Ballarat has broken an 18-year royal drought with Prince Edward’s jam-packed visit to the city on Sunday.
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The Earl of Wessex noted it had been some time since the last visit of his family to Ballarat and said he was pleased to be the first Windsor to tour Federation University’s campus since his elder brother Charles in 1974.
He was welcomed by university officials and an abiding corgi, brought by Ballarat royalist Jan Koolmees, on his arrival at the university’s Mt Helen campus on Sunday morning, before attending an official smoking ceremony and luncheon dedicated to the promotion of the Duke Of Edinburgh International Award program.
Prince Edward spoke enthusiastically about the Duke of Edinburgh Award at the luncheon, the support it receives in Ballarat and more than 100 countries around the world, and its ability to foster and develop future leaders.
In his speech he said the award not only offered young people new skills at secondary and tertiary levels, but also gave them the confidence to go through “new doors” of opportunity.
Federation University Vice Chancellor Professor Helen Bartlett said university staff discussed how to further promote the Duke of Edinburgh Award, which encourages young people to learn new skills, improve their physical well being and experience team adventures in new environments.
“It is important students are recognised for achievement other than their academic studies,” she said.
It is about recognising a students’ time at university is a time for them to engage in other activities that involve building their leadership skills and contributing to community.
- Professor Helen Bartlett, Federation University Vice Chancellor
Duke of Edinburgh Award Victorian executive officer Stephen Mason said there was a focus on promoting the international award program to regional areas and partnering with schools and community organisations in Ballarat.
“Young people become better communicators, more comfortable with themselves, more resilient and they have a much higher chance of succeeding in their studies,” he said.
Ballarat resident and Federation University student Jack Bannister completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award. He volunteered teaching English in Sri Lanka after Year 12 instead of going on schoolies.
Prince Edward inspected concept plans for a refurbished sports science facility at Federation University, enjoyed a performance by Arts Academy students, and planted a tree at the student commons courtyard.
He then travelled to Ballarat Tennis Club to play Real Tennis against juniors in the afternoon as part of his mission to play on every one of the 48 Real Tennis courts in the world.
The Prince’s evening in Ballarat was spent at a civic reception at Ballarat Town Hall, where he presented the Duke of Edinburgh awards, before a Real Tennis Challenge fundraising dinner at Craig’s Royal Hotel.
Prince Edward is the first royal to visit Ballarat since the Queen and Prince Phillip in 2000.
EARLIER
Prince Edward began his official visit to Ballarat, the first Royal visit in almost two decades with a trip to Federation University’s Mt Helen Campus.
The prince attended an official smoking ceremony before a luncheon dedicated to the promotion of the Duke Of Edinburgh International Award program.
The prince noted it had been some time since the last visit of his family to Ballarat and said he was pleased to be the first Windsor to tour Federation University’s campus since his elder brother Charles visited in 1974, shortly after it was opened.
Prince Edward spoke enthusiastically about the Duke of Edinburgh award, the support it receives in Ballarat and more than a hundred countries around the world and its ability to foster and develop future leaders through the program.
In his speech he said the bronze, silver and gold medals of the award not only offered young people new skills at secondary and tertiary levels but also gave them the confidence to go through those “new doors” of opportunity.
The prince then went off to play Real Tennis at the Real Tennis centre in Main Road, a game he is passionately pursuing around the world.
Sunday's match is one of five that Prince Edward will play during his tour to promote the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and encourage more youths to get involved.
"You don't get a visit like this very often," said the Award's Victorian executive officer Stephen Mason.
Prince Edward, ninth in line to the throne of England, arrived in Melbourne on Friday and will visit five cities while in Australia, attending 32 events in eight days.
He will also attend the Commonwealth Games, like big brother Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, who have already visited Queensland.
EARLIER
Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son, has a packed itinerary while in Australia and four separate engagements in the 10 hours he will spend in Ballarat on Sunday.
His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, is in Australia to attend the Commonwealth Games and to promote the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.
He is also on a mission to play on every one of the 48 Real Tennis courts in the world and will travel through England, Scotland, France and the US in addition to the five courts in Australia to complete his quest.
Prince Edward will spend almost four hours at Ballarat Tennis Club in Larter St for the Real Tennis Challenge exhibition match on Sunday afternoon.
He will watch a junior coaching masterclass held by resident professional Andrew Fowler and involving a group of students from Bacchus Marsh Grammar School before taking to the court himself to play against leading juniors from Ballarat, followed by a doubles match against local players.
During two hours at Federation University earlier in the day, a traditional Smoking Ceremony will be held to welcome the Prince to country before he inspects concept plans for a refurbished sports science facility at the Mt Helen campus, takes in a performance by Arts Academy students, then plants a tree at the Student Commons Courtyard.
The Prince’s evening in Ballarat will be taken up with a civic reception at Ballarat Town Hall, where he will present Duke of Edinburgh awards, and a Real Tennis Challenge fundraising dinner at Craig’s Royal Hotel.
A focus of his tour is the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program, which has about 38,000 teenage Australians learning new skills, improving their physical wellbeing, volunteering in their communities, and experiencing team adventures in new environments.
“The award’s relevance to all young Australians is as important today as it was when it started over 60 years ago. Employers in particular are recognising the ‘soft skills’ that are so necessary for a well prepared future employee,” said Peter Kaye, chief executive of the award in Australia.
Prince Edward is the first royal to visit Ballarat since the Queen and Prince Phillip in 2000.