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Thursday December 20 2007, Media Release

NSWALC SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS WIL BENEFIT ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES

FREDDY FRICKE 2007 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS’ BIOGRAPHIES

Aboriginal communities are likely to reap the benefit of more health care, housing, legal and other resources after the awarding of new education scholarships totaling nearly $50,000 by the peak organisation, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.

Seven of the state’s best and brightest Aboriginal tertiary students have each been awarded NSWALC-sponsored Freddy Fricke Scholarships ranging between more than $3000 to $10,000.

NSWALC Chairperson, Bev Manton, said the Council was proud to be supporting the advancement of Aboriginal students in academic disciplines including medicine, surgery, science, arts, architecture and law.

“Many of the scholarship recipients have said they will use their future skills to benefit their own communities, including two medical students who are intending to work as doctors in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory,” Ms Manton said.

“Some of them have already made valuable contributions to help NSW Aboriginal people by working in the land rights system or on the $240 million Aboriginal Community Development Program (ACDP), which provides infrastructure to high need communities.

“The new recipients are talented local Aboriginal people who are working towards a wide range of careers, spanning from medicine and law to sport and the arts.

“They include Sean White, a former police officer studying to become a doctor and an aspiring paediatrician, Christoper Kervin, who have both said they want to work in the NT as well as in Aboriginal communities in NSW.

“Architecture student, Aaron Maybury, worked with the NSW Department of Commerce as a project officer on the ACDP at communities around the state and law student and Clovelly surf lifeguard, Robert Keed, has worked extensively in the land rights system for 16 years.

“Scholarships have also been awarded to accomplished ceramics artist, Adam Ridgeway, aspiring tennis coach, Dean Schafer and future sports psychologist, Dannielle Johnson.”

NSWALC has approved new scholarships ranging between $3270 and $10,000 to support the students’ studies at a total cost of more than $48,000. Six of last year’s Scholarship holders have also been awarded a further total of more than $34,000 for continuing studies.

The Scholarship, operated as a sub fund of the Charities Aid Foundation, (CAF) was initially targeted at increased Aboriginal participation in finance and commerce but was expanded to include a wider range of academic disciplines last year.

The scholarship program was named in honour of local identity Frederick (Freddy) Thomas Fricke. It was established by the $537,000 proceeds of the sale of his home bequeathed to NSWALC upon his death in April 2000.

“The Freddy Fricke Scholarship Account has assisted tertiary students since NSWALC initiated the fund in 2002 to increase the number of NSW Aboriginal people with professional careers,” Ms Manton said.

“NSWALC’s partnership with CAF has provided a springboard to professional careers for our youth and has also left us well-placed for the launch of our $30 million Education Endowment Fund.

“The new Fund will provide up to 200 scholarships a year for Aboriginal school students from primary school upwards to tertiary, trades and mature age students.”

Further information: Paul Molloy 0419 690 926