Venturer Scout awarded top honour

EIGHTEEN-year-old Hamish Hall has been presented with the highest Venturer Scout honour in Australia, the Queen’s Scout Award.

Joining Cubs 10 years ago, he has worked his way up the scouting ranks, receiving the Grey Wolf Award and his Australian Scout Medallion along the way.

He took a break from Venturer Scouts for a couple of years to focus on school rowing with Ballarat Grammar, but more recently returned to 1st Mount Clear Scout Group to complete his Queen’s Award.

“It’s a big award to get, and there’s a standard to live up to in everything you do,” he said.

A lover of physical, hands-on activities, Hamish still found the expedition badge element of the process most challenging.

“We had to organise an entire hike on our own for two nights in the Brisbane Ranges, with lots of safety and map-reading tasks,” he said.

An apprentice boilermaker at Gekko Systems Wendouree, Hamish has just completed his first year in the workforce.

He said everything he’s learnt as a scout has been helpful in his professional and personal life.

“Being a scout really helps you work on life skills like leadership, outdoor skills, personal growth, and community involvement and service. They’re the main targets.

“The leadership skills are helpful at work, especially when you might have only just met other people hours beforehand,” he said.

“I love the connections you make at Scouts and the opportunity to network. Being involved in your community and service in Ballarat is a good way to make new friends, get out, have fun, and learn.”