A group of Narrabri Shire students are off to study at university with more than a little help from their friends.

The ‘friends’ is the Education Foundation of the Namoi, a community organisation whose role is to financially assist local school leavers – tertiary students, trainees, apprentices, certificate level students – meet the costs of their studies as they set off on their vocation pathways.

The funds go towards defraying their start up expenses – books, travel, accommodation – the kinds of extras which face young people as they meet the costs of their studies, often at distant institutions.

The foundation has been raising funds and financially supporting local students and trainees since 2001.

Since the program was launched, the foundation has given grants to students totalling $360,000 drawn from locally raised funds. And the success stories are many.

The current grantees are continuing the tradition and embarking on a range of courses at universities across Australia.

The foundation received 18 applications for funding in 2021 and offered 12 students grants totalling $16,000.

In addition to the foundation’s funds, the group each year administers the McIlrath scholarship of $22,000 over four years and the Loder Scholarship, $11,000 over two years, a bequest from the late Bruce and Robyn Loder.

The current Education Foundation of the Namoi grant recipients met Foundation committee members and benefactors at a function on Friday night.

They were welcomed by Foundation chair Cara Stoltenberg who is taking on the role from Trudy Staines who has led the foundation for the past 10 years.

The foundation is supported by local donors and sponsors and its own fundraising.

Fundraising had been hampered by COVID restrictions this year, Mrs Stoltenberg told the audience on Friday night.

“We have been honoured to have the opportunity to distribute the William McIIrath charitable scholarship which is valued at $22,000.

“The first recipient was Sara Charles who completed her first year in 2021. We are very thankful to the family for their generosity and kindness.

“We also wish to sincerely thank the Campeys who generously donated former councillor Ron’s Narrabri Shire Councillor’s fees over the past four years.

“We continue to manage the Loder Scholarship.

“Unfortunately, Mrs Robyn Loder passed away early in 2021 and we send our condolences to her family and we sincerely thank them for their many years of generosity and support for the students of our community.

“The Loder scholarship has been distributed every three years and has supported five students since 2014 from the Narrabri Shire.

“COVID has caused many disruptions throughout 2021 and the foundation was unable to continue with their fundraising activities.

“Like many volunteer groups and not-for-profit organisations we solely rely on donations and sponsorships and with the COVID restrictions and lockdowns we have been unable to raise needed funds for our students.

“As a result, we have had to rely solely on sponsorship and donations. Without that support, we could not do what we do.

“On behalf of the committee I would like to once again sincerely thank and acknowledge the wonderful generosity of our sponsors, donors and supporters who have continued to back our foundation in these unprecedented times, and we look forward to working with you all into the future,” Mrs Stoltenberg said.

Grant recipients off to university

Recipients of financial assistance in the current group are; McIlrath scholarship ($22,000 over four years), Elsie Ford, who will study Bachelor of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation at the University of Canberra.

William McIlrath was an Irish immigrant who came to Australia in 1890. He established numerous pastoral holdings and became a well-known stud beef cattle breeder.

Mr McIlrath was a philanthropist and made many substantial grants to science, medicine and charity.

The tradition has been maintained by his descendants through the William McIlrath Charitable Foundation.

The Bruce and Robyn Loder Education Scholarship was founded in 2013 and honours the memory of one of Auscott’s longest-serving employees, the late Bruce Loder.

With the passing of Robyn in 2021, this will be the final year that the Loder Scholarships will be awarded in the Namoi region.

Recipients of the Loder scholarship, $11,000 over two years: Amelia Kiem, who will study for a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at the University of Newcastle, Laura McFarland, to study for a Bachelor of Speech Pathology degree at the Australian Catholic University, Jessica Berney, who will study for a Bachelor of Paramedicine at the University of Tasmania.

Education Foundation of the Namoi grants were awarded to Eric Reyes (Bachelor of Business, University of Melbourne), Maddison Russell (Bachelor of Education, University of NSW), Rachel Charles (Bachelor of Equine Behaviour, Charles Sturt University), Mackenzie Weaver (Bachelor of Education, CSU), Emma Young (Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science, CSU), Meagan Dampney (Bachelor of Engineering, UNSW), Alyssa Ford (Bachelor of Vision Science, University of Canberra) and Michael Horne (Certificate IV Electrotechnology, NSW TAFE).

“The Education Foundation of the Namoi relies on the support of the local community to provide grant funds for local students,” chair Cara Stoltenberg said. “If you would like to support the foundation please email [email protected] would be appreciated.”

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