Adam Peters, Sheldon Smith and Tristan Hedditch, of the combined 1st Baranduda and 3rd Wodonga Venturer Scouts, received their Queen’s Scout Award badges at a Wodonga ceremony on Saturday.

Victorian Governor Linda Dessau will present the trio with their certificates at Government House later this year.

The venturer scouts recorded more than 300 hours of service over about three years in areas such as leadership development, outdoor activities, personal growth and community involvement. They were required to complete 17 badges related to expeditions, lifestyle, ideals, environment, initiative, service, first aid and citizenship. 

Scouts Victoria said less than 0.00001 per cent of the state’s population were awarded the Queen’s Scout in any year.

Read Hedditch, a leader of 3rd Wodonga Venturer Scouts, said three Queen’s Scouts at once from one unit was rare.

“It’s testament to the boys really that they all stuck with it and got it done, it’s a pretty big effort for them,” Mr Hedditch said. “Not once in the three years had (we) heard any one of them grumble about something that hadn’t happened or something that didn’t work. They just went about their work and did it.”

More than 100 family members, friends and dignitaries attended Saturday’s ceremony at the Wodonga scout hall. 

Mr Hedditch said the three venturer scouts chose different areas of service, for example with Upper Murray Family Care, younger scout groups or the SES.

Sheldon worked with Landcare, conducting a bushfire awareness campaign in the at-risk areas of Wodonga while Adam earned his open water scuba diver certificate. Tristan did his pursuits badge in photography, winning the under-25 category at a recent Albury-Wodonga Photography Group exhibition.

Mr Hedditch said all of them exceeded the award’s minimum requirements.

“They haven’t logged every hour that they’ve done, they’re all probably closer to 400 hours worth of time over the three years,” he said.

Also challenging was the paperwork required, writing reports and obtaining the necessary signatures.

Mr Hedditch felt the skills developed would continue to assist the young men later in life.

“They’ve got now that business sense, attention to detail, getting a job done, persistence, their ability to stick with the task,” he said.

“A Queen’s Scout badge means a job started, a job finished.”