EMILA Okely has joined an elite group of young Australians after recently receiving the King’s Scout Award, the highest youth honour available in the Venturer Scout section (youth aged 14 to 18 years).
Local MP Wendy Lovell joined Her Excellency Governor General Sam Mostyn, Emila and her family, Scouts supporters, and members of the Scouting community at the official presentation on Saturday October 10, to celebrate her achievement.
The award recognises sustained achievement in leadership, personal development, practical skills and community service. Emila devoted 350 hours to completing the demanding program, demonstrating commitment and perseverance across each component.
“It was an honour to attend the presentation of the King’s Scout Award to Emila Okely,” posted the Honourable Wendy Lovell on social media last week.
The milestone continues a remarkable family tradition. Five members of the Okely family have now earned Scouting’s highest youth distinction. Emila is the family’s only King’s Scout, while her mother, father and two brothers received the Queen’s Scout Award. The honour was formerly known as the Queen’s Scout Award and was renamed in May 2024 following the change of monarch.
Venturer Scouts must complete all requirements and obtain approval from their Unit Council before progressing to the Rover Scout section. The award is widely recognised in the community and is considered the pinnacle of the Venturer experience.
For Emila, the presentation marked the culmination of hundreds of hours of effort and service. It also placed her alongside generations of young Australians recognised for their leadership, initiative and willingness to contribute to their communities.
Emila commented, “After seeing both my brothers complete their own journey to achieve this, I just knew I wanted to do it too.
“I am so grateful to have had so many wonderful people by my side throughout this journey, and over so many hours of community work, camps, hikes, and so much more. They’ve pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to do things I would never have done before. I really am so proud of myself for achieving this goal of mine.”
Emila’s success reflects both an individual accomplishment and the strength of the Okely family’s long association with Scouting.
