Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund

• Local students (any person under 25 years of age by 31 December in the year of first application) who have completed their High School education at a Gunnedah secondary school, or the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation at a Gunnedah RTO, or completed their High School education at a secondary school within 100km radius of Gunnedah with family’s principal place of residence within Gunnedah Shire.
• Accepted into an approved tertiary course (minimum Certification IV).
• NOT in receipt of another scholarship in excess of $5,000.
• Maintain satisfactory progress in the unit(s) of the tertiary course.
• Should an applicant be successful and then decide to defer their course, they must return the funds in full within one (1) month and, then if they so wish reapply the following year.
• Recipients of a Community Scholarship are only eligible to receive this scholarship on two (2) occasions throughout their course at University/TAFE.
• Successful applicants will be required to complete a Release of Scholarship Agreement form confirming their enrolment prior to receiving the funds.

Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund Applications open between October – January each year.

The Pamela Helen Rickard Scholarship will 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 (ANU) in Canberra, preferably to study Asian Studies, Economics or Business Management. If no student is looking to undertake studies in these areas, there is the potential to look at a scholarship for a student who will be enrolling in any other ‘full-time’ course at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. The funds will be disbursed each year until all expended.

The sponsors created the scholarship in honour of Pamela Helen Rickard, who was the Dux of Gunnedah High School in 1969. She attended the Australian National University from 1970 to 1972, undertaking a combined Asian Studies/Economics degree, and was a prize-winner in Economic History. Pamela spent many years in administration at Monash University, including in the role of assistant to the Dean of the Faculty of Law in the 1990s, utilising her strong personal skills backed by her academic studies, including a Graduate Diploma in Business Management.

The sponsors said Pamela was always very proud of her Gunnedah roots, and believed deeply in the value of education and the encouragement and provision of opportunities for young people. A note was found among Pamela’s last writings that talked about the establishment of a fund to help Gunnedah students.

The Vera Banks Environmental Scholarship is in memory of Vera Banks, a founding member of Gunnedah Urban Landcare Group. As part of her extensive contribution to supporting the environment, she penned the Management Plans for Bindea and Porcupine Reserves, conducted a study on tree dieback in the area, and undertook studies and work on the Namoi Riverine stability and environment.

The Eli Kelly Mechanical Scholarship is for a student undertaking a minimum Certificate IV or full-time tertiary studies in engineering or a mechanical-based field. Trade examples may include working towards qualifications as a Boilermaker or Fitter Machinist, based in Gunnedah and under the age of 25 years, and meets the GCSF criteria.

The scholarship is in honour of Eli Kelly who tragically lost his life in April 2024 in a mining-related accident while working at a Western Australian mine site. Eli was a valued and integral employee and had worked at a local engineering business for four years. He demonstrated his commitment to his work, completing his Fitter Machinist Apprenticeship in March 2024.