Above: The Year 13 students and their parents meet Lady Hillary

Laura, Tessa and Amelia, all of Year 13, were presented their gold awards for the Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary programme. 

The ceremony took place at Massey University, in the tea rooms on Saturday, September 11.  The awards were presented by the Governor General, Anand Satyanand, and the students also got to meet Lady June Hillary, Sir Edmund Hillary's widow.

Each level of the programme, starting at the Bronze Award, requires dedication and commitment.  Students perform community services, go on over-night tramps and develop other skills.  To get to the Gold Award is a rare achievement that these girls have worked incredibily hard to earn.