1. ROYAL VISIT BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE EDWARD, EARL OF WESSEX KGC GCVO TO CELEBRATE 60 YEARS OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S INTERNATIONAL AWARD – AUSTRALIA

This year, His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO will make a special visit to Australia from Thursday 12^th September to Tuesday 17^th September, to join The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award - Australia in celebrating 60 years of empowering young people to find their purpose, passion and place in the world!

HRH The Earl of Wessex, who is the Chair of The Board of Trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, will attend a series of events across Sydney, Wollongong, Alice Springs and Darwin to celebrate the 60^th Anniversary.

During his time in Australia, HRH The Earl of Wessex will assist the Award to recognise and thank Award supporters and volunteers from the past 60 years (the Award has a current volunteer network of over 60,000).

HRH The Earl of Wessex will also visit Award Centres in Wollongong, Alice Springs and Darwin, and launch “The 60th Anniversary National Trail” in The Royal National Park, NSW where he will meet with Award Participants from a range of diverse backgrounds, highlighting the Award’s commitment to being a zero barrier access program for all young people regardless of their location or circumstance. HRH The Earl of Wessex will thank Australian Award Ambassadors, supporters and donors at a Gala Dinner for their generous donations that have allowed over 5000 disadvantaged young Australians to achieve their Award, including at-risk youth, those with disabilities, Indigenous youth, refugees, those on low incomes and from rural or remote communities.

Other notable events HRH The Earl of Wessex will attend include the largest Gold Award Ceremony ever held outside of the UK, taking place at Sydney Town Hall, where HRH The Earl of Wessex will present close to 400 young Australians with their Gold Awards, as well as attending a Duke 4Sport Reception at the Sydney Cricket Ground to celebrate the Award’s new partnerships with sporting organisations.

A schedule of events with media opportunities during the September visit is attached.

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For further information about media opportunities and individual events during the visit, contact:

Aaron Johnson
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
M: 0468550020
T: 02 8241 1554
E: aaron.johnson@dukeofed.com.au