Junee Cub Scout leaders Jackie Starr and Karen Callow recognised for their service to Scouts Australia

Leader Jackie Starr will be presented with the meritorious service award and assistant leader Karen Callow with the special service award.

There’s 22 Cub Scouts in Junee and Mrs Starr said group is one of the most active in the region.

She said the reason she had been leading the group for 27 years was the buzz from the children learning and developing through activities.

Seeing the Scouts having fun, learning sportsmanship and outdoor skills and also building self-esteem was behind the reason both leaders have volunteered for so long.

“It gets in your blood,” Mrs Starr said.

It wasn’t until Mrs Callow lived in Junee that she had anything to do with Scouts, arriving at the group’s hall with her eight-year-old daughter.

“I was involved for a few years as a parent helper and I thought it was such a good thing for kids,” Mrs Callow said.

It lead to Mrs Callow becoming assistant leader and spending 15 years with Junee Scouts.

The leaders meet each week to plan out the activities and outings for meetings.

“We’re prepared to take them anywhere,” Mrs Callow said.

“You come back from a camp exhausted but you think back and say ‘what a great we all had’.”

“As much as I love it, there’s going to come a time when I can’t do it,” Mrs Starr said.

Both Mrs Starr and Mrs Callow are on the look out for new leaders and have recently had Daniel Wattie join the group.

“While our leaders don’t devote their time and energy to Scouts for the accolades, it’s wonderful that they can be recognised for the positive impact they have on the lives of so many of our youth members,” Riverina Scouts region commissioner Heather Dearing said.

“Jackie and Karen are much valued members of Scouting within the Riverina region and their extended contribution to Scouting in Junee and beyond is exceptional.

“Both women have deservedly earned this recognition.”