SEVENTEEN local scholars have been given a morale and monetary boost by the Goulburn and District Education Foundation.
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The young achievers were officially presented with their scholarships last Friday at the office of Boyce Chartered Accountants.
The Foundation is one of a collective of 43 fundraising committees nationally: the Country Education Foundation of Australia.
Grazier Guy Milson chairs the Goulburn group. The Boyce company is one of several philanthropic supporters from the local business and private community.
The local Foundation has contributed $230,000 to the higher education costs of 212 local students over 13 years, Mr Milson said.
Applicants must be aged 16 to 21, and demonstrate goal-orientation, high levels of self-motivation, and some financial need.
The scholarships, endowed as financial bursaries to school-leavers, can be for tertiary, TAFE or employment-related education.
"To all our recipients today, congratulations," Mr Milson said.
"You've come through the process, and just being here today, you're all winners, and at such an exciting stage of your life.
"I hanker for those days myself.
"I hope it all goes wonderfully well, but we will be there behind you. It's not 'set and forget' for us," he said.
The 2016 recipients named were:
- Makayla Anderson, ex Crookwell High, to study a Bachelor of medical radiation science at Charles Sturt University;
- Kyra Cairncross, ex Crookwell High, to study a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Wollongong, and a TAFE diploma in events;
- Emma Collins, ex Crookwell High, to study a Bachelor of media and communication studies at the University of Wollongong, thanks to an Origin Foundation scholarship;
- Emily Evans, ex Crookwell High, to study a Bachelor of medical radiation science at Charles Sturt University;
- Emmot Falconer, ex Goulburn High, to study a Bachelor of bio-technology at the Australian National University, thanks to the Kirby Foundation;
- Chloe Haynes, ex Crookwell High, to study a Bachelor of arts (psychology) and laws at the University of Wollongong;
- Sophie McNeill, ex Trinity Catholic College, to study a Bachelor of nursing at the University of Wollongong;
- Luke O'Brien, ex Crookwell High, to study a Bachelor of commerce at the Australian National University;
- Cameron Porter, ex Mulwaree High, to study a Bachelor of communication, media and creative arts at the University of Wollongong;
- Cassandra Russell, ex Trinity Catholic College, to study a Bachelor of medical and health sciences with advanced honours at the University of Wollongong;
- Katie Wharton, ex Mulwaree High, to study a TAFE diploma of business management, followed by a Bachelor of circus arts at the National Institute of Circus Arts;
- Louis Williamson, ex Trinity Catholic College, to study a Bachelor of international studies at the University of Wollongong;
- Jasper Dorman, ex Mulwaree High, to study a Bachelor of creative arts, visual arts and design at the University of Wollongong, thanks to a Gunlake Quarry scholarship;
- Rhys Evans, ex Crookwell High, to study a Bachelor of education at Charles Sturt University, thanks to a Gunlake Quarry scholarship; and
- Emily Travers, ex Mulwaree High, to stuay a Bachelor of social sciences at the University of Wollongong, thanks to a Gunlake Quarry scholarship.
Other recipients not present at the Friday ceremony were: Indigo Miller, ex Mulwaree High, who will study a Bachelor of communication and media studies at the University of Wollongong (her brother Chet Miller accepted on her behalf); and Maddison Chalker, ex Crookwell High, who will study a Bachelor of entertainment and business management at the JMC Academy.
Ed O'Neill of Gunlake Quarry said the company had been interested to promote education in the local district for several years.
"Helping local kids get the opportunity to get the education they need is a great initiative," Mr O'Neill said.
"The best thing we can give the next generation is, without a doubt, a good education, and people in the city get a little easier access to that than those out here in the country districts."
Education leads to employment, he said, and that "creates the kind of community we all love".
Mr Milson said the Foundation raised all its funds from the community, including a forthcoming art auction at the Yarra woolshed in March.
"Our committee is brought together from a whole range of people in the community: teachers, lawyers, graziers, retirees - a whole raft of skills. We get together and mentor the kids through the year, so if they've got a problem, they can come talk to us."
Mr Milson said it would be "the ultimate hope" the scholars would return to their communities in due course, but that even if they used their skills elsewhere, they would still be "good ambassadors for the area".
"The best form of investment is human investment," Mr Milson said.
To support the next Goulburn and District Education Foundation fundraiser, see artinthewoolshed.org or call 4821 1466.
