1985 School Magazine

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD SCHEME

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme involves four separate components, and students must qualify in each of Service, Expeditions, Skills and Physical Recreation. This year, members of the Scheme undertook a large variety of activities in order to fullfil the necessary requirements. The Expedition requirement involves participating in two or three day camps. This year, students have gone on expeditions to regions such as Fraser Island, The Samford Valley, Mt Crosby, Mt Barney and Burra Burra. All of these camps have proven to be both enjoyable and worthwhile experiences. Any students who are interested in undertaking a challenge, finding a way to develop new skills, taking up new interests, experiencing adventure and helping the community as well as themselves, are encouraged to participate in the Scheme. It is particularly fitting that in 1985, International Youth Year, students at Brisbane Girls Grammar School are becoming more and more involved in programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School is a registered operator of the Award Scheme. The Award Programme is operated in over 40 countries and is for all young people between the ages of 14 and 25. It offers them opportunities for broadening their interests and experience through participation in a wide range of practical, cultural and adventurous activities related to local community needs. There are three levels of the Award Scheme: Bronze, Silver and Gold .

REPORT ON A DUKE OF EDINBURGH BRONZE TRAINING CAMP In July of this year, five brave Grammar girls ventured out on a Duke of Edinburgh training camp. Little did they know of what was to come. We arrived at about 8 o'clock on Saturday morning to find a group of almost 40 other naive students like ourselves. Being issued with packs and tents we then attempted, successfully of course, to set up our camp. After doing so, we were taught first aid, bush safety and map reading to be tested on that afternoon. Each of us proudly passed with flying colours. That night we met students from Toowoomba and all suburbs of Brisbane who helped us prepare something edible for dinner from the bulk supply of marshmallows and Vesta meals that we had brought with us. The following morning we set off in small groups to climb a giant mountain, eventually to encounter an old sawmill, or at least that was the plan . Map reading, we found, was not quite as easy on the hike as on the blackboard. Instead of following a relatively easy path we became lost in a dense growth of Lantana, eventually being forced to cut our way free with a machete. Despite this setback, we still managed to arrive at our destination before the majority of other groups. Descending our initial obstruction, the mountain , in less than 10 minutes, by sliding most of the way, we felt glad to be going home. Overall it was a camp never to be forgotten . It prepared us for our test camp, and, most importantly of all, it cured our addiction to marshmallows.

This year, we congratulated a number of students who have received their Bronze Awards and look forward to quite a few more girls completing this Award in the near future. Four students are at present involved in completing their Silver Award and have been enthusiastically involved throughout the year.

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Liz Smyth and Kylie Mitchell

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