Major General The Hon Michael Jeffery, AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC (Retd) presented five new Charles Hawker Scholars with their scholarship certificates on 10 May 2016 during a ceremony held at Burgmann College.
The Charles Hawker Scholarship was established by Mrs Lilias Needham in memory of her brother Charles Allan Seymour Hawker. Today the scholarship is valued at up to $50,000.00 over three years and is one of the most generous privately funded scholarships available to undergraduate and postgraduate students in Australia.
Since 1990, the Trustees have awarded more than five million dollars to 114 young Australians, including a significant number from regional areas. The five successful candidates for 2016 were awarded Hawker Scholarships from a strong field of 187 applicants.
The five 2016 Charles Hawker Scholarship recipients are Mr Daniel Coulthurst, Mr Timothy Hobbs, Mr Alasdair McCall, Miss Shamsiya Mohammadi and Miss Josephine Webb.
The two Burgmann College recipients:
Mr Timothy Hobbs from Adelaide (SA) was educated at Prince Alfred College (SA). He is the first Prince Alfred College student to be awarded a C.A.S. Hawker Scholarship. Timothy is enrolled at the ANU, studying a double degree of Law and International Security. Timothy Hobbs has been a one-only-school student. He started at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide in 2001 at the age of four and completed his International Baccalaureate Diploma fourteen years later with an ATAR of 98.25 and wearing the 2015 School Captain’s badge.
Along the way at PAC, he’s been a Dux at various times, a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award inductee, a Long Tan Youth Leadership, Headmaster’s Medal winner and has been awarded numerous academic and sporting colours. He is a published author, plays the bass guitar and has been the Editor of various journals.
Mr Alasdair McCall from Adelaide (SA) was educated at Albany Senior High School (WA) and St Peter’s College (SA). Alasdair is enrolled at the ANU, studying a double degree of Commerce and International Relations. He was the 2015 St Peter’s College Vice Captain. Alasdair is the sixth St Peter’s College student to be awarded a C.A.S. Hawker Scholarship.
“I congratulate the five 2016 scholars, each of whom has already displayed a strong commitment to the splendid ideals upon which the Charles Hawker Scholarship Memorial Trust Fund is founded. They are gifted scholars with inquiring minds and have already significantly contributed to the well being of the wider community.
“The Charles Hawker Scholarship is one of the most important in Australia. I commend the Trustees for the contribution the scholarship has already made, and will continue to make, to the education of outstanding young Australians,” Major General Michael Jeffery said.
There are a number of scholarships awarded each year. The Trustees offer them to capable students of principle and character, who are committed to Australia’s future.
The Charles Hawker Scholarship perpetuates the memory and commemorates the achievements of one of Australia’s most respected pastoral pioneers. Born on May 16th 1894 at Bungaree homestead near Clare in South Australia, Charles Hawker was educated at Geelong Church of England Grammar School and Trinity College, Cambridge. Student, soldier, pastoralist and statesman Charles Allan Seymour Hawker died in the Kyeema air disaster on October 25th, 1938.
Undergraduate and postgraduate Hawker Scholars are able to attend a range of educational institutions. These include the Australian National, Adelaide, Flinders, South Australia and New England Universities and Marcus Oldham College. Post graduate Charles Hawker Scholars are also able to follow in Charles Hawker’s footsteps by enrolling at Trinity College and studying at Cambridge UK.
Selection is based on personal qualities as well as academic ability. Applications for the 2017 Charles Hawker Scholarships open on December 5th 2016 and close on January 6th 2017. An application form and further information is available from www.hawkerscholarship.org or by contacting the secretary to the Trustees on 08 8127 1654.
More Information:
Cesare Silvestri
Secretary to the Trustees
C.A.S. Hawker Scholarship (08) 8127 1654 cesare.silvestri@aetlimited.com.au
*Article courtesy of Mr Cesare Silvestri.
