SCHOLARSHIPS
Just like you helped me People often need help if they are to access the best educational opportunities. Fellowships, Scholarships, Bursaries and Prizes all play a part in rewarding excellence and opening doors to new opportunities. While a Rhodes Scholarship or Harkness Fellowship can open up the world to a young university graduate, the Sir James Darling Memorial Fund Scholarships make a Geelong Grammar School education available to many who would otherwise never set foot on the Corio or Timbertop campus.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU At the end of last year a student wrote to our Principal, Stephen Meek, and Deputy Principal, Charlie Scudamore: “I would like to thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to be a part of the community at Geelong Grammar. It really has been such a great experience and I really do appreciate it, very much so... it wasn’t just the scholarship you gave me, it was the amazing friends I have made, the great and caring teachers, this eye opening experience of life and the world around me. I am being honest when I say I really do not know where I would be today if it wasn’t for this community I have been accepted into. Although one thing is for sure – I wouldn’t be who I am now, as Geelong Grammar has been such an immense part of my life. I hope that one day I will be able to help a young girl or boy with their school fees at Geelong Grammar, just like you helped me.”
SIR JAMES DARLING
HARTLEY MITCHELL
These Scholarships commemorate the life and work of Sir James Darling (1899-1995), Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School for 32 years from 1930 to 1961, and inspired educational leader. In accordance with Sir James Darling’s wishes to enrol students from a wide range of backgrounds, these Scholarships provide places for new students who would not be able to attend Geelong Grammar School without financial assistance.
There are other named Scholarships, all with their own criteria and awarded when appropriate. Geelong Grammar School staff recently established an Indigenous Scholarship Fund, the Hartley Mitchell Scholarship has also been established and this year’s Annual Giving Programme seeks funds to endow an Annual Giving Scholarship in perpetuity. But all this is just the beginning of a longer journey.
FRANK COVILL Other Scholarships presently available include The Frank Covill Scholarship, awarded to students with parents from non-English speaking backgrounds, who would not be able to attend Geelong Grammar School without financial assistance, and the Old Geelong Grammarians’ Association Scholarships, which are awarded to new students whose parents or grandparents are OGGs (Geelong Grammar, The Hermitage or Clyde Schools) and wish to attend Geelong Grammar School but who could not do so without financial assistance.
NEW COMMITMENT TO SCHOLARSHIPS In February 2011 the Board of the Geelong Grammar Foundation committed itself to a new emphasis on Scholarship fundraising, and the School Council has endorsed and encouraged this priority. Scholarship fundraising will be in addition to the other work undertaken by the Foundation. Draft Scholarship regulations are being reviewed and systems to ensure the proper award and recognition of Scholarships are being upgraded to ensure the Foundation undertakes this work to the highest standards. Care will also be taken in deciding whom to approach in search of new Scholarships. There will be opportunities to support scholarships focused on States (available to assist someone from New South Wales for instance), families associated with the School for several generations may want to put in place a named Scholarship, and several members of the Biddlecombe Society have already indicated that their bequest is to establish a Scholarship – or to enhance one that already exists. Most of the work envisaged to establish new Scholarships will be undertaken in 2012 and beyond, but do be in touch with Tony Bretherton, Executive Director of the Geelong Grammar Foundation, if you would like more information.
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