Ross joined the Scouting Movement in 1925 as a Cub. He progressed into Scouts, became a King’s Scout, a District Cub Master and subsequently Assistant Headquarters Commissioner for Cubs.
From 1957 to 1962 he was President of South Canberra District, then until 1969 he was Area Commissioner for Canberra Monaro Area. He became Area President in 1979 until being appointed President of the new Australian Capital Territory Branch in 1981, a position that he held until 1989.
In 1985 he was integral to establishing The Arthur Shakespeare Foundation for Scouting to help support Scouting in the ACT, and served as Honorary Secretary to the Foundation for nine years.
He also remained an Honorary Commissioner of Scouts ACT until 1996. From 1971 to 1976, Ross was the International Commissioner for the Scout Association of Australia and served on the Asia-Pacific Region Committee from 1972 to 1978, including two years as Chairman. During this time he successfully encouraged wider participation by Australian youth members and Leaders in international Scouting events.
Ross received numerous Scouting awards, culminating in the Silver Kangaroo in 1985 and the President’s Citation in 1997.