Duke of Edinburgh International Award

Another great year of Duke of Edinburgh is rapidly concluding with only one more Gold/Silver expedition to go after the end of term, making it our 18^th expedition of the year! As usual for this time of year, expeditions are subject to the whims of nature – high temperatures, bush-fire risk, storms and floods can disrupt the best laid plans; flexibility and patience are attributes the girls need apply, or acquire. For this hike and the Silver expedition in January – we also encourage the girls to continue to check their emails periodically to pick up any announcements we make.

One activity I would suggest to anyone whose daughter has done a Duke of Edinburgh expedition this year is to let them take you for a bushwalk, show you some things they learnt, enjoy some peaceful nature, breath quiet air and eavesdrop on some birds. Sydney (and most of Australia) abounds with outstanding natural environments, and I encourage everyone to imbibe their healing aethers.

Having mentioned the bushwalks, we would like to congratulate all the candidates this year for their vigour, vivacity, and venturous spirit on the Expeditions – it’s been another magical year of campfires and charming streams, kookaburras and possums, sing-alongs and expansive lookouts. As always, we commend the enthusiasm, the teamwork, the embarkation on day one with heavy packs and the last day completion with heavy legs. Doric and I look forward to doing it all again next year.

Following on from that, if there are still students in Year 8 (ie going in to Year 9 in 2024) who wish to sign up for the Bronze Award, it’s not too late – you can get your permission note in to Ms Bower this week before the last day, or you will be able to sign up early next year (though by signing up now, you may be able to start some of your activities over the summer break).

On another note, I would really encourage any students that find they still have unreturned equipment borrowed from the school, please return them asap, so that friends and peers can make use of it next year.

A reminder that a video tribute to the candidates from the past year may be found here.

Hopefully when you watch it you will jump up out of that soft lounge into a pair of sturdy shoes and get out into the bush for a few hours – or at least ask your child how they managed to do it?

Finally, we urge all the candidates to maintain the effort with their Skill, Service and Recreation components, and to be aware that if they have questions or problems I will be checking emails through the holidays. Often these months can provide opportunities to start or recommence building hours in your Online Record Book.

Whether you embrace travel, pets, loved ones, books or the ultimate luxury – doing nothing – we trust you enjoy these next eight weeks.