CONGRATULATIONS to Katelyn Cleary from 1st Asquith Scout Group who has been crowned NSW Scout of the Year for 2020. 

This award recognises a person or project that has contributed exceptionally to Scouting in the wider community. 

Katelyn was nominated for this award because of the leadership project she undertook in order to complete her Australian Scout Medallion. 

Earlier this year, Katelyn took into account how COVID-19 was starting to intensify globally and become a major concern. 

Katelyn focused her project on bringing joy to our frontline workers, the heroes of this pandemic at her local hospital. 

Katelyn designed a badge with a COVID-19 theme to sell and raise money. 

In order to complete her project, Katelyn had to communicate with a business owner (Westwind Design), liaise with the Director of Nursing, complete a radio interview and promote her project within the Scouting community. 

However, soon after receiving her first badge order, Australia moved into lockdown and it became clear to Katelyn that she would not be visiting any Scout groups to promote her badges, so she decided to do a video about her project and create an online shop. 

Katelyn’s project has been supported by Scouts around the globe, her badges have been sent across Australia, the UK and the US. 

Katelyn sold close to 800 badges and has raised more than $2400 for her project. 

Katelyn has now submitted an idea with Hornsby-Ku-ring-gai Hospital to create a mosaic print of all the healthcare workers at the hospital and to have this image printed, framed and displayed in a prominent area of the hospital. This has just been approved and will take shape soon.

Well done Katelyn, you are an inspiration to all Scouts.