This year 52 students have been actively completing sections of their Duke of Edinburgh Award programme. 

This year 52 students have been actively completing sections of their Duke of Edinburgh Award programme. To complete their Awards the students have had to show continuous commitment of between 3 and 12 months over 3 different areas as well as complete the Adventurous Journey section of the Award.

During this year 17 students have completed their Bronze Award (with many more just about to) and most have progressed onto their Silver Award. Two students (Ruby Glasson 12SCTH) and Izzy Backhouse (13MTD) have been awarded Silver Awards. Top honours of Gold Awards have gone to two students: Elsa Hegarty (graduated Burnside High School at the end of 2016) and Melissa Bayley of 13SRT. Melissa sums up her journey through the Award below:

“A brochure displaying a sea-kayaker entitled ‘Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award’ was the initial enticement of my interest in the Award programme. As a 13 year old all I was looking for was adventure, the type of adventure that really gets you out in nature exploring the great beauty of New Zealand. I felt that although I'd been living in this stunning country for 13 years I hadn't experienced the wonder of the outdoors that I knew was waiting for me. So, I saw the Award as the perfect way to get on and head out into our extravagantly gorgeous backyard.

The only problem was that the youngest you could begin the Award was 14. So at age 14 I was on the starting line with my tramping pack on and eager to pound some dirt tracks. One full day of training and two days with one overnight stay at Hawdon Valley later I had accomplished my first tramp and was hooked for life. After 3 months of volunteering at Travis Wetland for a couple hours a week, 6 months of playing football, 3 months of jamming on guitar, and a qualifying tramp in the Nina Valley, I had completed all 4 sections of the Bronze Award and eagerly began my Silver Award in order to get more adventure.

A two night tramp at Dracophyllum Flat completed my training followed by a 3 day tramp of the Summit Walkway for my practice tramp, and a 3 day tramp of Cass Saddle for my qualifying tramp. The tramping trips were so enriching and satisfying to accomplish.

I did 6 months of volunteering at sites around Canterbury for plantings, 6 months of improving my guitaring, and 9 months of footballing to gain my Silver award.

Achieving my Gold Award is something that I am most proud of; Over 12 months of volunteering in various roles in the school community, the majority being as a South Prefect. 12 months of playing guitar regularly each week. 12 months of running and playing football on a regular basis. 10 days and 10 nights on the Spirit of New Zealand sailing ship as my residential project. (Do it, it is the most incredible experience!) Two tramps of 4 days and 3 nights: St James Walkway and Harper’s Pass. Harper’s Pass was my last qualifying journey and took my 100 km over 4 days of hard yakka, crossing from Arthur’s Pass to Lewis Pass. This tramp took me to the most magnificent sites, looking across the mountain ranges, and into natural geothermal spas on a cliff-side under a sea of stars.

These tramps unlocked the beauty of New Zealand I’d been yearning to see. I learnt how to survive outside of civilization, how to cross a river safely, how to plan and execute a successful tramp, and priceless first-hand knowledge on NZ’s flora and fauna.

The other sections of the award: Physical recreation, service, and skills, I was already incorporating into my life. So, if like me you are keen for adventure that really gets you out there, give Duke of Edinburgh a go and you’ll receive many great returns for investing your time and efforts into it!

Endless thanks to Bushworks NZ, Andrew Smythe, and Alison Middelkoop for your investment in young people who strive for the most we can get out of life.”