 |
|
Award History |
|
| History
of the Award |
|
| Macleans
College History |
|
| History
of the Award |
|
| The Award Programme was first
introduced in the United Kingdom in 1956 as The Duke of Edinburgh's
Award, to encourage and motivate young people over the age of 14 to
become involved in a balanced programme of voluntary self-development
activities. |
|
| |
The programme was designed with great care by a small
team, whose members included HRH The Duke of Edinburgh; Dr Kurt Hahn,
educationlist and founder of Outward Bound and the United World Colleges;
Lord Porritt, the New Zealand Olympic athlete, Royal Surgeon and former
Governor-General; and Lord Hunt, the famous adventurer and leader
of the team which supported Sir Edmund Hillary in the conquest of
Mount Everest. |
|
| |
Almost as soon as it was launched in the UK, the Award
was taken up by schools and youth groups in other countries. The unique
compostition of the programme is ideally suited to easy adaptation
and integration into different cultures and societies. The basic content
of the Award remains the same throughout the world, but the activities,
the application and even the title are all adapted to suit the varying
needs of young people in different countries. |
|
| |
Over the past three decades the Award has developed
and grown, touching lives of young people in more than 60 countries.
The programme is continuously evaluated and modified to suit the changing
demands of a modern society and the needs of young people. Today the
Award is a major international programme recognised and used by agencies
concerned with youth throughout the world. |
|
| |
In New Zealand, although one or two organisations started
taking part earlier, it was not until 18 July 1963 that the Governor-General,
Sir Bernard Fergusson, held the inaugural meeting of the National
Council of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in New Zealand at Government
House in Wellington, when a Constitution for the Award in New Zealand
was adopted. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
Macleans College History |
|
| |
Macleans College became an official operating authority
for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in 1984. In the time period 1984
to 2009 approximately 1,500 students have participated in the scheme;
600 have attained Bronze; 200 have attained Silver and 80 have attained
the very prestigious Gold Award. Numerous others have gone on to complete
Silver and Gold upon leaving Macleans. Several students have also
been fortunate enough to have their Gold Award presented at Buckingham
Palace coinciding with travel to Britain. Many others have had their
Gold Award presented to them by the Governor-General at a variety
of venues throughout New Zealand. The Award at Macleans has gone from
strength to strength over the years and continues to be a very popular
co-curricular activity. |
|
| |
|
