General News
1 March, 2023
Scholarship awarded
CAMPERDOWN’S Zoe Wilkinson has been named the 2023 recipient of the annual Salt Creek Scholarship.
CAMPERDOWN’S Zoe Wilkinson has been named the 2023 recipient of the annual Salt Creek Scholarship.
The annual scholarship was launched by Salt Creek Wind Farm developer Tilt Renewables and Salt Creek Merino Stud owner Peter Coy, whose land the wind farm is situated on.
The scholarship provides $30,000 towards covering the university expenses of the chosen scholar.
Ms Wilkinson, the 2020 Camperdown College Dux, said she was “over the moon” as she began her university studies on Monday.
She will undertake a double degree in law with honours and global studies at Monash University in Melbourne.
“I was in shock when I found out I had been awarded the scholarship,” she said.
“I really wasn’t expecting it; I was speechless and couldn’t really talk.”
Ms Wilkinson said she hopes her studies will lead her to a career making a positive impact for those in need.
“I like the global studies component because you can specialise in human rights, which is the field I would like to work in.
“Adding law was a natural fit; if you want to work in the field of human rights, you need to have knowledge of the law so the two go hand in hand.”
Salt Creek Scholarship director Sally Towell said Ms Wilkinson was a clear choice despite a strong field of applicants.
“Zoe was a unanimous decision for the deciding panel,” she said.
“She is very driven and we have no doubt she will succeed in anything she puts her mind to.
“She was an absolute standout; an amazing young lady who is very excited about the future.
“I can’t wait to watch her progress and see what she will do.”
Ms Towell said presenting the scholarship each year was something all involved look forward to, but also serves as a reminder of the greater financial barriers rural students face.
“There are lot of brilliant students out there who could use a helping hand to get to university, and we wish we could do something for all of them,” she said.
“Every year it reminds us how much of a disadvantage there is for rural kids who would like to pursue university.”
It was the awareness of the costs associated with rural students moving in to cities to further their education which saw Mr Coy launch the scholarship in 2019.
Seeing the costs his four children, including Ms Towell, faced in their pursuit of study was an eye-opener to how inaccessible higher education can be to rural Victorians.
“It’s something my father felt strongly about having four children of his own, and we’ve become aware over the years of how many brilliant, hard-working kids there are in this region who have hopes and dreams but face the cost barrier,” she said.
Ms Wilkinson said she felt rural students were at a distinct disadvantage and the scholarship was a “game-changer”.
“Having your rent paid for is unimaginable,” she said.
“Having to move and pay rent is one of the biggest reasons rural students are at a disadvantage; if you live in the city you can just stay at home.
“Moving from the country to the city is overwhelming, it’s daunting, so the scholarship takes such a weight off.
“It’s one of the biggest barriers, so lifting that weight makes a huge difference.”