By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
HIGHTON over-achiever Sophia McQuillan spent more than 10,000 hours during the past 18 months building cubby houses, planting vegie gardens, learning a language and trekking Victoria’s gold country.
It was all in the name of community service as she fulfilled the requirements for a prestigious gold Duke of Edinburgh award.
The Melbourne University student trekked 20 kilometres a day for 16 days as she embarked on an “adventurous journey” from Bendigo to Ballarat for one of the five Duke of Edinburgh criteria.
She also participated in physical recreation, skill, service and a residential project.
“I did fun runs and trained with a 45-minute daily run but then I injured my knee, so I had to change to sprinting.
“I competed in the intercollegiate sports and won the B final in the 100 metres.”
Sophia, 24, was secretary for Newman College students club at Melbourne University where she was also an orientation leader as part of a five-day residential project.
She finished her Bachelor of Arts this year, graduating with honours in English literature. She intends to undertake a masters in secondary teaching.
Sophia is applying for places at Oxford and Cambridge universities after narrowly missing out on a Rhodes Scholarship this year.
She hopes to apply for the Australian version of a Sir General John Monash scholarship instead.
Sophia grew up in Zimbabwe and completed her secondary schooling at Geelong Grammar where she was introduced to the Duke of Edinburgh award.
