Mick Young Scholarship Trust News & Events
The work of the Mick Young Scholarship Trust is made possible by the generous involvement of our supporters and sponsors. Due to their continued support, the work of the Trust has grown from assisting 3 colleges in 1997 to over 30 colleges today.
Click here to see galleries of images from previous events and occasions and please keep visiting this page. We will regularly post news of upcoming MYST dates here, but to be notified at the earliest time, sign up to our newsletter. We'll keep you posted about our work and our future events.
Mick's Big Night Out, Friday, 11 Feb, 2011
More than 400 guests gathered for a night of heart, honour and humour at the Mick Young Scholarship Trust fund raising Gala Dinner: "Mick's Big Night Out", in Sydney on 11 February.
The heart came from the first ever scholarship recipient, teacher Robert Churches, whose emotional speech directly helped boost the amount of pledges taken over the night.
The honour came in heartfelt tributes to the man whose vision of helping financially disadvantaged individuals follow their dream of further education was the mainspring of the Trust named after him. They were delivered by Prime Minister Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Wayne Swan MP and former Prime Minister Hon Bob Hawke AC who each took to the rostrum to laud Mick’s example and inspiration. Hon Peter Garrett AM MP read a further tribute to Mick from MYST Patron Gough Whitlam AC.
The humour was delivered by a sparkling line up of entertainers: Jonathan Biggins with his brilliant portrayal of Paul Keating; Bob Downe who serenaded the audience of politicians and corporate heavyweights with “You’re just too Good to be True” as well as revealing the little known part he had played in “back room conferences in Canberra with Hawkey and Mick” and comedienne Fiona O’Loughlin, Australia’s hardest working mother, had the audience rocking with tales of home and hearth. In contrast you could have heard a pin drop when Perry Keyes sang his haunting ballad “Boxing Day”.
H G Nelson doubled up as an inimitable MC and master auctioneer, drawing prices well above their reserve.
As always, those who will get the most out of such an evening are the people Mick Young most cared about – the scholarship recipients. On their behalf the Trust is grateful to the many people who supported Mick’s vision. We are delighted to announce that the Gala Dinner raised a total of $185,000 for scholarship funding.
Click here to see a photo gallery of the night's celebrations.
To recapture some of the mood of a wonderful evening these are part of the tributes paid to Mick Young:
That way, each of these scholarship holders takes something of Mick into the lecture hall and the workshop ...and into a more successful life beyond. That is why Mick’s memory is honoured through this Trust. This is how we best remember Mick Young.”
The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Prime Minister of Australia
“Mick knew honourable occupations like shearing, wharf labouring, manual work of all sorts. It taught him respect for the dignity of all people, no matter how humble their station. But it also taught him that every person had it within them to better themselves and gain fulfilment and security through education and training.”
Hon Wayne Swan MP, Deputy Prime Minister
Mick’s keen interest in my progress showed me that people, even in high places, do genuinely care for the battler. Later, as part of the committee that awarded scholarships it gave me a great pleasure to feel we really could change people’s lives. And believe me it does.”
Robert Churches
The Mick Young Scholarship Trust Race Day 2010
A memorable day was enjoyed by the hundreds of supporters who attended the MYST Race Day at Royal Randwick on 26 June 2010.
The running order for the event was in the hands of the inimitable H.G. Nelson. His sporting savvy was mixed as usual with the humour and insight which, alongside his work for the community, earned him an AM (Order of Australia) honour only days before. H.G.’s work as MC ensured a fast-paced, entertaining afternoon. In wonderful contrast, comedian Brian Doyle did what he does best – make guests laugh long and hard – and singer/songwriter Perry Keyes performed his heroic anthem 'The Day John Sattler Broke his Jaw'.
The real winners, of course, are those the Trust is able to assist through the generous help of the MYST supporters. We are pleased to announce the event raised in excess of $90,000 and would like to thank everyone who helped make the day such an outstanding success.
MYST supports Skills Scholarship in western Melbourne
More than 60 students from secondary State schools in the western areas of Melbourne have been granted Skills scholarships under a MYST/Western Chances initiative.
Funding was made possible by the highly successful fundraising dinner held in Melbourne on 2 December 2009, jointly hosted by the two organisations.
Western Chances, founded by Terry Bracks in 2003, aims to facilitate educational outcomes by creating ongoing economic, social, cultural and educational opportunities where its resources and support can make a difference.
The main selection criteria used for the Skills Scholarships is financial hardship coupled with a strong vocational desire. Students seeking places VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) and VET (Vocational Education and Training) places are the primary target.