New Zealand’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award programme reaches international heights.

Amanda Lawson undertook her Gold Award through Chilton St James in Lower Hutt.  She is the first Gold Awardee worldwide to be signed off through the new Online Record Book (ORB) system and to have this signed off by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh. 

Amanda will be presented with her Gold Award badge by the Governor General on the 16 August in Wellington at one of this years formal ceremonies.

The Award Online

Amanda Lawson - First person worldwide to recieve her Gold Award using the new online system

The Online Record Book (ORB) is a new global digital platform, which replaces the paper Record Book, designed to help participants, leaders and assessors doing, delivering and assessing the Award.

Gold Award recipient Amanda has thanked The Duke for signing her Award, she says taking part in the Award helped her to overcome many challenges. Having been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes as a child, Amanda was determined not to let her condition define her or her capabilities. “Participating in the Award has taken me out of my comfort zone. My boundaries were certainly pushed to their limits during a number of my challenges but I was determined to complete my Gold Award. Giving up was not an option.” Her success in completing her Gold is a testament to the adaptability of the Award framework and its accessibility to all, no matter their background or ability.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh founded The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award in 1956; the Award has since spread to more than 140 countries and territories with more than 8 million young people having participated in the Award.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award supports approximately 9000 young people each year to undertake their Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.  Further information can be found by contacting info@dofehillary.org.nz