A young Sydney Anglican woman who received top marks in this year's HSC has missed out on her awards night to go on overseas mission.
Bethany Young, who is the daughter of St Andrew's, Sans Souci rector the Rev Trevor Young, came first in the state in HSC Design and Technology this year.
Bethany received the news on Friday December 12 via a phone call only one hour before she flew out to Fiji on a mission with the Bible Society.
Bethany was a year 12 student at Danebank Anglican School for Girls in Hurstville this year.
While Bethany could not be reached for comment, Mr Young says he is very proud his daughter is among this year's HSC High Achievers.
"We are very proud of our daughter Bethany and value the school's contribution to her learning and Christian development," Trevor says.
However, Mr Young says there is a "more wonderful aspect' of which he and his wife, Rosemary, are more proud.
"Bethany chose to go on the mission and miss receiving her certificate on Tuesday December 16 with all the other high achievers," he says.
"We are very thankful to God that despite this great achievement and public acknowledgement which she was entitled to receive, she chose to put God and his work first and go to Fiji on the Bible Society mission."
Mr Young, who is also a Reserve Army Chaplain, has recently returned from being deployed to the Solomons on Operation Anode for three two-week pastoral care visits with the troops.
Therefore, he has missed a lot of time away from Bethany and the rest of the Young family.
"Bethany reminded me that I missed her 18th Birthday, her valedictory service and formal because I was deployed in the Solomons, so I wasn’t going to miss this important event!" he says.
"So she allowed me to receive her certificate for her on the day as her proud dad."
Bethany will return from mission in Fiji two days before Christmas.
