Gippsland students receive $10k scholarships

GARDINER Dairy Foundation has awarded seven tertiary scholarships to students from Victorian dairy regions, including South Gippsland, who are commencing their first year of tertiary study in 2022.

The scholarships are awarded annually to students living in Victorian dairy communities who have successfully completed their secondary schooling, and contributed to their community as well as demonstrating leadership and a commitment to personal development.

The 2022 Gardiner Foundation Tertiary Scholars are: George Nicoll, Fish Creek (Bill Pyle scholarship); Maya Osborne-Coleman, Maffra (Shirley Harlock scholarship); Scarlett Grinter, Muckatah (Doug Weir scholarship); Flynn Cannon, Maffra (Jakob Malmo scholarship).

George grew up on a family dairy farm at Fish Creek in South Gippsland and attended Foster Secondary College where he was a house captain.

He will be studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne.

He has also organised the 2021 National Tree Day on his family farm where they planted five-hundred trees.
George wants to provide quality science-based communication and journalism to increase awareness of the benefits of dairy and sustainable farming.

The 2022 Niel Black scholars are Alex Smith, St Germains; Anastasia Rea, Allansford; and Ebony Cook, Devon North.
Ebony completed VCE at Yarram Secondary College and is relocating to Monash University’s Peninsula Campus, to study a Bachelor of Nursing.

Ebony has always had a passion to help people and wants to provide more medical support to her community which is an hour’s drive from a large hospital.

She has her Australian Scout medallion and has volunteered at the Yarram Community House helping with meals program.

During the power outages and floods in 2021, she helped provide hot meals to those without power.

The scholarships are named in recognition of the significant contribution to the dairy industry made by past industry leaders and legends Shirley Harlock, Jakob Malmo, Bill Pyle, Doug Weir and Niel Black.

Each scholarship recipient will receive $10,000 annually for up to three years to contribute towards costs associated with their studies.

The Tertiary Scholarships program encourages students to return to Victoria’s dairy regions upon graduating, or after gaining further work experience, to ensure a diverse range of essential skills within these regions.