For many on the Far South Coast, Nev Cowgill has been an integral part of Scouting ever since he arrived in Eden in 1969.
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"I came into town on a Wednesday, went to the Scouts on a Friday night and I've been there ever since," he laughed.
Mr Cowgill has been presented his 50 Years Service to Scouting Award, with a celebration for the occasion held at Cobargo on Saturday, October 19.
The recognition is the first of its kind to be awarded in his district - which runs from Eden to Batemans Bay - for at least 24 years.
Mr Cowgill, who when asked how old he is answered "on the wrong side of 80", has hundreds of stories about his years in the organisation.
One moment that has stuck with him was when he was repairing a canoe with a 17-year-old girl who came from a single-parent family.
She asked how old he was and he replied "old enough to be your dad", and she burst into tears and said he was like a father to her.
Over the years it is this aspect of the Scouts, helping kids, that made him want to stay.
"I think the spiritual well-being of kids impressed me," the Eden resident said.
"A little bit of discipline never hurt anyone too!
"But I enjoyed teaching young kids something I knew.
"The main thing I got out of it is people I had as youth still come up and say g'day to me, say how much they enjoyed the Scouts, and still say thank you."
Mr Cowgill said the Scouts gave him experiences he would never have had if he was not involved, such as lugging equipment into a cave for a photography shoot, canoeing and attending 28 jamborees.
Also, in 2007 he joined other Scout leaders for the centenary of Scouting and travelled around the world.
In Eden he ran the Scouts and Venturers, ran Scouts for two years in Merimbula, and for the last 20 years has been working in Cubs - he is the current district Cub leader.
District Scout leader Graham Parr said while Eden Scouts were not currently operational, Mr Cowgill had held the group together for as long as he had been there.
"Some of that time he's done it single handedly, other times he's done it with other leaders," he said.
"He's just a super keen guy that loves the ethics of Scouting.
"He's already got a good story to tell you when you're talking to him.
"He's just a likable bloke and the kids love him. Some people have trouble relating to a certain age bracket, but not Nev; he can get down and related to any age bracket."
Mr Cowgill has no plans to retire from Scouting, saying he will keep going until he cannot do it anymore.
"I can still keep up with the kids - I'm just a big kid myself!" he said.
"If they're doing something like going down a water slide I get in there with them, I don't hold back.
"I'm not ready to collapse yet."
He is already planning for the 2020 Jamboree and hopes to start Eden Scouts again next year.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
