was caring for his wife Helen following an accident and was unable to attend last Tuesday's (September 23) awards presentation ceremony in Cooma.
The award was picked up on his behalf by the then mayor of the Bega Valley Shire Council, Bill Taylor.
Centre for Volunteering chief executive officer Gemma Rygate said the annual awards highlighted the 2.4 million volunteers in NSW and the unseen work they did - from fire fighting to patient transport, suicide prevention and much more.
"Volunteers are our unsung heroes," Ms Rygate said. "They make a huge contribution to the community and don't seek anything in return."
The overall winner for the Volunteer of the Year award for the region southern NSW region was John Young of Bodalla who was recognised for his work with Marine Rescue, Narooma.