Gallipoli Scholars visit national capital
A message from the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund
Founded in 1996, the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund seeks to perpetuate among young Australians an understanding of those enduring traditions of perseverance, courage, self-sacrifice and mateship that were established so indelibly in the cause of world peace at Gallipoli, and thereafter on other battlefields and peace operations.
In September, 10 of this year’s 35 Gallipoli Scholars from all over Australia visited Canberra, where they met with the Director of the Australian War Memorial Matt Anderson, followed by a superb presentation about the memorial and a guided tour.
‘The tour was remarkable,’ said Jocelyn Mayger, an ADF Bursary awardee from Darwin studying for a Bachelor of IT and Mathematics at the Queensland University of Technology. ‘Like my fellow Gallipoli Scholars, my family has a distinguished record of military service and the tour made me realise how very thankful we should all be for their unselfish efforts in the service of our country.’
The scholars concluded their visit by attending the Last Post Ceremony, with the Gallipoli Scholarship wreath being laid by Mara Dalton from Hobart and Max McFarlane from Inverell. Both are awardees of the Ernst & Young Internship Bursary. Mara is studying for a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne, and Max a Bachelor of Commerce and Advanced Studies at the University of Sydney.
‘The Last Post is such an unforgettable experience, and we were honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of our colleagues in recognition of our veterans,’ Max said.
After a networking dinner that night attended by sponsors and former Gallipoli Scholars, the group had the privilege of meeting with their Gallipoli Scholarship Patrons at Government House the following day – His Excellency Governor General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret'd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley.
Holley Shepperd from Port Lincoln, now in her third year of a Master of Occupational Therapy and Bachelor of Science at Flinders University reflected on the visit: ‘Such a memorable inter-personal experience, Their Excellencies sought our views and were warm and candid in their advice. Mrs Hurley’s singing of the Gallipoli Scholarship Song still resonates,’ said Holley, who thanked Their Excellencies on behalf of the scholars.
Luke MacKay from Mildura, a Lockheed Martin Bursary awardee studying for a Bachelor of Science at Flinders University added: ‘Our conversation with Their Excellencies, and of course our wonderful photos, will help remind and guide us in the future. We are so very fortunate,’ he said.
The Gallipoli scholarship provides financial assistance to the most deserving and meritorious Australian applicants commencing their first year of tertiary study at a University or TAFE at Degree, Diploma or Advanced Diploma level. An applicant must be an Australian citizen who is a direct descendant of a serviceman or woman who has served in the Australian or New Zealand Defence Force in any conflict or peacekeeping role since the First World War.
Applications for the scholarship open on 1 January and close on 28 February each year. More information about the scholarship is available at www.gallipolischolarship.com.au.
Image: His Excellency Governor General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret'd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley with the Gallipoli Scholars at Government House.