By Kath Gannaway
Three young Upper Yarra students have embarked on careers in teaching and digital media with a boost from the Warburton and Yarra Junction Bendigo Community Banks.
Mary McIntosh, Talitha Boone and Sebastian Northey set off on their first year at university with a significant financial scholarship as part of the banks’ 2017 Scholarships program.
The scholarships are aimed at assisting academically capable and committed, but disadvantaged students from the Upper Yarra area.
Historically, for students in the Upper Yarra taking the cost of either living away from home, or travelling to universities in Melbourne or further afield, can be prohibitive.
“The high cost associated with tertiary study can have a significant impact on a young person’s ability to further their education and some may not get the chance to achieve their academic dreams without some help,” Community Bank Chair, Peter Kimberley said.
Talitha is undertaking a Bachelor of Outdoor Education at La Trobe University in Bendigo. Her achievements at the Mountain District Christian School, and passion for the environment and and background in volunteering and humanitarian work, led her to seek a future in outdoor education and wilderness work with an ultimate goal of helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Talitha said the financial assistance would play a huge role in ensuring she achieved her goals in her first year at university.
Mary is doing a Bachelor of Education in Primary and Secondary Health and Physical Education at Mondah University’s Pensinsula Campus.
The East Warburton scholar was inspiring as college captain and leader during her time at Upper Yarra Secondary College and said she had wanted to be a teacher all her life.
Her combined interests in sport, the outdoors and health are driving her aspirations to teach and help achieve positive change in students she will teach in the future.
Sebastian is doing a Diploma of Digital Interactive Media at RMIT in Melbourne.
He has pursued his love of art and honed his visual art skills over the years during homeschooling and distance education and is looking at establishing a career in interactive and digital media, a field unique to his personality and offering an opportunity to make an exciting contribution to an emerging area of artistic vocation.
Mr Kimberley congratulated the students on their achievements and aspirations.
“We know these three fine young people will make their community proud and in time will bring valuable skills back to the Upper Yarra Valley,” he said.
