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16 Wiradjuri students secure education scholarships

16 June 2009

Sixteen Aboriginal people from the Wiradjuri Region have secured important New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) educational scholarships, NSWALC's Wiradjuri Regional Councillor, Craig Cromelin, announced today.

"This is a wonderful outcome," Councillor Cromelin added.

"The successful applicants come from many different backgrounds.  However, they epitomize the very range of Aboriginal people the scholarships were created to help."

Councillor Cromelin said the 16 scholarship recipients from the Wiradjuri Region - which includes such locations as Albury, Bathurst, Brungle/Tumut, Condobolin, Cowra, Cummergunja, Deniliquin, Griffith, Hay, Leeton, Moama, Murrin Bridge, Narrandera, Onerwal, Orange, Peak Hill, Pejar, Wagga Wagga, Wamba Wamba, West Wyalong and Young.

"There are two scholarship streams, the Freddy Fricke scholarships which concentrate on helping people to work in the professions, including medicine, finance and commerce and the NSWALC-funded $30 million Educational Endowment Fund which helps people from all age groups and all educational levels,"  Councillor Cromelin said.

"State-wide 128 people will receive scholarships.  I am delighted that l6 of those recipients were from the Wiradjuri Region.

"They deserve it," Councillor Cromelin said.

"Both scholarship streams demonstrate to Aboriginal people the benefits of committing to school or going on to tertiary education.

"The message is simple - no matter what age or school level you obtained you can still achieve your goals and fulfill your aspirations.

"It will also let them know that with effort and persistence it is possible to achieve regardless of any disadvantage.

"By encouraging more Aboriginal people to stay at school and achieve academically we know we are making a solid contribution to the number who may well become the leaders of the next generation.

"The scholarships will allow greater numbers of Aboriginal people to gain professional qualifications and thus inspire others".

Councillor Cromelin said he wanted to congratulate the 16 scholarship recipients from his Region.

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Further information:       Councillor Craig Cromelin  0448  274 057