Wednesday 5 March 2025
Since taking on the role of Award Leader at King’s College, we have pushed to promote the award within the College, and it had been delightful to see so many participants achieve their Gold Award before leaving Year 13. One of the highlights of the position is receiving emails confirming the awards. Students put a lot of work and effort into these awards, and there is a significant time commitment attached to achieving them. While those who strive for their Gold award aim to complete it before leaving King’s in Year 13, it is worth remembering that the award can be worked upon until the age of 25.
On 11 February, I received such a notification about a King’s student who had completed their Gold and this notification was a little bit special. Timothy Dunshea (Major 2013-17) started his Gold Award journey in 2016, and – as happens in many instances – did not complete it before leaving the College. However, nine years later, he came back to the award and finally completed all the sections so that he could be awarded it. If ever there was a tale of persistence, surely this much be it. Where many would have left the award behind them, Timothy revisited it and was determined to complete it.
When I approached him about this achievement, he said "It was a great feeling to recently complete the Duke of Edinburgh Gold award almost nine years after starting this during my time at school. The award complemented my interests of surfing, hunting, and volunteering with the tramping club. However, the highlight was being in a team of five engineering students on a two week expedition to Tonga. Here we worked with the local students to test drinking water in three high schools and develop water purification systems that they learnt how to maintain. This was a great opportunity to apply our engineering skills and produce meaningful outcomes alongside the local students.
A great part of the Duke of Edinburgh award is that it can be completed years after high school up until the age of 25 and many new opportunities and adventures can happen during these years after school too."
Of all the notifications I have received about completed awards, this is my favourite. I may not ever have met Timothy, but I now consider him a true role model for those struggling to find the time to complete the award. He has my utmost admiration for returning to the award and completing it after such a long time.
When giving Timothy’s award the final approval from the Award’s offices in Wellington, Gold Award Advisor Marie Partridge commented on how much she enjoyed seeing participants return to the award after several years in order to complete them and said: “It makes my day signing these awards off.”
I hope this is also an inspiration to any recent student who hasn't quite managed to finish their Duke of Edinburgh award during their time here, it isn't too late!
Rachel Jones - Award Leader for Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award