Following another successful scrutineering stint at the Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race last month, Alister Colley has deservingly received the final BFGoodrich Volunteer of the Round Award for 2025 while also announcing he would also be stepping down from his post from next year.

When it comes to individual contribution to the Australian off road community, not many others have dedicated as much of their life to the sport than outgoing Kalgoorlie Chief Scrutineer, Alister Colley.

Having been a Motorsport Australia official for more than four decades, Colley revealed at last month’s BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) season finale he would be stepping down as Chief Scrutineer after four consecutive years in the position at Kalgoorlie.

“I’m not really good with words, I’m more into this sort of thing,” Colley said after receiving the award.

“I’m actually retiring, not fully from scrutineering, but from attending events in Western Australia.

“I’ve been in the game for 43-odd years, I’ve had a good run and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it working with Jase [Galea] and Dan [Rogers] and everyone part of the AORC. It’s been a good journey.”

Motorsport Australia Off Road Manager Campbell Smith stated Colley will remain a general member of the off road officials cohort moving forward.

“Alister has been an integral part of our scrutineering team at Kalgoorlie for the past few years and we’ll miss his presence there moving forward,” Smith said.

“We look forward to still seeing him around the course, albeit in a different capacity to what we’re used to.”

Colley outlined he will miss the camaraderie above all, as well as the way the competitors acknowledged his safety advice and how they took onboard his findings from a safety perspective.

“You get the odd altercation here and there in scrutineering which happens from time to time, but it’s been good to be part of,” Colley added.

“The Kalgoorlie Desert Race, it’s massive now, I’ve been here since day dot and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

“I’ve got a very heavy heart because I won’t be part of this event in the same capacity moving forward. I’ll probably be here next year, but only as a helping hand or a spectator.

“Dan, I and Jason have worked well together for many years, it’s been an absolute pleasure and it will always be in my heart.”