At its meeting of 18th November, Anstruther and District Rotary Club was delighted to welcome Katie MacDonald from Waid Academy. Katie was the second of two students sponsored by the club to attend a week-long Rotary Youth Leadership Award course, which took place in the Summer at the Abernethy Centre, Nethy Bridge. She was returning to report on her experiences.

As we have come to expect we were treated to a first class PowerPoint presentation followed by an excellent video of activities during the week.

76 girls attended the event, which aims to encourage team building, self-confidence and leadership skills. The course is based around outdoor events including hill walking in the Cairngorms, rock climbing and abseiling, gorge walking, mountain biking, canoeing and raft building – Katie’s favourite being gorge walking. As we have seen before, all of the events are physically and mentally challenging!

The challenges are tackled in teams of 7 or 8, with everyone having an opportunity to lead. The evening before, each team leader is fully briefed on the following day’s tasks that must be planned and managed. Katie commented in passing that the 7.45 am wake-up call is actually the first challenge of each day!! Sleeping accommodation at the Abernethy Centre is in the main house and in chalets and interestingly she told us that members of working teams are mixed up to extend social interaction.

Katie ended her talk with a big ‘thank you’ to Rotary for making the week possible.

Following questions, club president Alastair Graham presented a certificate of achievement to Katie, together with best wishes for the future and thanks for being such an outstanding representative of the club and of her school. A vote of thanks was proposed by Ian Kennedy.