Bridge testimonials

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participant Shaunica Lee Cheu

Saint Patrick’s College Townsville

At thirteen years old, Duke of Edinburgh’s Bridge Award recipient, Shaunica Lee Cheu has become a remarkable role model to her college peers and friends.

The Duke of Ed Award program offers students, aged 14 to 25, the opportunity to experience a sense of self achievement through individual challenge, teamwork and fun to attain Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards levels.

Shaunica discovered that she was too young to start the Bronze Award program with her friends so she decided to undertake the Bridge Award instead, a perfect lead-in to the Bronze Award.

As part of the Award, Shaunica completed four months of challenging learning and development activities.

She assisted Reef HQ researchers tag turtles, helped teach the Year 9 Indigenous dance unit, completed an overnight hike and camp at Jourama Falls, represented the college in touch football, cross country and athletics events, and even found time to learn piano.

Shaunica, from Hopevale, is just one of the many students that travel from remote communities to live and learn at Saint Patrick’s college each year.

The college now has nine Indigenous Award participants doing their Bridge, Bronze and Silver Awards from Cape York, the Torres Strait Islands, Bamaga and one student from a rural community outside Mackay.

The College’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Coordinator, Tim McClusky said that the entire school cheered when Shaunica was presented with her Bridge Award.

“It’s fantastic to see how much the girls respect and support her”, he said.