Two MLMC Year 9 students have recently earned the Australian Scout Medallion, an award that recognises the top achievers in their Scouts age group (11-14 years). Stella Atkinson (Year 9 Green) and Ella McNair (Year 9 Red) are both with the 1st Healesville Scout Troop. Scouts is the third section of five within the Scouts Australia program. The other sections are Joeys (5-7 years), Cubs (8-10 years), Venturers (15-17 years) and Rovers (18-26 years). Each has a peak award. The award for their age group, the Australian Scout Medallion, is the sum of the Adventurer Badge and Adventurer Cord — a series of youth-run patrol activities, a youth-led overnight hike and formal leadership training.
“In all these levels you learn different ways to camp and hike or do knots and as you move up levels the activities get harder,” Ella explained. “For example, in Adventurer level you have to plan a hike that is two nights and at least 30km long. After you do this you have to get a leader to do paperwork and they send it off to Scouts Australia and they choose you for the Medallion if they think you deserve it.” As members work their way through the higher age groups on the Scouting pathway, the activities and badges become more challenging, requiring a new level of self-sufficiency and greater risk management.
“I have made friends who live in New South Wales and Queensland and also others from other countries, like the UK,” Ella said. “Anyone who is into being outdoors and having a good time should join Scouts. It also helps build communication skills.”
Mr Brendan Watson OAM, the Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria said “only a small percentage reach this level”. “These are the top achievers among Scouting’s 47 million members globally.”
Stella began Scouts two years ago, to “get involved in amazing activities and things you can’t do at school, like making fires or building sparse forts”. She said she loves learning new things at each session, including team skills. “Being a Scout develops a sense of achievement and self-worth.” Ella began Scouts six years ago. “I fell in love with everything that Scouts is about,” she said.
Ella said earning the Medallion proves to her that if she tries hard “I can work for the best and get it”. Stella said she knew the Medallion was a special award “given to the high achievers and people who wanted to stand out to everyone else”. “I started to aim for the award about a term before I received it. I didn't have any achievement Cords, which meant I had to work three times as hard.”
Both girls have applied to be part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award program run by the College, which will enhance the skills they have learnt through Scouts, with both also aiming for the next Scouts award.
