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Great Support for Inspirational Students
8 May 2004
It was my privilege last weekend to attend the bursary breakfast
of the Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW). It was an
occasion when A$1,000 bursaries were awarded to support female
students during their University studies.
The relationship with AFUW and this University dates back to my
earliest days on the Coast in 1994, and it is now an excellent
example of a real partnership with mutual benefits.
For example, the AFUW makes all the arrangements for robing in
the Graduation Ceremony. The more people who are robed, the higher
the profits, which are then returned to the University's students
through the bursaries.
The most important and most moving dimension of the breakfast
ceremony, however, is when the students speak about their personal
circumstances, their aspirations, and their gratitude to both AFUW
and the University that has given them hope and
self-confidence.
All of the students who spoke were remarkable women who were
achieving at a high level. The calibre of the students was
exceptional, and I wondered also about the eighteen out of the
twenty-five applicants for a bursary who missed out and whether
they could also have benefited from some financial help to defray
some of the significant costs associated with degree studies.
There was an impressive presentation from Stacey Angelides, a
Faculty of Arts honours student, with a grade point average (GPA)
of 6.85 (7 is the highest score). She had overcome so many
challenges and was a Project officer with Disability Services and a
tutor in the Faculty whilst completing her studies.
Suzanne Burford was an equally impressive woman, with four
children, a partner in a local business, and a good academic
record. She spoke clearly about her interests in international
politics and the relationship between Australia and Indonesia, in
particular.
Nicole Hunter is fascinated by how urban planning and the built
environment can affect human health and has a GPA of 6.35. Tanya
King has an exceptional 6.8 GPA and has achieved this despite the
emotional trauma of having to resettle from a small coal mining
community.
Cathryn Morriss gave an eloquent and convincing explanation of
why she combined creative writing and international politics.
Carolyn Siddel is a single parent with two sons, and has focused
on medical research. Narelle Wilson is also a single parent with
two young children. She says that her university experience has had
a highly positive impact on her life and outlook. She works on
sport and event marketing.
Listening to these women speak so personally not only makes us
so proud of their achievements, but as I said afterward, it is a
powerful reminder of the value of having a university in the
region. The University has provided the pathways, and these are
examples of women who have risen above personal problems to exploit
those new opportunities. The A$,1000 bursaries provided by AFUW
help the students meet the formidable up-front costs, and the
students then have the personal flexibility to spend the money the
way they choose which is an ideal arrangement.
Ceremonies like that bring home to me how we still have to, as
staff, battle constantly to provide the best university with the
best range of academic options that we can possibly obtain. There
is so much latent talent in this region and we need to support that
talent within this University, until they are provided with the
ranges that are widely available in the universities of the major
capital cities of this country.
These students would succeed in any of the world's universities,
and the invaluable support provided by AFUW is an example of how
they can be encouraged to continue their exceptional successes.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice Chancellor of the University
of the Sunshine Coast