Jessica Peacock's Story

I grew up on a small property outside the rural town of Wangaratta, attending both primary and high school there.

I spent 18 months in the remote northwestern town of Broome, where I attended the local high school and engaged strongly with the local community—an experience that has fostered a sense of adventure.

After completing high school, I undertook a gap year during which I worked to save for my stay at Burgmann College. I began my gap year working for racehorse trainer Ben Brisbourne. This entailed working early starts with an amazing team caring for the wellbeing of the 60+ horses he trains.

During Autumn, I worked on a 3,000-acre property in the New South Wales town of Forbes. I worked long hours operating farm machinery, ploughing and sowing paddocks.

A combination of my time spent in the country and an interest in nature has led me to study for a Bachelor of Environment and Sustainability at the ANU. While I am unsure where my degree will take me, my time spent working on farms has encouraged me to follow the path of agricultural sustainability.

Burgmann College stood out to me as an amazing college since the beginning of my university journey. On Open Day 2022, after touring the colleges along Daley Road, it was the kindness and sense of community shown by Burgmann ressies that drew me to apply, and I have not been disappointed. The welcome and support given by Burgmann and an amazing group of friends has made the move back into study enjoyable.

College life has had a massive impact on my time at university. Burgmann has given me the chance to be a part of a community and meet some amazing people from diverse backgrounds. Being close to classes and the city has allowed us to explore Canberra between study.

Receiving the Burgmann Price Scholarship has made a massive difference to my time at Burgmann. The financial support has allowed me to not only come to College but to focus my time on my studies. As I am working less during the term, I have the time and flexibility to focus my work intensively during the breaks for the racing stables; a job that I really love.

Burgmann’s bursaries and scholarships have a massive impact on the College’s residents. In particular, the Burgmann Price Scholarship provides rural Australian students to experience on campus living at the ANU and to be a part of this amazing community.

Through this opportunity I have met people who have made my transition to university life so much easier and may be friends I have for the rest of my life. These people, and the incredible culture at this College, has made my first semester extremely enjoyable and I look forward to the rest of my time at Burgmann.

It is due to the incredible generosity of donors, such as the Charles Price family, that students like me can enjoy the amazing experience of College culture while studying at ANU. In my short time here, Burgmann has made a huge impact on my life, giving me the opportunity to study, live and experience all that Canberra has to offer. By donating to the College’s Bursaries and Scholarship program, donors are providing students like me this wonderful opportunity.