A northern stockman formerly from the Fleurieu Peninsula and a Loxton High School student are among the four recipients of a 2022 Charles Hawker Scholarship this week.
The scholarships perpetuate the memory and commemorates the achievements of one of Australia's most respected pastoral pioneers and politicians - Charles Allan Seymour Hawker.
Advertisement
Lilias Needham established the CAS Hawker Scholarship in memory of her late brother, who died in the 1938 Kyeema air disaster.
Valued at up to $60,000 over three years, it is one of the most generous privately-funded residential scholarships available to undergraduate and postgraduate students in Australia.
The four new CAS Hawker scholars are studying a wide range of courses including Advanced Computing, Politics, Philosophy, Economics, Business, Health Sciences and Agribusiness.
William Gillett, Loxton, is studying a Bachelor of Business in Economics, Finance and Trade at the University of SA and is in residence at St Mark's College.
In 2019, William was recognised as both Loxton and the Riverland's Young Person of the Year and the Order of Australia student citizen of the year.
In 2020, he was named as one of the State Governor's Civics Citizenship Student award recipients and selected as the Murraylands Representative in the State Young Rural Ambassador Award.
His work both in and beyond the school, demonstrated his care and concern for others as well as a strong commitment to improving the life of his local community. William served on the Youth Environmental Council and the River Murray Youth Council, while being an active participant in local sporting clubs.
He participated in the anti-bullying group at Loxton High and volunteered at Riverview Rest Home to complete the hours required to achieve his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.
William was the State Winner of the National History Challenge and won a merit award for the ANZAC School Spirit Prize.
RELATED READING: 2021 Hawker scholarships awarded
RELATED READING: Education key focus as Ella forges life's journey
Fellow recipient Hugh Dawson has spent the past six years working in a cattle camp on Beetaloo Station via Elliott in the NT.
From the moment he arrived at the property, he knew he'd made a good decision.
The eighteen-year-old, fresh out of St Peter's boarding school was eager to learn, get in and have a go.
He stood out as a potential leader from the beginning of his time at Beetaloo.
His job as a junior level stockman quickly escalated to a head stockman role in his second year at the property, running the cattle yards and the team.
Advertisement
Hugh obtained a helicopter licence, which significantly enhanced his role on the station, while he also studied certificate courses at Charles Darwin University externally.
In 2021, he won the NT Young Achiever of the Year Award and was a NT finalist in the 2021 NAB Agribusiness Rising Champions Award.
In the NT section of the Awards Australia program, he was the winner of the 2021 Coleman's Contracting and Earthmoving Agriculture Award.
Hugh is the current vice-chair of the Young Live Exporters Network and is a strong advocate for the 'Sober in the Country' charity organisation.
He is now enrolled in a Bachelor of Business (Agribusiness) at Marcus Oldham College, where he resides.
Since 1990, the Charles Hawker Scholarship Trustees have awarded more than $6 million to 136 young Australians, including a significant number from regional areas.
Advertisement
The successful 2022 applicants were awarded scholarships from an Australia-wide field of 150 applicants.
Applications for the 2023 scholarships open on December 5.
