Volunteer testimonials
Volunteer Dennis McCloskey Dennis McCloskey
I have had a 20 year involvement with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at two different schools in North Queensland. There are a number of things that I like about the scheme, and the type of young person that it attracts.
This is why I continue to volunteer some of my time to the scheme.
- The award challenges candidates to compete against themselves.
- A loss of interest or lack of time can be overcome at a later time in a candidate’s life.
- Often a skill or community service or sport becomes a life long interest for the young candidates.
- Duke’s candidates are very often high achievers and self starters. I continue to notice a high correlation between Duke’s candidates and captains and prefects within schools.
- Australia promotes itself as being the great outdoors country, but it isn’t. So many young Australians have never slept under the stars, or sat beside a camp fire. Duke’s expeditions provide many young people with this wonderful experience.
- I find it a great way to really get to know young people. They can be so different when subjected to a little stress.
These are some of the attributes of the Duke’s scheme which make it such a wonderful program. May it continue to flourish.