Scholarships granted to rural students

SEVEN students from rural Victoria about to start their tertiary education have been awarded scholarships by dairy industry researcher and benefactor the Gardiner Foundation. 

Two of the scholars are Libby Clymo from Calivil and Alexandra Ingram from Timmering. 

The grants went to people enrolled in courses likely to benefit the dairy industry in Victoria, and the winners will receive $10,000 each year for three years to go towards their studies. 

Chief executive officer of the Gardiner Foundation, Allan Cameron, said investing in students from rural areas was a way to build the “social capital” of dairying communities. 

“More students from dairy communities obtaining skills and experiences in their chosen field of endeavour will help create thriving and vibrant communities where people want to live, work, and invest,” he said. 

Ms Clymo grew up on a dairy farm, went to East Loddon College and plans on studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University Bendigo.  

“Growing up in a farming community, it is not uncommon to hear farmers complain of their ‘aching lower back’ or ‘kinked neck’ while not seeking further treatment,” she said. 

“A large proportion of farmers are not properly educated about the impact of their work environments on their muscles and bodies. 

“My hope is to empower farming communities by providing access to top-quality healthcare ensuring some of our hardest-working individuals are kept fit and pain-free.”