Mick Young Scholarship Trust
The Mick Young Scholarship Trust, or MYST, is a national fundraising initiative which gives financially disadvantaged students the chance to further their education at Universities, TAFE and colleges right across Australia.
Mick Young was a shearer, union official and Federal Cabinet Minister. He was driven by a core belief – that education creates opportunity. He believed access to it should not be limited just to those who can instantly afford it.
He had an abiding belief: "Education is a right, not a privilege." He knew that it was vital "to break the cycle of unemployment and disadvantage that can restrict a person's potential."
"Break that cycle", Mick would say, "and an individuals' place in the community will almost be transformed."
What began as a compassionate idea to provide, from his own pocket, scholarships to assist people doing it tough in his electorate of Port Adelaide, now stands as testimony to the egalitarian beliefs of one man.
He was a man of his time, but also a man ahead of his time. The sentiments that forged Mick's scholarship idea more than two decades ago are still resonating today. The issue of Australia in desperate need of skilled and experienced workers remains a talking point that embraces the nation's politicians, academics, teachers, employers, parents, social policy makers and students themselves.
In fact, just about anyone who cares for Australia's future.
The Mick Young Scholarship Trust Race Day
Saturday June 26, 2010 is an important date to save in your diary because the MYST Race Day is returning to Royal Randwick! With the usual collection of pollies and racing identities, our Marquee at trackside will host lunch, drinks and the customary surprise entertainers, conjured up by the Events Committee.
Flushed by the success of our first Melbourne Dinner last December, the Mick Young Scholarship Trust invites you to make an afternoon of it and raise funds to help us continue to support Mick's vision of educational opportunities for all.