Scouts receive queen’s honour

Five Rockingham Venturer Scouts have received one of the highest awards in scouting.

The Queen’s Scout award is presented to venturer scouts, aged between 14 to 18, in recognition of their achievements in outdoor activities, community involvement, leadership development and personal growth.

Scouts Leo Burton, Alex Ireland, Keeva Anderson, Oliver Olsen and Adam Fairclough were presented their awards at Government House earlier this year.

Leo followed in the footsteps of his dad Bruce Burton, who is a scout leader and was also a Queen's Scout award winner from his own Venturer Scouts days about 50 years ago.

Rockingham Scouts venturer leader Leslie Schryver said 16 scouts had been awarded Queen’s Scout since the group started its venture scouts unit in 2011.

The Queen's Scout Award is equivalent to the Gold Duke of Edinborough Award and was counted on the WACE Certificate as an endorsed subject.

“It is very hard to sum up the adventure, skills, challenges, goal setting and personal growth that the Venturer Scouts achieve in four years from 14 to 18 years old,” she said.

“They certainly become global citizens and live up to the Venturer Scout motto ‘Look Wide’ as they embrace all the possibilities that young adulthood can bring.

“The Queen's Scout Award has also earned these Venturer Scouts their Certificate III in business.”

Ms Schryver said face-to-face scouting will recommence at the start of Term 3, following a temporary shutdown due to COVID-19.

“We have been doing weekly scouting at home meetings online since mid March, supporting our youth through this difficult time,” she said.

“Happily we have not only retained youth members, we have also gained new ones.

“It has been a steep and fast learning curve for our adaptable leaders.”