Tomaree High School

Duke of Edinburgh Award.

History of Program

The Award began in the United Kingdom in 1956 to encourage and motivate young people over the age of 14 years to become involved in a balanced program of voluntary self development activities.

The Award programme was developed by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Phillip, Kurt Hahn, the founder of Outward Bound and Lord Hunt, leader of the first team to conquer Mount Everest.

The Award commenced in Australia in 1962 with all states and territories represented. The NSW Division is the largest of all Australian states operating the program with over 6700 new participants commencing an Award each year. 

Outline of Program

The Award is a programme of cultural, practical and adventurous activities covering four different areas and three different levels. For each Award, participants have to complete the requirements of each of the four sections:

The four Sections are designed to complement each other and provide a balanced programme.

There are three levels of Award:

Bronze (14 years and over)

Silver (15 years and over)

Gold  

(minimum age to start 16 years and over – below are the requirements to meet the Gold Award )

Service
Choose one form of service and undergo appropriate briefing and then undertake practical service of at least 60 hours over 12 months or complete an appropriate course of specialised training and complete at least 40 hours practical service related whenever possible to the training undertaken over the remainder of the 12 months.

Skills
Choose a skill and follow it for 12 months for those who have completed Silver or 18 months for direct Gold entrants.

Expedition, Exploration or an Adventurous Project
Undertake and complete training and 3 practice trips (or at least two if they have completed this section at Bronze or at least 1 if they have completed this section at Silver) and then complete a test expedition of 4 days and 3 nights.

Physical recreation
Involvement and improvement in overall performance and knowledge of one chosen activity and perform regularly for a minimum of 40 hours spread over at least 12 weeks.

Residential project
Undertake some shared activity either through voluntary service or training away from home for a period of 5 consecutive days. Each demands a different level of commitment and effort. To achieve an Award, a participant must fulfill the basic requirements for each of the four Sections. On completion the participant receives a badge and certificate as recognition of his or her achievements.

The Programme encourages the participant to set a personal goal and achieve it. Along the way, they learn about themselves and about qualities like responsibility, trust and the ability to plan and organise themselves.
There is no competition between participants. The only people with whom they compete are themselves. Self-motivation is fundamental to the Award. There are no set standards to achieve. The criterion for gaining an Award is individual improvement based on each participant's starting point and potential.

Participation in the Programme is entirely voluntary. Participants choose their own activities within the four areas and set their own goals.

Target group for Duke of Edinburgh Program at Tomaree High School

Students are eligible to participate in this award at our school from 14 to 18 years. The program however is available for anyone between the ages of 14 and 25. The only entry qualifications are the determination to improve oneself.

Part of this award involves planning and undertaking an expedition. This component of the program involves one practice trip and then a final expedition of 2 days including 1 night.

Myall Lakes Expedition. (see photographs below)                                                           (top of page)

The boys accompanied by another three walkers traveled to the Myall Lakes National Park where they trekked from Boomeri camping ground to Shelly Beach via Johnstone Beach and return. An overnight camp at Shelly Beach and the return to Boomeri the next day saw the group travel 26 kms with the last 9kms in the rain on a Sunday.

Extract from a students journal Blue Mountains National Park.

Start at Mount Victoria Train station, trek along fire trails and walking paths down Mount Victoria, camp first night at Burra Korain Flat, travel along the Grosse River , camp second night at Acaica Flat, hike up Perry's lookdown and reach Blackheath Train station on the 28

Training: due to the normal lifestyle choices 1 undertake, 1 was fairly physically fit to take this trip, the information night was attended and the route was planned.

Highlights: meeting up with an old friend that 1 never thought 1 would see again. Seeing some awesome scenery and taking pictures away. Meeting some new people and getting out of my normal scenery 

Impressions and Feeling about the trip: I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and found my company on it as exciting as the scenery was. It was physically slightly challenging but I enjoyed putting myself out of my norm, it was unfortunate that we couldn't finish the trip but safety comes first

http://www.dukeofed.org.au/