Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Ceremony

On Thursday 21 March, Olivia Nahkle, Rosanna Cartwright and Sienna Chan were awarded their Gold Award for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award at Accor Stadium. The event was hosted by the NSW Office of Sport and schools throughout NSW were invited. It was a celebration of the many stories, adventures, achievements, and dedication to the pursuit of expanding personal horizons. Those receiving their Gold Award are congratulated on an outstanding achievement and should be proud of their efforts.

The Gold Award is the highest certificate that a participant can achieve in the Award Scheme. They must complete 52 hours of Physical Recreation, Skills, and Volunteer Service – a year of consistent dedication. As well as these hours, they complete two Adventurous Journeys and the Gold Residential Project.

The notion with the physical recreation, skill and volunteer service is that students are building their own self-esteem through involvement in community activities and developing skills for life.

The Adventurous Journeys are expeditions away from their comfort zones exploring and building upon previous outdoor skills in a final expedition where students take ownership of the journey. These journeys took place in Tasmania (Overland Track), Sydney Harbour National Park and the Budawangs National Park.

The Gold Residential Project is an experience where students are working with people in new environments towards a collective goal. This could be volunteering at a youth camp, participating in an interstate sporting event, attending a study camp, or even taking part in an international project. Students are encouraged to seek new opportunities to get the most out of their Gold Award for the Residential Project.

One of the best parts of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the opportunity to create new memories and lifelong skills with like-minded individuals. I can recall my own experience during my Gold Award when we rode from Mt Kosciusko to the coast on mountain bikes – it was the adventure of a lifetime that opened the pathways to many new outdoor experiences.

To all those who are completing their DOE, keep going! It is a worthwhile achievement and forms bonds for life amongst your Santa Sabina peers. I look forward to celebrating more wonderful achievements from Santa Sabina students in the coming years. 

Christopher Walker
Coordinator of Outdoor Education & Experiential Learning