Scholarships Support Mature-Age ChangeMakers

by The Village Pump/Samford Progress

Young Entrepreneurs

Three worthy recipients of Community Bank Samford’s Scholarship program have each taken the plunge to change careers later in life in order to help others. The scholarship provides financial assistance to mature-age students enrolled at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus.

Each scholarship seeks to offset costs associated with tertiary study that can significantly impact a student’s ability to further their education.

Lynda Aldridge is in her third year of a Bachelor of Education (Secondary)/ Bachelor of Recreation and Outdoor Environmental Studies. Her goal is to become a local teacher focusing on environmental education, enabling students to cultivate positive relationships with themselves and the world around them.

“Whilst am I studying full time, I also undertake casual work as an Outdoor Leader for a school camp facility; therefore, the thought of not having any income for such long periods of time has been a little daunting,” Lynda said.

“The bank’s support has however alleviated the financial burden which will allow me to focus on my studies and continue to strive towards my goal of achieving at least 80 per cent for each subject, which I have managed to achieve so far.”

After working in a paralegal firm and being the sole carer of her mother for much of her life, Zoe Gayton is studying Bachelor of Nursing Science, looking to specialise in

Mental Health. “This scholarship means so much to me and takes a lot of stress off my shoulders,” Zoe said.

“I recently started work as an AIN, however looming ahead is my fourth 4-week placement, and a 6-week internship, which even working 7 days a week will leave me without sufficient income. This scholarship will give me some breathing room to just focus on my studies and learning to be the best nurse I can be,” she said.

As a single mum of five, Rachael Thurlow is also studying a Bachelor of Nursing Science. After 20 years of prioritising motherhood, she decided upon a new career path as a registered nurse and possibly a midwife.

“The wonderful gift of this scholarship will enable me to maintain my focus on my learning. Last year was a tough adjustment for me. However, I am a problem-solver, a capable woman, and a role model to those who look my way,” Rachael said.

Congratulations to these inspirational change-makers who have uprooted their lives to shape future generations and support those in need of medical assistance.

Community Bank Samford, part of Bendigo Bank, provides three UniSC scholarships per year valued at $5000 each, and also offers 3 TAFE scholarships each year, taking the Bank’s annual commitment to $30,000.

Tanya Hall

June was a busy month at the Samford Valley Target Archers.

First, a group of twenty enthusiastic senior students from the Samford State School completed nine Friday afternoon sessions of archery instruction under some of the Club’s coaches. At the final day, the students were presented with medals signifying their growth in archery competency, as well as a certificate to acknowledge the completion of initial training.

On the second last weekend in June, the Club hosted the South Queensland Archery Society’s Target Championship for 2023. The Saturday tournament consisted of a round of 36 arrows shot at each of four distances – a total of 144 arrows. The distances varied with the age and gender of the archers, and the type of bow used, from longbows to compound bows.

The Sunday competition consisted of the “Canberra” rounds of 90 arrows. These rounds are of 30 arrows shot at each of three distances depending on the criteria mentioned above.

In archery terms, the South Queensland Archery Society is comprised of 11 Clubs from Casino in the south up to Hervey Bay in the north. For this Championship, 74 archers tested their expertise.

18 members of the Samford Valley Target Archers club competed, and the medal tally for those was 12 Gold medals, 3 Silver Medals and 1 Bronze Medal - a very commendable achievement.

The next big project for Samford Archery is hosting the 2023 Archery Australia National Target Championships commencing in late September.

The last of “all good things” for the Club, the Committee is grateful that the State Government and Moreton Bay Regional Council have approved a grant for the completion of the shooting line shades, and the improvement of wheelchair access.

Evan Fisher

Did you know you can find past editions of The Village Pump at www.samfordprogress.org.au/ digital-issues-the-village-pump/ OR - Qld State Library. https:// collections.slq.qld.gov.au/ viewer/283363379

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Bushcare

Our next bushcare working bee will be on Sunday 9 July from 2pm to 4pm. Please consider volunteering for this successful community project (contact: samfordecocorridor@gmail.com).

Bird surveys

During our monthly survey on 17 June, our birdwatchers recorded 56 species. It was a very slow start owing to the very cool conditions, other than a couple of Brown Cuckoo-doves feeding on fruiting Trema tomentosa (Native Peach) along the Eco-Trail.

Highlights included seeing three species of hirundine hawking together over the grassland (Welcome Swallow and Tree and Fairy Martins), and an adult White-eared Monarch near the waterhole. A pair of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos and a Brown Goshawk flew over during morning tea, rounding off the session nicely.

On 22 June, some of our team also carried out a quarterly bird survey of two vegetation plots at QUT SERF Camp Mountain, using the 2 hectares in 20 minutes protocol. This is part of our citizen science program with

TERN. The only ‘new’ bird recorded in the plots was Varied Triller and we encountered three winter migrants: Grey Fantail, Spotted Pardalote and Rose Robin.

Flowering Spotted Gums attracted a range of nectarivores, including White-naped Honeyeater and Little Lorikeet. Our project leader, Dr Katie Irvine of the University of