On Friday May 12, the first Presentation of the Long Tan Bursary and Sponsored Scholarships for 2017 was held in Darwin.
A special mention must be made to the DVA Darwin staff for coordinating the presentation, especially to Acting Deputy Commissioner Lance Johnson who facilitated the event.
It was an intimate gathering celebrating the achievements of our two Northern Territory Long Tan Bursary recipients; Matthew Doyle and Chris Wheat. Matthew is in the first year of a Bachelor of Commerce at Charles Darwin University. He has been a state finalist in the CPA Plan Your Own Enterprise Competition and has a diverse range of academic interests including business, philosophy, geopolitics and history. Chris is currently studying a Diploma of Nursing at Fox Education and Consultancy. Outside of his studies, Chris is a dedicated father who enjoys spending time with his two daughters. He enjoys running, kick boxing and fishing.
The presentation event also provided the opportunity to celebrate the successes of Taliska Arentson, a 2009 Long Tan Bursary recipient. Taliska completed a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts at the University of New England before completing a Diploma of Legal Practice in 2014. She currently holds a position in Parliamentary Counsel for the Northern Territory Government. Taliska spoke of the financial and emotional significance of receiving the Long Tan Bursary. Financially, it allowed her to relocate to Armidale, NSW, for her studies and to buy the expensive textbooks required for her course. Emotionally, it provided the motivation Taliska needed to succeed in her studies. In her speech, Taliska said “It was an honour to receive the Long Tan Bursary, knowing the cost of war on men like my Dad and their families was, and still is, a driving force for me as I strive to make the most out of the opportunities I have been afforded because of their sacrifices”.
We have no doubt that, similar to Taliska, Matthew and Chris will go onto achieve great successes in their studies and chosen career paths. Congratulations again to both of these young men – we look forward to sharing your tertiary studies journey with you over the next three years!
