Emily McFarland, 18, arrived at The Courier office with her Mum, Liz McFarland, on Wednesday morning to meet the chair of the Country Education Foundation of the Namoi, Trudy Staines.
The ostensible reason for the meeting was to help publicise the Foundation’s program of student grants for the coming year.
But it was a trick.
The real reason for the meeting was for Ms Staines to announce to a completely surprised Emily that she was the winner of the prestigious Bruce and Robyn Loder Education Scholarship, 2020.
A delighted Emily was taken by surprise, as was her mother Liz. “Shocked, surprised – and very thankful” said Emily.
Neither Emily or Mrs McFarland had any idea the scholarship announcement was coming.
And it would be a welcome surprise for her father, Graeme McFarland, Emily said.
The valuable scholarship will fund Emily’s university studies over the length of her five year degree course to the tune of $11,500 per year.
The annual scholarship, initiated in 2012 by prominent cotton industry identity, former Auscott managing director and chairman, the late Bruce Loder and Robyn Loder, is administered by the Country Education Foundation of the Namoi.
Emily will set off to the University of Wollongong to study a double degree for a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Psychologicial Science.
Emily, a student at Narrabri High School, lives on a property on the Wave Hill Road.
“I didn’t expect anything.
“I was expecting to find more people there, to be honest, rather than just me having my photo taken.
“It was a very big set up” Emily agreed.
“I had done interviews with the Education Foundation and Foundation committee member Mrs McInstry rang and I said, OK, I’ll come, not expecting anything much at all.
“And she tricked me, too, when I arrived.
“I had only been interviewed to be one of the Education Foundation grant recipients.
“It was a big shock.
“Mum didn’t know either.”
“The financial support will be wonderful” said Emily.
“It will go towards whatever I need to put it towards in my degree course.”
She has had her goals set up for some time.
“I have always had a strong interest in psychological sciences and I just thought the law degree would give me more options and a few more avenues to explore after I have completed my course.
“It will be a solid workload, but I have done 13 years of school and might as well just keep going and work my hardest.”
Emily has been to Wollongong earlier to have a look at the city where she will live for the next five years and will be installed at the university residences on campus for the start of term in March, with the support of her sister Laura, Year 10, and brother Tom, seven.
“Wollongong will be great, not a big city but certainly a big centre.
“And I am excited to go and see some green grass” Emily added.
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