Hard work and dedication pay off for peak award recipients

Georgia Adamson – 2nd Queanbeyan Venturer Scout Unit

Georgia Adamson’s pathway to receiving a Queen’s Scout Award was nothing if not varied.

As well as challenging outdoor adventures, the 2nd Queanbeyan Venturer Scout Unit member’s Special Interest Areas included welding projects, and she deftly turned out a day bed, a dog kennel and a safe. 

Georgia also led a multi-activity, four-day expedition on the Far South Coast of NSW that put her interests in hiking, paddling, cycling and photography to work.

Georgia completed her Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation through the Scouts Australia Institute of Training (RTO) as a Venturer Scout and used this qualification towards completion of the requirements for her HSC.

Georgia started her Scouting journey as a Cub Scout in 2015 with 1st Jerrabomberra Scout Group and achieved the corresponding peak awards for both Cub Scouts and Scouts in 2016 and 2020.

Ethan Griffiths and Angus Wheatley – 1st Heathcote Venturer Scout Unit

A gruelling canoe trip battered by extreme weather was part of the pathway that led two members of 1st Heathcote Venturer Scout Unit to earn Queen’s Scout Awards.

Ethan Griffiths organised a 64km round-trip canoe expedition on the Kangaroo River from Bendeela to Tallowa Dam on the NSW South Coast last year and co-led it with Angus Wheatley.

Their four-day expedition was confronted by extreme heat and torrential downpours, and the pair were forced to make critical decisions to bring their group home safe.

Ethan started his Scouting journey in early 2015 by joining the Cub Scout section at 1st Heathcote Scout Group. He moved up to Scouts in 2016 and then to Venturer Scouts in 2020, becoming Unit Leader in 2021.

He has played an active role at 1st Heathcote Scout Group, including attending Region Venturer Scout Council, Venturer Scout Leadership Course and the Search and Rescue Weekend Course. He has also volunteered at Heathcote Scout Camp.

Angus joined 1st Heathcote Scout Group as a Scout in 2016, moved up into Venturer Scouts in 2020 and became Unit Leader in the latter part of 2022.

He attended the 25th Australian Jamboree in 2019 and has been a regular at events like Region Camp, Region Boree Regatta, District camps, and ANZAC dawn services.

Samuel Lightfoot – 1st Clovelly Venturer Scout Unit

If Samuel Lightfoot walks away with nothing else from his time with Scouts NSW, he’ll have perseverance embedded in his DNA. 

Sami, who joined the 1st Clovelly Scout Group in 2015 as a Cub Scout, needed to plan and lead an Adventurous Journey to qualify for the award, but was curtailed five times by a combination of bushfires, COVID and floods.

“Many of the hiking areas south of Sydney and in the Blue Mountains were closed due to the heavy rainfall that had occurred,” he said. “Picking a route became a challenge in itself, and I eventually chose a route that took us from Thornleigh up to the Hawkesbury River along the Great North Walk.

“The most memorable moments were from the first and second nights of the hike, where we sat at our campsite overlooking the valley below as the setting sun created an array of colours across the sky. The most challenging aspect was the heat. We hiked through two days with a temperature above 30 degrees Celsius, and it did not cool down overnight, making it difficult to sleep.” 

Peers were amazed by his resilience in completing the journey and other activities to qualify for the award, against the background of commitments as Head Boy at International Grammar School where he was completing his Higher School Certificate.

Sami started Scouts because his father is also a Queen’s Scout Award recipient.

“He often talks about various memories of his time with 6th Hamilton (Scottish). Both my parents have instilled a love for the outdoors in me, and hiking and camping is something I have always enjoyed,” he said.

“I love going on a hike and being completely self-sufficient and having the skills to look after yourself, others and the natural environment when in the bush.”

His peers at 1st Clovelly Scout Group have also recognised him as Scout of the Year and Venturer Scout of the Year. 

Alice McQualter – Ettamogah Venturer Scout Unit

When Alice McQualter received her Queen’s Scout Award today she completed a family trifecta, with her mother Veryan and sister Lily previous recipients. 

A seven-year Scouts member, Alice began with the 2nd Albury Scout Group and completed her Queen’s Scout Award with Ettamogah Venturer Scout Unit. Continuing the family theme, her grandmother, Irene Perry, is also a former Scout.

“I decided to pursue this as both my mum and sister have this achievement,” Alice said.

“Seeing my sister coming home and telling me all the fun things she was doing made me want to join Scouts. My Mum and Nan being previous members of Scouting was also an influence.

“I wanted to continue achieving the Queen’s Scout Award in my family, as well as growing and developing my skills.”

Along with working to achieve her award, Alice also made time to participate in various Venturer Scout activities, including attending state and regional camps, volunteering as a leader as part of the requirements for her Duke of Edinburgh Award, learning to drive, snow ski and compose a song. 

Alice also planned a series of multi-day hikes from Jingellic in the Woomargama National Park with a workload that included preparing routes, menus, mentoring participants, conducting risk assessments and contingency plans, managing transport logistics and equipment and drawing up budgets.

Archie Todd – 2nd Armidale Venturer Scout Unit

He’s Armidale’s current Young Citizen of the Year, a prolific musician and an LGBTQIA+ advocate, and Archie has added a Queen’s Scout Award to his achievements.

Archie is a transgender young person with a strong social conscience. His advocacy for LGBTQIA+ issues includes working as a school leader and helping establish the Armidale Secondary College Rainbow Club, a group supporting LGBTQIA+ students. He has also represented Scouts at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

As a musician, Archie was a finalist in triple j's 2023 Unearthed competition and has performed live extensively in the New England region.

To qualify for his Queen’s Scout Award, Archie threw himself into mock trials, abseiling and serving on the Scouts NSW State Youth Council, where he championed diversity. His planning, execution and reviewing of a wide range of activities, included his Adventurous Journey hike and running a Harry Potter-themed camp for Cub Scouts.

“I'm so honoured to receive the Award. I've worked mostly in the background in the Inclusion and Diversity space and it's nice to be appreciated, even now that my term on the State Youth Council has come to an end,” Archie said.

“The hike I led for the Award was quite revolutionary in terms of inclusivity. I had a few Venturer Scouts who never participated in any of the bigger hikes for health reasons that restricted the weight they could safely carry as well as how fast and far they could walk. 

“To accommodate this, I planned the hike to explore areas surrounding a base camp, so that people could carry only what they needed that day in their packs while they hiked.

“I sincerely hope local Leaders tell tales of it to future Queen’s Scout Award hopefuls so that more people can experience the joys of hiking.”

Henry Wong – 1st Dulwich Hill (Dame Dixson’s Own) Rover Scout Unit

It’s a long way from Sydney’s inner-west to the wild and windswept ranges of Kosciuszko National Park but Henry has proven himself to be equally at home in both. 

Henry received his Baden-Powell Scout Award (BPSA) today.

“I’ve been in Scouting for just under 20 years, unofficially joining in 2004 at the age of seven,” Henry, who competed his award as a Rover Scout with 1st Dulwich Hill (Dame Dixson’s Own) Unit, said.

Determined to complete his first and only peak award, Henry tackled the last component – his Adventurous Journey – by leading a group on a multi-day hike through Long Plain in Kosciuszko National Park.

“Time was not on my side and the Patrol was varying in experience and fitness. It was tough but fun, but we were unaware of how dense the vegetation would be before our untracked journey through Skaines Mountain,” he said.

“Through our journey we met George, an instructor from Outdoor Education Group (OEG) leading kids from an ACT school doing an eight-day journey which made ours look short. 

“We had a great time watching him eat lichen off branches as a survival technique."

Back in the urban environment, Henry has mentored, presented and run training courses for Rover Scouts and the NSW State Training Team. He also oversaw the inaugural Rover Scout Plasma Challenge for blood donations to the Australian Red Cross.