Growing the Harriet Nixon Scholarship in 2025 and beyond
A letter from Fiona, Ralph and Liss Nixon
Extending Harriet's hand to help others
Our introduction to Burgmann College commenced in February 2015, when we delivered our daughter Harriet to the College. She arrived filled with excitement, curiosity and gratitude to embark on her chosen career to study Arts/Law.
Harriet immersed herself in the community, became a devoted resident and advocate for the College and ANU. She flourished, formed treasured friendships, and embraced every opportunity with the wisdom, grace, and the quiet dignity which defined her character. She was the happiest we had ever seen her.
Harriet had a remarkable ability to make others feel valued and heard. Her genuine warmth and humility touched all she met: fellow students; academic staff; the rural communities she so passionately advocated for. Harriet moved through life with a gentle strength, lifting others while never seeking recognition for herself.
It has been 100 months since Harriet’s tragic loss and on 21 June she would have celebrated her 30th birthday. In this time, a remarkable community from across Australia and around the world has emerged to honour her legacy. This outpouring of support has created something we never imagined possible—an enduring legacy of Harriet’s passion for rural Australia, education, and her deep love of community.
At Burgmann, Harriet represented ANU at Unigames, continuing her love of hockey. She was passionately involved with batyr, the mental health organisation where young people’s stories are at the heart of everything, much as they were for Harriet. Her internship with Senator the Honourable Fiona Nash allowed her to advocate for rural communities with the optimism and integrity that were hallmarks of her character.
Evie Tilley from Booborowie, South Australia, our inaugural Harriet Nixon Scholar, said it best in the presence of 570 guests at the Burgmann College Family gala dinner on 10 May:
‘Back at home, it is seeding time, and instead of watching tractors drive past I am here, in Canberra … Being here has completely changed my life, you have become part of my journey, and my story, and so I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you … To the Nixon Family, all I can say is thank you, I am so grateful to have your support, and I hope I am doing Harriet proud.’
The impact of this scholarship reaches far beyond financial support. It creates connections between people who believe in education’s power to transform lives and communities. Scholars will return to our regions, strengthening the places that nurtured them—carrying forward Harriet’s legacy of service and grace.
In Harriet’s own words:
‘I have grown up with an important sense of community service, where giving to others establishes a stronger community. I feel Burgmann has an environment where this goal can be achieved.’
Today, we invite you to join our Burgmann family to foster a culture of generosity, connection and lasting impact to grow Harriet’s scholarship.
We would love your support. Your contribution would honour the gracious spirit of a young woman who quietly inspired hope, and enable more rural and remote students access and opportunity to an exceptional education and future.
Through the Harriet Nixon Scholarship, Burgmann College and our family will forever be grateful to dearest Harriet as she continues to extend her grace and guidance to others.
With profound gratitude,
Fiona, Ralph and Alicia Nixon
I am sincerely grateful to the Burgmann College community for the incredible support and generosity you have shown to our family. I know Harriet would be incredibly proud of the opportunity her scholarship has provided to you, Evie.
Banner photo: 'South Kolora' Inverloch, Victoria
