New area head of Duke’s award

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 6

New area head of Duke’s award

The Duke of Edinburgh award scheme in Christchurch will have a new area co-ordinator next week. Mr C. E. W. Averill will be succeeded by Mr Peter Guthrey, general manager of A. R. Guthrey and Company.

Mr Averill said that the highlights of his term of office had been the number of schools which had joined the scheme, and the formation of the city award group. Set up by Prince Philip in 1957, the scheme is designed by develop initiative and self-reliance in young people. Bronze, silver, and gold medals are awarded for community service, physical and other achievements. To be awarded the silver medal,

for example, candidates have to cycle more than 80km and plan the trip themselves. The scheme is presided over by the Governor-Gen-eral (Sir David Beattie) and administered by Brigadier W. R. K. Morrison, and local area co-ordinators.

More than 500 young people aged 14 years and older were involved in the scheme in Canterbury, Mr Averill estimated.

He said that Prince Philip had been delighted on his last visit to Christchurch to meet three teachers who had been through the award scheme themselves and had introduced it to the schools they taught at.