New Region Commissioners
Published Sat 01 Mar 2025
 |
Following an extensive recruitment and evaluation process, Assistant Chief Commissioner (Program Support Leaders) Phil Crutchley appointed a new team of Region Commissioners to help guide Scouts NSW over the next three years.
Find out more about some of the team and what they’re hoping to achieve below. We will share more profiles over the coming weeks.
 |
Tony Dent – Greater Western SydneyHow long have you been in Scouts? I joined Scouts as a Cub Scout in 1969. What do you love about Scouting? Scouts has been more than just something to do, it is a way of life learning. I have made too many friends to count and had so many adventures that I have achieved more than most in my life. Why did you apply for the Region Commissioner role? We often let opportunities go by because we are happy with the status quo, but you see the time to make a difference comes and you should apply yourself. That is what I did when I applied to be Region Commissioner. What do you hope to achieve in this position? As Region Commissioner I hope to bring together everyone in the Region on the same journey, to improve the participation in Scouting activities and grow the Groups’ membership with sustainable membership of Youth and Leaders, and that everyone feels valued in their contribution to the young people of Scouts. |
 |
John Selwood – HumeHow long have you been in Scouts? My Scouting journey started when I joined as a Cub Scout in the late '60s. After achieving my Queen's Scout Award, I became an Assistant Scout Leader then moved through a variety of roles including Scout Leader, Group Leader, District Scout Leader, Leader Trainer, Region Commissioner (Adult Training and Development) then Region Commissioner. What do you love about Scouting? Scouting fosters resilience, teamwork, and leadership from a young age. It builds friendships while instilling valuable life skills, encourages individuals to face challenges, to be curious, adventurous and develop a sense of responsibility for themselves and others. It's an incredible blend of fun, personal growth, and learning that takes kids away from their screens into the outdoors to enjoy experiences many would not otherwise be able to do. Why did you apply for the Region Commissioner role I applied for the RC role as I care about where we are as an organisation right now, but more so about Scouting’s future. To move forward and grow; to be recognised by communities as something more than entertainment for children, we must realign with today’s community expectations and views. We must be recognised as a viable and vibrant alternative for their youth. When our Leaders face difficulties, it is our responsibility to change the things that make it hard and improve processes for them. The strength of our people is in unity, teamwork, learning from and inspiring each other. Sadly, over recent years many Groups and Districts have lost the “sense of community” they once had and now suffer from being siloed. As Region Commissioner I will do my best to work with our Leaders, professional staff and supporters to correct these and other situations that hold us back, to remove the roadblocks and perceived barriers that impede us generally, but most importantly to enhance our ability to deliver fun, excitement and learning through our youth program to our youth members. What do you hope to achieve in this position? In this position I hope to work with Leaders and supporters to bring people together to improve networking of Leaders and supporters; utilise the strengths of our Team (State and Region) to bridge gaps between Group, District, Regions; refresh our knowledge and capability with our youth program to provide our youth members with quality Scouting; assist growth in our youth and leader numbers by raising the public profile of Scouts through engagement with local communities and, where viable, start projects to reopen closed Scout Groups. Above all do my best to make sure people are having fun and enjoying what they do in Scouts. |
 |
Bruce Leverton – Hunter and CoastalHow long have you been in Scouts? I was a youth member with Lambton Scouts and re-joined as a Leader with Scouts in 1994. I started as an Assistant Scout Leader, then cout Leader before becoming District Commissioner for Lake Macquarie in 2005 and Region Commissioner (Scouts) in 2013. I am now Region Commissioner for Hunter and Coastal and going into my 31st year of Scouting. What do you love about Scouting? It's all about the opportunities that Scouting brings to our youth and Leaders. From being a youth in a Group to attending activities or a Jamboree, and for Leaders gaining qualifications to take on leadership roles within Scouting. Why did you apply for the Region Commissioner role? I applied for the role of Region Commissioner to use the experience I have gained in Scouting to bring new ideas, to move Hunter and Coastal Region forward, and to meet the challenges in the areas of membership growth for our youth and Leaders and to promote the youth program in an ever-changing world. What do you hope to achieve in this position? As the new Region Commissioner in Hunter and Coastal I want to work with all stakeholders to meet the growing needs of the Region, so that Scouts can move forward in a safe and balanced way. Having been part of the Region for more than 30 years, I understand the needs that are required to meet the challenges we face. |
 |
Anthony Boland – North CoastHow long have you been in Scouts? I have been in Scouts for 16 years. I started as a parent helper when my son joined and one year later became a Scout Leader. Five years after that I took on the Region Commissioner (Scouts) role, did 10 months as Deputy Region Commissioner Program Support and International, and then applied for the current role. What do you love about Scouting? The reason I volunteer with Scouts is the reward of seeing youth achieving and developing their resilience. Why did you apply for the Region Commissioner role? I applied for the Region Commissioner role because I believe I can make a difference. I also want to continue the good work already started by the previous RC – Bel Howell. What do you hope to achieve in this position? Continuity and a strong feeling of belonging for all. |
 |
Cassandra Hammond – North WestHow long have you been in Scouts? I’ve been involved in Scouts for a little over four years. What do you love about Scouting? What I love most about it is the strong sense of community, adventure, and personal growth it fosters in both youth and adults. Why did you apply for the Region Commissioner role? I applied for the Region Commissioner role because I’m passionate about supporting and developing leadership at all levels – helping both youth and adults grow their skills and confidence. What do you hope to achieve in this position? In this position, I hope to support our Leaders in engaging with the wider community and to deliver a varied and meaningful youth program. I also wish to help grow our Region’s youth and leadership numbers while strengthening connections across our geographically spread-out Scouting community, ensuring that everyone feels supported and inspired. |
 |
Sonia Clarke - RiverinaHow long have you been in Scouts? My Scouting path began in 1998 and has taken me on a journey of growth from Assistant Joey Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, District Cub Scout Leader, Region Commissioner for Cubs, National Training Team (Leader Trainer, 4 Beads) Branch Commissioner for Adult Training and Development (NT) and now Region Commissioner for Riverina. I am going into my 28th year of Scouting. What do you love about Scouting? The variety of experiences and opportunities for youth that they have input in to suit the outcomes they hope for in their time in Scouting. The many youth and adults I have seen grow and thrive in Scouting. I also have made many long-lasting friendships that I cherish. Why did you apply for the Region Commissioner role? I applied for the role because I see and care about the challenges in this part of regional NSW and want to give my support to make a positive impact in the area in which I live. Scouting has an important role in society to grow, support and nurture youth in our communities. I feel I can meet the challenge of making Scouting resources and support more accessible to give opportunities to Scouting youth and adults in the Riverina. What do you hope to achieve in this position? As a Region Commissioner I am part of a State team and I believe each of us have a vision that Scouting remains a meaningful and impactful experience for youth and adults. I hope to adapt to the needs of the Region and am committed to assisting youth and adults to feel supported and empowered in their Scouting journey. When Scouting members feel confident and equipped, they are better able to experience and enjoy the many opportunities Scouting has to offer. Adults in Scouting face many challenges and they are better able to support and guide youth members, helping them navigate and achieve their chosen pathways, if they themselves are supported. My goal is to create an environment where both youth and adults in Scouting thrive, ensuring that Scouting continues to make a positive, lasting impact on future generations. |
 |
Jarratt Hogarth – South Coast and TablelandsHow long have you been in Scouts? I started Scouting as a Cub Scout in the late 1980s, moving up to Scouts, Venturer Scouts and then into Rover Scouts briefly before my career took up the time I had available for Scouting. I returned a few years later to become a Venturer Scout Leader with 1st Albion Park Scout Group in 2009, a role I still enjoy holding today. Throughout my time as a Leader in Scouting I have held dual appointed roles as a Rover Advisor, District Venturer Scout Leader, District Commissioner, Region Commissioner (Adult Training and Development), and now Region Commissioner for South Coast and Tablelands Region. What do you love about Scouting? As a youth member my favourite section was Venturer Scouts. This is the section which resonated with me the most and I believe provided the largest contributions to what shaped the adult I became. I made lifelong friends and was able to share some amazing experiences with those people. When returning to the movement as a Leader, Venturer Scouts was the obvious choice for me and where I wanted to give back to the Movement which gave me so much. The Venturer Scout section, being more youth-led, allows me to take on a mentoring role where I can provide advice and guidance to the Venturer Scouts rather than providing direct leadership. This allows the Venturer Scouts space to make mistakes and learn from them, while within a safe and supervised environment. Watching a new Venturer Scout – whether they’re transitioning from Scouts or joining the Movement for the first time – finding their place within a group of their peers and learning to trust the support system of their Unit is incredibly rewarding. Seeing their growth to being ready to move up to Rover Scouts and taking steps into the unknown of adulthood – navigating studies, relationships, and sometimes employment – while also challenging themselves with new and exciting experiences, is what continues to inspire me to stay in the Movement. Why did you apply for the Region Commissioner role? As a frontline Leader I see the challenges faced day-to-day when running a section. Rather than complaining, I applied for the role with the specific purpose of doing my best to build upon the foundations left by those before me and seeking to improve what I can to open up a better support network for our Leaders, tear down perceived barriers or boundaries, and empower Leaders to find the same fellowship that our Scouts do through networking with other Leaders in other parts of Scouting, overall leading to an improved ability to deliver the program to our youth membership and ensure Scouting remains available for generations to come. What do you hope to achieve in this position? If I could leave a single legacy of my time as Region Commissioner it would be promoting improved connections for Leaders on the frontline to Leaders in other Groups around them, also up to myself and the Region team by fostering collaboration across all levels of Scouting. For whatever reason we have found many of our Groups working within semi-isolated silos, where Leaders are able to comfortably work within their own Group, but aren’t as confident to reach out to their neighbours when assistance or other co-operation may be needed, worried this may be viewed as shifting a burden on to another Group's resources and volunteers; or they are concerned that their local needs do not warrant reaching out to the District or Region Leadership structures above them, again worried about adding to another volunteer’s workload. In reality, opening these communication pathways and networking with their peers would actually decrease the burden to all involved. By facilitating a sharing of the workload, reduction of duplicated efforts, and opening a free exchange of resources, ideas, and knowledge, we would be in an improved position to deliver the Scouting program with a more diverse range of activities for our youth membership. There is no "Them", only "Us", and we are all Scouts – from a new Joey Scout joining up for the first time, through to our Chief Commissioner – we are all on the shared journey of Scouting, and that journey is best travelled together in friendship as it has always meant to be. |
 |
Dean Bassett – Sydney NorthHow long have you been in Scouts? Started in 1980 as an 18-year-old, now have 37 years’ service. Did have a seven-year break with a young family and started a business. Came back as a Leader when my son linked from Joeys into Cubs at Normanhurst and Monday nights became the activity we did together (that was 17 years ago!) What do you love about Scouting? Many non-Scouting friends ask me why I continue as a volunteer after so long? I firmly believe that volunteering has made our country a better place. I became a Leader as an 18-year-old after being a Cub, Scout and Venturer. I had a number of adults make my time as a youth member possible. Some of them were inspirational and others simply gave up their time – something that is increasingly valuable to all of us. But being a Scouter gives me an opportunity to create memories for young people and I get the satisfaction of playing a small part in their lives and a role in shaping the future through them. That’s always been hugely motivating. Why did you apply for the Region Commissioner role? I was encouraged to apply for the Region Commissioner role by a number of people I respect from all over the Region. Plus, having spent the majority of my 37 years’ service in Groups, I felt that Sydney North would be well represented by someone with current Group Leader experience. What do you hope to achieve in this position? Sydney North has been a very well-managed team with very committed Region Leaders and great events. However, all this still hasn’t stopped a decline in our youth membership and Leader numbers. So, simply put, if you keep doing the same thing you will get the same result. So, something had to change if we want our Scouts to stay and our volunteers to enjoy their time at Scouts. I’m so pleased to say that feedback and support for this view has been overwhelming and I’m confident we will see more youth members stay longer over time and all our volunteers having fun. |
