Paul Hennessy awarded OAM

Paul Hennessy’s 55 years of service to the Scouting Movement has been recognised with the awarding of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in today’s Australia Day Honours list.

With 10 Groups, six Rover Scout Units and one Scout Fellowship under his belt throughout his tenure, Paul – who is currently a Scouts NSW Honorary Branch Commissioner and Deputy Chair of the North West Scout Fellowship – was recognised for service to youth, and to the community.

Paul said he was “totally shocked” when he found out he had received the award.  “I thought originally it may have been AI, but once I received a call from Government House, I knew it was for real,” he said.  His achievements in Scouting are extensive – from receiving his own youth peak awards, including the Queen’s Scout Award and Baden-Powell Scout Award in 1979 and 1985 respectively, to the Silver Kangaroo in the Scouts Australia Adult Recognition Awards in 2020 – and his service outside of the Movement are equally so.

Paul has been a Community Justice of the Peace for 40 years, a Director of Bathurst RSL Club for more than 12 years, and has volunteered at the All Saints Cathedral office for more than 10 years. He received a Papal Service Blessings 40 years certificate and medal from Pope Francis in 2020; and last year received the Living Legend award from Bathurst Regional Council on Australia Day (pictured above, far left), followed by being named the Central West Overall and Adult Volunteer of the Year winner by the NSW Centre for Volunteering. 

He said his inspirations were his parents; Lord Baden-Powell; and St Mother Teresa, who he met in Bourke when he was living there. 

“Some of my most memorable events in Scouting were receiving the Silver Cross for Bravery with my mother there to see it (in 1990) and the World Jamboree at Cataract Scout Park in 1988,” he said. 

“What I’m most proud of is seeing youth members carrying their Scouting journey and becoming Leaders, getting their Wood Badge, and often achieving their peak awards like King’s Scout Award and the Baden-Powell Scout Award. It makes me so proud that I had a hand in their pathway to achieve their goals in Scouting.” 

Congratulations Paul on this tremendous honour!