 | Vocational Service Awards 14 April 2025 Vocational service is at the core of Rotary, embedded in its history, present and future. It calls on Rotarians to foster high ethical standards in business, recognise the value of all occupations, and dignify our occupations as an opportunity to serve our communities. Through Vocational Service, as Rotarians, we:
Rotary International has established the Vocational Awards programme for Clubs who wish to honour and affirm vocational excellence and service to mankind in and through one's vocation. In 2025, the RCD will be recognising two deserving awardees, to Paul Haddad, an Excellence in Workmanship Award and to David Bean OAM, a Vocational Excellence Award. |
David Bean OAM has been chosen as the recipient in 2025 of a Vocational Excellence Award in recognition of his outstanding professional achievements, commitment to high ethical standards and significant contribution to the advancement of education in Western Australia.
David was Deputy Headmaster of Hale School for 18 years, Hale’s Director of Curriculum for 30 years, a teacher of English Literature and a rowing coach for 38 years, retiring in 2022.
Acknowledging his significant contribution to Hale School and his profound impact on generations of students, the Board of Governors at Hale marked the occasion of David’s retirement by announcing the establishment of the perpetual David Bean Scholarship.
David’s personal and professional passions are many and varied. Receiving the Rhodes Scholarship in 1976 was an early indicator of his pursuit of excellence in all things. Upon returning to Perth, David worked as a Research Associate and Senior Tutor in the English Department of the University of Western Australia before starting his teaching career at Hale School in 1985.
David’s broad interests, impeccable standards, passion for boys’ education and deep respect for every student in his care were the hallmarks of his teaching career.
As an educator, David maintained and enhanced a strong culture of academic excellence and exceptional learning opportunities for all boys. In the classroom, David shared his passion for English and Literature with all his students. David nurtured and supported the academic goals of students at every level. His personal engagement with almost every student at Hale School, encouraging them to achieve their own best version of themselves, left a lasting impression on countless boys and their families.
Outside the classroom, David held many leadership positions at Hale School. For 38 years, he coached rowing and mentored many young sportsmen. In addition to his roles as Director of Curriculum, and Deputy Headmaster, David led a team which introduced many innovations to transform the School’s academic culture and the range of opportunities for learning.
In 1998, David was instrumental in the development of the Indigenous Scholarship Program at Hale School which positioned Hale at the forefront of providing educational opportunities for young Indigenous boys in Western Australia. His deep commitment to this program had a transformational effect on the lives of many young men and their families. David ran that program for 20 years and helped many other boarding schools establish similar schemes.
The personal investment of David in the interview and selection process of every student accepted into the Indigenous Scholarship Program was often just the beginning of his mentorship and support of those boys. David has maintained a post-Year 12 destination survey for all Indigenous students since the Scholarship’s commencement which provides data to attest to the success of the program.
As well as his guidance during their time at Hale, David remained connected to many of these young indigenous men after graduation, continuing his personal support and interest in their futures.
During his lengthy teaching career David sat on many committees serving the education community more broadly, for example committees of the Independent Schools Association of WA and the School Curriculum and Standards Authority of WA.
David is currently Deputy Chair of the Teacher Registration Board of WA, he is also on the Board of Governors of St Mary's Anglican Girls' School and the Board of St Catherine's College, the university student residential college at both UWA and Curtin University. He was formerly a Director of the social enterprise Teach Learn Grow.
David’s other passion is rowing. He has served the sport of rowing not only as a coach at Hale School but as a past vice president of Rowing WA and an Editor of Australian Rowing Magazine and as a member of the Board of the University of Western Australia Boat Club, of which he is a Life Member.
In March 2023, David was made a Co-Patron of Rowing WA.
David’s contribution to secondary education and rowing were recognised with the award of a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day 2024 Honours List.
Referencing Rotary’s ideals, David’s career has been exemplified by outstanding service and professionalism. Through his vocation he has:
- used his unique skills to address community needs;
- empowered young students through training and skill development; and
- inspired generations of young men to act with integrity.
David Bean OAM is a worthy recipient of the Vocational Excellence Award.