January 23, 2025 

It’s been going for more than 20 years, has awarded 516 scholarships and is a hugely successful partnership between the community and Gunnedah Shire Council.

The Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund celebrated another year of community support for the Shire’s young people at the annual presentation yesterday afternoon.

Eighteen students from Gunnedah Shire were awarded scholarships in areas ranging from agriculture to law.

Gunnedah Shire Council Community Scholarship Fund Working Group Chair Cr Linda Newell said the fund was an innovative initiative.

“We know that many of our young people have to move away to pursue their chosen study area,” Cr Newell said. “The Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund gives people not only encouragement, but some practical financial support to meet the costs of moving, books and other expenses.

“Over the years, we have seen many young people successfully pursue a huge range of careers, from medicine to teaching, from law to science, and from trades to sports studies. Many of those young people have come back to the area with their qualifications, skills and talents to enrich the lives of those in our region and our Shire.

“One of them is our guest speaker at this year’s presentation, Dr Sarah Woodford, who has returned to the region as a general practitioner registrar. Sarah was a recipient of a Gunnedah Community Scholarship in 2015 and 2016.

“Sarah is a great example of how a little support for students can be repaid over and over again when they return to our community.”

The fund would not be possible without the support of sponsors, including Whitehaven Coal, Santos, Boggabri Coal, PRAMS (Paediatric and Maternity Support), Forsyths Accounting and Financial Services, Rotary Club of Gunnedah, Rotary Club of Gunnedah West, Club Gunnedah, Discount Drug Store, Orica, Barber St Practice, McArthur Legal, Namoi Valley Bricks, Gunnedah Vet Clinic and Daracon.

This year, a new scholarship was added, "The Pamela Helen Rickard Scholarship".

Very generous sponsors, who have asked to remain anonymous, have donated a substantial amount of funds for this scholarship, which are to be disbursed as $2,500 per student, per year, with a maximum of three full-time students per scholarship year, to attend the Australian National University in Canberra.

The sponsors have created the scholarship in honour of Pamela Helen Rickard, who was the Dux of Gunnedah High School in 1969. Pamela attended the Australian National University from 1970 to 1972, undertaking a combined Asian Studies/Economics degree and was a prize-winner in Economic History.

This year, the inaugural Pamela Helen Rickard Scholarship went to Clare Canham, who will study a Bachelor of Political Science at the Australian National University.

The 2025 Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund recipients are:
• Eszter Apro – Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business at Macquarie University
• Zara Bartlett – Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood at University of Sydney
• Hollie Bennett – Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Honours)(Radiation Therapy) at University of Newcastle
• Clare Canham – Bachelor of Political Science at Australian National University
• Emma Doyle – Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Criminology (Honours) at University of Newcastle
• Lewis Donaldson – Bachelor of Communication at Charles Sturt University
• Rachel Fairfull – Bachelor of Nursing at University of New England
• Josie Gallagher – Bachelor of Education K-12 at Charles Sturt University
• Maya Gallagher – Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) at University of Newcastle
• Courtney Hobden – Bachelor of Rural Science at University of New England
• Henry Johns – Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics at University of Newcastle
• Amelia Lush – Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science/Bachelor of Psychological Science at Griffith University, Gold Coast
• Madison McDonald – Bachelor of Agriculture at University of New England
• Kaleb McIlveen – Bachelor of Business (Agriculture) at Marcus Oldham College, Victoria
• Cameron Neader – Diploma of Engineering at University of Newcastle
• Rosie Snape – Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Human Rights at Australian Catholic University Brisbane
• Chloe Sumpter – Bachelor of Nursing at University of Wollongong
• John Mark Villegas – Bachelor of Software Engineering (Honours) at University of Newcastle