Scout achieves highest honour

By Glen Atwell
Scout Daniel McCormack believes winning the coveted Queen’s Scout Award was well worth the 400 hours of work he put into it.
The diesel mechanic from Garfield travelled to Government House in Melbourne to receive the highest award a scout can earn.
The Queen’s Scout Award is made up of different components a scout must successfully complete to be considered for the award.
For the lifestyle component, Daniel played football for Cora Lynn and then reported back to his Koo Wee Rup scouts about his experiences.
“Playing football was a great part of going for the award. I was captain for a year as well,” he said.
But the expedition component did not go as smoothly as Daniel had planned.
“There were five scouts and we went camping at Mitchell River for two nights.
“We were lost at one point. Luckily we could read maps and managed to get back on track,” Daniel said.
The Queen’s Scout badge is the highest award a teenager can win in the venturer section of the scout movement and represents its allegiance to the head of the British royal family.
Daniel said he often puts his scouting skills to use in all aspects of his life.
“It’s helped develop my leadership and initiative skills. If you want something done, get out and do it yourself,” Daniel said.
Only 50 scouts in Victoria were recognised as Queen’s Scouts for this year, a testament to the challenge attached to completing the requirements. “It was hard, and I had to do it all before I turned 18. But receiving it made it all worthwhile,” Daniel said.