By Luke Voogt
Six Geelong Venturers have won the Scouts’ top award after volunteering hundreds of hours of community service.
Lara’s Alex Delaney was one of the local youths to receive a Queen’s Scout Award after serving meals to the homeless at Christ Church.
“When I first went there I thought it was just about feeding them,” the 18-year-old said.
“But I saw the bigger picture and that it was more about mental health – it’s a social event for a lot of people.”
The “resilience” of the people he brought meals to surprised him, he said.
“It’s taught me how something small can brighten their day – and talk(ing) to them – that’s the most important part.”
Helping Joey sections out was also a highlight for Alex, who joined Scouts at age eight.
Alex started the Queen’s Scout program in September 2014.
“I’m very proud,” he said. “It’s really good after all the hard work over the years.”
Alex joined local Venturers Juliana Long, Jessica Loone, Jake McCorkell, Emily Kinross-Smith and Lily Twyford receiving the award at Government House on Saturday.
The Venturers skied, bicycled, sailed and travelled to the Norwegian Jamboree in the quest to attain the award.
They also spent three days hiking in the wilderness, traversing remote terrain in small groups with no adult supervisors.
Victorian Governor Linda Dessau presented the award to Alex, and his fellow Venturers from Belmont, Highton and Modewarre Scout groups.
