Duke of Edinburgh's Award winners honoured

• Government House ceremony recognises efforts of 19 exceptional young people
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award participants in Western Australia invested 61,373 volunteer hours to the community during the first six months of 2017 

Youth Minister Peter Tinley formally recognised the efforts of 19 outstanding young people at The Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award ceremony at Government House last night.

The Gold Award is the final level of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. To be eligible for the Gold Award, recipients must learn a skill, improve their physical wellbeing, volunteer in the community, share in a team adventure and complete a residential project.

Examples of residential projects include volunteering in India, Vietnam and Ethiopia, and undertaking cultural exchanges, while examples of developing new skills are learning to drive, speak Hungarian or play the bagpipes.

The Gold Award is open to young people aged 16 to 25 and takes 12 months to complete. Participants must have already achieved Bronze and Silver awards before they can apply for a Gold Award.

In the first six months of 2017, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award participants across all levels in Western Australia supplied 61,373 hours of volunteer work to the community.

The Department of Communities has provided $132,091 for the WA Division of The Duke of Edinburgh's Awards for 2017-18.

Comments attributed to Youth Minister Peter Tinley:

"Youth development initiatives, such as The Duke of Edinburgh's Award program, offer wonderful opportunities to empower, nurture and support our young people as they become adults.

"The lives of young people are enriched by the opportunities offered by The Duke of Edinburgh's Award to develop and participate in recreational, cultural, artistic and sporting activities.

"I would like to congratulate the 19 young people who have worked tirelessly and given so much to their community over the past 12 months to gain their Gold Award.

"These young people are a great asset to our community and should be proud of their achievements and contributions."

Minister's office - 6552 5300

Duke of Edinburgh's Award recipients - Gold Award

Mitchell Atkinson

Scotch College, Swanbourne

Award Leader: Mr David Kyle

Physical Recreation: Water Polo/Swimming/Weights

Service: Sports House Captain/Surf Lifesaving

Skill:  Analytical Reading/Learning to Drive

Adventurous Journey: Indian Cultural Exploration

Residential Project: Volunteering in India

Aashka Bhavsar

Willetton Senior High School, Willetton

Award Leader: Ms Judy Gauci

Physical Recreation: Yoga

Service: Rotary/AAFC

Skill:  AAFC Leadership

Adventurous Journey: Outward Bound Expedition

Residential Project: AAFC Leadership Course

Angela Burvill

UWA - Universities Duke of Ed Club, Nedlands

Award Leader: Ms Aaymen Khan

Physical Recreation: Hockey

Service:  College Student Committee

Skill: Singing/Fundraising

Adventurous Journey: Leeuwin Ocean Adventure

Residential Project: Direct Reach Ethiopia Youth Centre

Joanne Cheyne

Willetton Senior High School

Award Leader: Ms Judy Gauci

Physical Recreation: Netball

Service: Working with the Elderly

Skill: Learning to Drive/Reading

Adventurous Journey: Hiking through Vietnam

Residential Project: Construction project in Vietnam

Alice Dawson

WA Open Award Centre, State-wide

Award Leader: Ms Mittal Panchal

Physical Recreation: Horse-riding/Swimming/Cycling

Service: Scouting

Skill: Drama/Singing/Driving

Adventurous Journey: East Timor Exploration

Residential Project: Leeuwin Ocean Adventure

Ben Madlener

Willetton Senior High School

Award Leader: Ms Judy Gauci

Physical Recreation: Soccer/Running

Service: School Councillor

Skill: Examining Rock Climbing Technique

Adventurous Journey: Trekking through Vietnam

Residential Project: Vietnam class building Project

Grayson Olbrich

UWA - Universities Duke of Ed Club

Award Leader: Ms Aaymen Khan

Physical Recreation: Cycling

Service:  Volunteer Firefighter/SES

Skill: First Aid Training

Adventurous Journey: Leeuwin Ocean Adventure

Residential Project: Rural Youth Camp Leader

Jonathan Pinardi

Scotch College

Award Leader: Mr David Kyle

Physical Recreation: Badminton/Tennis

Service:  Tutoring/Tree Planting and Maintenance

Skill: Singing/Saxophone

Adventurous Journey: Leeuwin Ocean Adventure

Residential Project: Environmental Cleanup

Callum Purvis

Scotch College

Award Leader: Mr David Kyle

Physical Recreation: Weight training/Rugby

Service:  AAFC Leadership

Skill:  Recreational Pilots Licence

Adventurous Journey: Leeuwin Ocean Adventure

Residential Project:  AAFC Leadership Camp

Kaylen Russell-Morey

AAC 511 ACU Busselton

Award Leader: CAPT (AAC) Keith Woods

Physical Recreation: Fitness Program

Service: Army Cadet

Skill:  Leadership

Adventurous Journey: Army Cadet Camp

Residential Project: East Timor exchange program

Paula Della Gatta

Perth College, Mt Lawley

Award Leader Mr Scott Cox

Physical Recreation: Volleyball

Service:  Teaching Assistance

Skill: Music

Adventurous Journey: Leeuwin Ocean Adventure

Residential Project: Youth Camp Leader

Simon Ferreira

Scotch College, Swanbourne

Award Leader: Mr David Kyle

Physical Recreation: Tennis

Service:  Tennis Coaching/Therapeutic Riding Centre

Skill:  Bagpiping

Adventurous Journey: European Cultural Exploration

Residential Project:  Wildlife Rescue

Sophie Harwood

WA Open Award Centre, State-wide

Award Leader: Ms Mittal Panchal

Physical Recreation: Ultimate Frisbee

Service: Oxfam Store Volunteer

Skill: Hungarian Language

Adventurous Journey: Rotary Exchange - Hungary

Residential Project: Teach Learn Grow

Ayush Kapoor

UWA - Universities Duke of Ed Club, Nedlands

Award Leader: Ms Aaymen Khan

Physical Recreation: Weight Training

Service: Teaching Assistance

Skill: Money Management

Adventurous Journey: International Summer School

Residential Project: AIESEC National Conference

Miranda Leijser

WA Open Award Centre, State-wide

Award Leader: Mrs Monica Holmes

Physical Recreation: Fitness program

Service: Volunteer Chaplain

Skill: Public Speaking/ Leadership

Adventurous Journey:  HIV/AIDS Education and Health Promotion - Africa

Residential Project: Youth Camp Leader

Owen Taylor-Williams

Perth Modern School, Subiaco

Award Leader: Ms Samantha Bremner-Bennett

Physical Recreation: Swimming

Service: Volunteering at Leeuwin Ocean Adventure

Skill: Cello/Learning to Drive

Adventurous Journey: Leeuwin Ocean Adventure

Residential Project: Earthwatch Expedition at Moreton Bay Research Station

Chloe Tucek

Willetton Senior High School

Award Leader: Ms Judy Gauci

Physical Recreation: Swimming

Service:  Home support/Surf Lifesaving

Skill: Painting

Adventurous Journey: Trekking through Vietnam

Residential Project: Vietnam class building Project

Brianna West

Willetton Senior High School

Award Leader: Ms Judy Gauci

Physical Recreation: Rock Climbing/Cycling

Service:  School Councillor

Skill:  Painting

Adventurous Journey: Dwellingup Exploration

Residential Project: Zero2Hero Leadership Camp

Matthew Youens

AAC 57 ACU Morley

Award Leader: SGT (ACC) Barry Gibbs

Physical Recreation:  Running

Service: Fundraising/SES

Skill: Abseiling Instructor Training

Adventurous Journey: Army Cadet Camp

Residential Project: Youth Camp Leader