Stories
The voice of the scholar is the single most important feature in assessing and realising the impact of a scholarship. We are proud of all of our scholars. Here are some their stories reflecting on their journey.
Ruby Dolso
By Ruby Dolso Ruby at Tolmer Falls, NT My name is Ruby Kelly Dolso, and my Grandfather, Geoffrey Kelly, is a Vietnam Veteran. He has been the most influential man in my life and has taught me so many valuable...
Thomas Hooper on NAIDOC Week
As a young Aboriginal man, NAIDOC Week has a lot of meaning for both me personally and for my family. Â It means coming together with those close to me and yarning about the history that surrounds us and remembering our...
Flowers of the Forest – A Remembrance Day Lament
Lone Piper at the Australian War Memorial By Emma Dallas A lone piper has been a feature of Australian memorial services since the 1920s. The Australian War Memorial holds a daily Last Post Ceremony. Each ceremony includes a lone piper...
Sitanan Petcharawan
By Sitanan Petcharawan Sitanan Petcharawan My name is Sitanan Petcharawan. I was honoured to be awarded the Long Tan Bursary, sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs, in 2018. My uncle served in the Vietnam war as a...
Rachel Crook
By Rachel Crook Rachel Crook - first day at medical school My family has a long history of service. My great-grandfather, grandfather and father all served in Defence. My great grandfather Reg joined the Navy on the 20th June 1944...
Matthew Ulanowski
By Matthew Ulanowski Matt Ulanowski Hello, I am a current proud recipient of the Long Tan Bursary. After hearing the news that I had been awarded this scholarship, I felt an immediate sense of achievement knowing that AVCAT had chosen...
Caitlin Kearney
By Caitlin Kearney Caitlin Kearney Hello! My name is Caitlin Kearney and I’m honoured to be one of the 2020 AVCAT RSL Queensland scholarship recipients. Several generations of my family have served the Australian Defence Forces. In fact, currently my...
Angel Whatnall
By Angel Whatnall Angel Whatnall I can still remember receiving the phone call about my AVCAT scholarship sponsored by RSL Queensland. I remember breaking down in tears of joy and immediately running to my uncle for a celebratory hug. I...
Lewis Batic
By Lewis Batic Lewis Batic My name is Lewis Batic and I am a 2018 AVCAT and RSL QLD Scholar in my final year of a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons) at James Cook University. My father served in the...
Larissa Whelan
By Larissa Whelan Larissa's first day of teaching at a rural school My name is Larissa Whelan and I’m the daughter of a veteran who did three deployments to Iraq in 2005/2006, 2007/2008 and 2010/2011, he was also in Timor-Leste...
