Rotary Club support leads to University Medal success

Fallon Wheeler has always loved learning and living in regional Australia. Growing up in Dubbo, Fallon knew she wanted to be a teacher and studying a Bachelor of Education at Charles Sturt University in Dubbo allowed her to pursue her dream career close to home.

Achieving great marks, Deans' awards for academic performance and a minor scholarship in her first three years of study, in 2010, Fallon received the Rotary Club of Dubbo Scholarship valued at $3,000.

For Fallon, the scholarship provided more than financial support. It cemented her own self-belief and planted the seed for giving back to her community.

Fallon credits her experience at Charles Sturt and receiving the Rotary Club of Dubbo scholarship with shaping the trajectory of her life and career.

“I think it’s important to stay regional and opportunities for study in regional areas just continue to grow. I have a love of learning and try to instil that in my students. I also think it’s important to contribute to your workplace. When those opportunities are offered here, it makes you want to stay and give back.”

Fallon receiving her Master of Education and University Medal, 2021

The scholarship helped Fallon buy a new laptop and really eased her financial pressures so she could invest in her education.

“It was also a really powerful statement that someone had selected me and believed in me and supported me. It felt like quite an honour and gave me the belief to push through times of self-doubt.”

During her studies, Fallon did her final internship at Macquarie Anglican Grammar School and was offered a full-time teaching job upon graduation. Jumping at the chance to stay local, Fallon has been teaching and progressing her career there ever since, including in student welfare, learning support and school leadership roles.

In recent years she returned to study at Charles Sturt, taking on a Master of Education. Ever the high achiever, in 2021 Fallon received the University Medal and has big plans to use her qualifications to make schools better places for the whole school community, particularly staff.

“Knowing that the club has such a strong sense of community, it instilled the idea that the community is supporting you, so you want to go back out and do the same. You want to contribute.”