Seven students from Victorian dairy regions, including four from northern Victoria, have received scholarships from the Gardiner Foundation.
The 2024 Gardiner Foundation Tertiary Scholars are: Libby Clymo, Calivil (Shirley Harlock scholarship); Alexandra Ingram, Timmering (Doug Weir scholarship); Clara Linn, Childers (Jakob Malmo scholarship); Eloise Murnane, Warncoort (Bill Pyle scholarship); and Alysha Toohill, Kyabram; Ella Bryant, Kaarimba; and Harry Murphy, Irrewarra (Niel Black scholarship).
They are all starting their first year of tertiary study this year. Each scholar will receive $10,000 annually for three years to support costs associated with their studies.
These scholarships are granted to students accepted into courses that will benefit the Victorian dairy industry or dairy communities.
Gardiner Foundation chief executive officer Allan Cameron said the program encourages students to return to Victoria’s dairy regions upon graduation or after gaining work experience. This ensures a diverse range of essential skills within these regions.
“More students from dairy communities obtaining skills and experiences in their chosen field of endeavour will help create thriving and vibrant communities where people want to live, work, and invest,” Mr Cameron said.
There is no preferred field of study, with past students enrolling in a variety of courses, including agriculture science, nursing, medicine, engineering, journalism and commerce.
Libby Clymo, who grew up on a family dairy farm at Calivil, plans to study physiotherapy at La Trobe University in Bendigo.
“Growing up in a farming community, it is not uncommon to hear farmers complain of their ‘aching lower back’ or ‘kinked neck’ while not seeking further treatment,” Libby said.
“A large proportion of farmers are not properly educated about the impact of their work environments on their muscles and bodies.
“My hope is to empower farming communities by providing access to top-quality health care ensuring some of our hardest-working individuals are kept fit and pain-free.”
Since 2008, Gardiner Foundation has awarded 82 scholarships worth more than $1.9 million. A recent review found more than 70 per cent of past scholars have gone on to live in and contribute to the dairy industry and dairy communities.
The tertiary scholarships are named in recognition of services to the dairy industry by Niel Black, Shirley Harlock, Jakob Malmo, Bill Pyle and Doug Weir.
Other northern Victorian recipients:
- Alexandra Ingram, Timmering: Alexandra completed her VCE at Rochester Secondary College where she was school captain. She will study a Bachelor of Social Work at La Trobe University Bundoora. Her aim is to return to her home town and support locals during times of hardship and advocate for wellbeing. She has witnessed some of these hardships with the Murray Goulburn dairy factory closure as well as the floods in October 2022.
- Alysha Toohill, Kyabram: Alysha completed HSC at Moama Anglican Grammar. She will study a Bachelor of Health Science at La Trobe University Bendigo. Alysha has a goal of becoming a dentist, while also working toward getting her private pilot’s licence.
- Ella Bryant, Kaarimba: Ella grew up on a family dairy farm and completed Year 12 at St Mary of the Angels Secondary College in Nathalia. She will study a Bachelor of Health Science at Deakin in Geelong. Ella wants to work in radiography and provide a specialist service to smaller towns to prevent regional people having to travel greater distances for care.