Duke of Edinburgh 

From Monday 5th to Friday 9th December, I had the pleasure of travelling to the Strathbogie State Forest with students completing their Duke of Edinburgh Silver award as well as teachers, Mr Barnett, Ms Kertes and Mr Harley. 

One of the aims of the expedition was for students to experience a team adventure in an unfamiliar environment, particularly being pushed outside of their comfort zone.  

When we arrived at our base site we were greeted with sunshine and blue skies which was a pleasant change of pace from the weather currently being experienced in Melbourne.  Students quickly got into their groups and with the packs ready, set off for an experience they will never forget. 

A standard day for the students started with a wake-up call at around 6am, if not earlier, for those who wanted a warm breakfast cooked on the Trangia.  By around 8am the groups were off hiking to their next location, with members of each group taking turns navigating and being designated with first aid duties.  The pace set while hiking was gentle to allow for full appreciation of the panoramic views we often encountered.  One of the view highlights was whilst at Sandy Falls.  Lunch was often had at around noon, but sometimes skipped if the location of that night’s campsite was close by.  Once at our evening campsite, tents were constructed, and a campfire got going.  When there was a river present, time was often spent relaxing by it and reflecting on the day’s journey. Evening meals were cooked together to help build comradery and sense of group unity. After dinner, cooking marshmallows around the campfire was quick to occur, along with games such as Mafia.  

It was an absolute amazing week for everyone involved.  Below is a reflection of the week by Year 10 student Patrick Wu.

'The camp was challenging but at the same time so so so fun and a wonderful experience. Pushing myself through the hikes everyday really revealed to me that it’s not just your physical capabilities but also how you mentally take the situation. I found it hard to adapt to the different camping environments and days as I have never been camping before. However it was wonderful to connect with the group of guys and girls that were in my group, get more comfortable with each other and have a laugh. And the scenery was very very nice , and definitely made the hike worth it. The nighttime campfire banter was the best and probably a highlight. Overall the camp was the best and such a good experience. But now I have spaghetti legs, but the camp teaches you to really appreciate what you have and the mental and physical capabilities you really have'. 

Planning is well underway for the 2023 Duke of Edinburgh program. There are still a few places left.  If you are interested in participating in the program or would like more information, then please do not hesitate to email me at braedan.johnstone@education.vic.gov.au

By Braedan Johnstone 

Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator