Prendergast humbled by Burnett's biggest honour
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Well-known for wearing many hats in the South Burnett community, the region is very fortunate that one of those hats sees Scott Prendergast contribute to the great game of rugby league.
Prendergast is the current South Burnett Rugby League Tribunal Chairman and shares the coordination of the region’s representative program – a role that he is proud of, particularly with the introduction of the 'Beyond the Nest' development program that gives an opportunity for young players to better themselves both on and off the footy field.
Rugby league is by far not the only beneficiary of Prendergast’s modest commitment to his local area.
In the past, he’s been heavily involved with the Murgon-Barambah Soccer Club, Murgon Sports Association and Queensland Police Service Clay Target Club, and has been a key driver of countless fundraisers to raise vital funds for local charities such as Castra, the Murgon Hospital Auxiliary and LifeFlight.
His heavy work within the South Burnett community, particularly rugby league, has seen him named the South Burnett Citizen of the Year at the region’s Australia Day awards held recently.
“I was very surprised by the announcement,” Prendergast said.
“It was a massive honour to be thought of in such light, but also very humbling as we live in a great part of the world.”
He is so heavily invested in his local community, that he actually wasn't able to accept his prestigious award in person on the night because he had already volunteered to help at the Kings Royal Speedway.
“Ensuring young people have opportunities is a wonderful reward for being involved in community projects.”
Scott Prendergast South Burnett Rugby League
Also serving the South Burnett as the Officer in Charge of Kingaroy’s Criminal Investigation Branch, Prendergast believes the most rewarding aspect of his service is the opportunities that are created.
“Ensuring young people have opportunities is a wonderful reward for being involved in community projects,” he said.
“Whether raising money for school P&F groups or for the local footy club, by being able to give back ensures a future for the kids.
"At the end of the day, it's our role as parent and members of the community to ensure that opportunity exists."
His driving force is the positive result at the end.
“The challenge of doing something outside of the comfort zone is always rewarding, but it’s also equally rewarding to see the effort that is put in," he said.
“That effort then paying results, this is my ultimate driving force.”
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About Scott Prendergast
Scott Prendergast has made a valuable contribution to the South Burnett community over many years.
From 1999 until 2003, he was president of Murgon Barambah United Soccer Club and was instrumental in building that club to become one of Murgon’s finest sporting clubs at the time.
He was an executive committee member of the Murgon Sports Association from 1999-2003 where he worked proactively to bring together the various sports clubs within Murgon to raise funds to improve the local sporting facilities for the benefit of all clubs. He re-joined that association in 2016 and remains a member today.
Prendergast has been treasurer of the Queensland Police Service Clay Target Club since 2008.
He has played many roles within the Murgon Junior Rugby League Club including manager of the Under 12 and Under 14 teams. He as involved in organising the fundraising Gavin Cooper Dinner in 2016, and the Stanwell 9s Domestic Violence Awareness competition.
He assisted with the NRL Voice Against Violence team when they came to the South Burnett, delivering the program to more than 120 players and addressing students at Nanango, Kingaroy and Murgon high schools.
He has been South Burnett Rugby League judiciary chairperson since 2016 and was coordinator for the Zone 5 carnival held in Kingaroy in July.
He received the South Burnett rugby league club delegate award in 2017 and the Maximum Effort Award by the South Burnett Speedway for 2017-18.
Prendergast was also the driving force behind the Murgon Police Charity Balls between 2001 and 2006 which raised large sums of money for Castra, Murgon Hospital Auxiliary and LifeFlight.
During 2017 he received the Queensland Child Protection Week Award (leadership) for the South Burnett. He has won a Rotary Christopher Thompson Pride in Workmanship award.
He is currently the OIC at Kingaroy CIB.
