By Jed Lanyon
Healesville Primary School students Rebecca Johanson and Isabelle Watson will have their high school tuition fees slashed thanks to winning the annual Tricia O’Reilly Memorial Scholarship.
The two students accepted the award at a school assembly that was attended by Tricia’s family members on Friday 6 December.
Tricia, a former Healesville Primary School student, was tragically killed in 2001 after being struck by a truck while crossing the highway in Healesville.
The memorial scholarship was set up to honour her memory and is now a longstanding tradition between the two schools and the Healesville community.
While the scholarship is typically awarded to one student, Healesville Primary School principal Tracey Robertson-Smith said staff found it too hard to split the pair.
Teacher Marlene Williams agreed, telling the Mail, “It’s a really prestigious award to win, because it’s for our all-round best student who is going on to Healesville High School.
“We have two winners this year because we just could not separate them… These girls have been absolutely fantastic all throughout their primary school lives.
“They put themselves out there in the community… They’re going to be such an asset for Healesville High School and are going to carry the torch from primary school through to high school.”
Rebecca and Isabelle were thankful to receive the award and are looking forward to the journey ahead.
“It’s such an honour, I was not expecting this,” Isabelle said.
“It feels amazing and especially to share it with my best friend. I’m so excited.”
“It means a lot and it goes straight to the heart. Going up there and receiving it was really great,” Rebecca said.
“I’m feeling excited but also a bit nervous, we’re at the top of the school now but we’ll be going back to the bottom age next year.”
The students’ parents said the scholarship would go a long way in helping their families financially.
Rebecca’s mother, Shelli Johanson, told the Mail, “She’s done very well and tried so hard. To now reap the rewards is amazing.
“It’s a big help to us and it opens up many other doors for her in the future. It means I can afford to do other things with her sports and music.”
The award was presented by Healesville Police Station Commander Stewart Thomson and Gayle Shelley, who is the partner of the late Sergeant Tony van Gorp, who was instrumental in first creating the scholarship.
For many years, the scholarship has been supported by Karen Picone from Gornroamin Trucking.
