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AROUND CAMPUS
CHALLENGE ACCEPTED: A TRIBUTE TO HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH On Friday 9 April, 2021, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, passed away aged 99, two months and two days short of his 100th birthday (on 6 June). The Duke has left a legacy of service and dedication to his Queen, his country and the Commonwealth, of which we in Australia are a part. ANNE TETLEYJONES
duke of edinburgh award coordinator
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n 65 years of public life, it seems that as Prince Philip has been remembered in tributes around the world since his passing, perhaps his greatest, and most enduring, legacy was the establishment of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, now going strong in 144 countries. From its inception, the Duke played an active role, especially in presenting Gold Awards to their recipients, including at Buckingham Palace and around the world, taking time to meet with these young people. The Duke certainly had a great sense of humour and put those around him at ease. The youth achievement scheme began in the United Kingdom in 1956 with just 7,000 boys and two years later it was extended to girls. Over the last six decades more than eight million people have ‘done their DofE’ and almost half a million youngsters are currently enrolled at either bronze, silver or gold level in the UK alone. The Duke was a lifelong advocate for young people, believing in each individual’s potential. The Award was designed, and continues today, to encourage personal discovery, self-reliance, commitment, responsibility and service to the community. The Duke of Ed Award (as it is colloquially known) began in Australia 1959. In that time, over 775,000 young Australians have achieved an Award and over 25,000 young people start an Award each year. The key to the Award is that it is accessible to all – no matter your race, religion, socio-economic or educational background, no matter your physical ability, young people around the world can achieve the Awards through hard work and commitment. What about the Duke of Edinburgh Award here at St Peters? St Peters became an Award centre delivering the first Awards in 1984. In the beginning,
Plus Ultra | June 2021
only a few students participated in the Award, but the numbers continue to grow, with on average 60 students each year starting their Bronze in Year 9. The very first Bronze Award was achieved in February 1984 by Old Scholar Marita Moore (1985). Marita skipped Silver and went on to Gold which she achieved almost ten years later in 1993. "It was probably one of the first real challenges I took on in life, but as it has turned out, it may in fact have been the catalyst for me to not shy away from challenges and try new and different things throughout my life! I thought I would gain confidence, meet new people and be exposed to some situations which would take me out of my comfort zone,” Marita explained. For Marita, completing the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award had a particularly significant impact on the future direction of her life. “I would have to say, probably had I not done the DoE Awards I would never have joined the Army Reserve where I served as a Medic for nearly nine years. In the Army Reserve I got to meet and work with some amazing people and travel to unusual places whilst serving our country’s defence efforts.” Old Scholar, Amanda Miller (1986), also achieved a Bronze in 1984, going on to Silver in 1985 and then Gold in 1986, becoming the first of an elite few at St Peters to achieve all three Award levels. “The Awards really made a difference in the early resumés. Unemployment was high at the time and the Service component of the Awards made me stand out. Employers really looked at this point of difference.” Any level of the Award is a challenge, and you need to work hard at it; you have to be motivated to do it yourself. For Old Scholar
