The Mick Young Scholarship Trust Recipients

Robert Churches

"I have a sense of obligation to the Mick Young Scholarship Trust as I truly know the importance of scholarships.
I was the sixth of seven children. Mum and Dad both worked 2 jobs each to help with our education. Dad was a railway worker for nearly 40 years. I went to the Parks Community School. It was a pretty tough school. But I survived the rough and tumble of school life there and successfully completed Year 12, before being accepted into a Bachelor of Education course. As a young man it was hard to rely on Mum and Dad for finances, so I quit teacher’s college. But after many job interviews and being on the dole I wanted to go back. My ex-principal, aware of my predicament and potential told me about a new scholarship, the Port Adelaide ALP Scholarship initiated by Mick Young. I applied and was lucky enough to win it.

Let me tell you what this scholarship has meant to me: It provided me with the money to complete my degree; it gave me financial independence from Mum and Dad, which was very important; it inspired me to complete the course. I had a responsibility to those who had faith in me.
I met my wife, Bette at teacher’s college and without the scholarship I wouldn’t have met her and had our 2 beautiful children, Tegan and Nathan.
The scholarship gave me confidence to achieve. I had previously believed people like me from the Parks weren’t meant to succeed.
Mick showed a keen interest in my progress even after I graduated. And I learnt that people, even in high places do genuinely care for the battler.
Fundraising is obviously extremely important to the success of scholarships like this. This is even more relevant today with increasing university fees and HECS. It is more difficult, no matter what some people say, for students from low socio-economic backgrounds to achieve. My experience is that students can get into Tertiary Institutions. The real fight is to keep themselves there.
I honestly believe I would still be living in the Parks area now, possibly unemployed, had it not been for this scholarship. I remain ever thankful to Mick, Mary and all the people involved in my success. It is still hard for me to believe that I, a lad from the Parks have now been a teacher for nearly 20 years, let alone being the Senior IT specialist Teacher at Immanuel College a highly regarded Private school in Adelaide.
The Mick Young Scholarship Trust has broadened to reach across Australia. It can and does make a difference. I am a living testament that such a scholarship works. It reminds me of the saying “To save one life is like saving the whole world”. I urge you to become involved, to give donations or to help in fundraising. I know Mary, Janine and The Trust would appreciate it and I am sure Mick would too.
And on a last personal note, my Mum, Mabel who has passed away and dad Bob, were always so very thankful for the scholarship and the opportunities it gave their little boy. Mum would often say a prayer of thanks for Mick and his foresight for such a great cause. So on behalf of my Mum, Dad and myself, thanks Mick, Mary and the supporters of the scholarship."

Robert Churches

Joshua Smith

"I received the Mick Young Scholarship in 2005, which was my last year at uni. The scholarship had a number of knock on effects that I didn't think it would have.
Firstly, because money was so tight at home, it took a lot of financial pressure off. Legal text books and uni fees are so expensive, and at the beginning of each uni semester it was always a struggle to afford the necessary expenses. So, not only did the scholarship take some of the stress and burden away from the beginning of the semester, it meant that my family didn't have to sacrifice anything in order to cover my uni expenses. Consequently, as I didn't have to stress about money it meant that I could put more concentration into studying.
Secondly, receiving the scholarship boosted my confidence. It made me realise that others out there, besides my family, wanted me to do well and succeed. Having that confidence and support provided by the Mick Young Scholarship made what I was doing seem that much more worthwhile.
Finally, it served as an example to others that there are people that are willing to help those that are trying to make a difference in their own lives as well in the lives of others. I grew up in a small country town in an Aboriginal community plagued by poverty, poor health, alcohol and drug abuse and violence. After experiencing this sad cycle first hand, I set out to do a law degree as I thought it would be a way that I could go back and help my community, even if I was just setting an example for other Aboriginal youth. Hopefully I have achieved my goal of being a positive role model, but I could also show that by receiving the scholarship meant that I was able to go back to Kempsey and show my community that there is help out there if you want to change things for the better.
I definitely want to build my general knowledge of as many areas of the law as possible so that I have a well rounded legal education. However, my degree specialised in areas of the law that are particularly relevant to Indigenous Peoples, so ideally my preferred job would be in an organisation that had some effect on the Aboriginal community and generally had positive impacts on wide cross-sections of society."

Joshua Smith
Scholarship Recipient
Law Graduate

Njau Gitu

"I wish to express my gratitude to the trustees for formulating a well defined criteria based on the financial needs, for would be scholarship recipients. This process has enabled many deserving cases receive due consideration for the MYST scholarship award of which I am proud to be one. I note with appreciation that the participating institutions have increased from 17 in 2006 to 30 in 2007. This is a clear indication that the Trust’s work is impacting positively across this great nation.
My fellow scholarship recipients will bear me witness that this scholarship award has indeed transformed our lives and those we associate closely with.
As a recipient of the scholarship award I have been a beacon of hope and inspiration to my family, colleagues and my community both here in Australia and back in Africa.
They look upon me to offer them advice and guidance, a role that I enjoy tremendously as it impacts positively on their lives.
The scholarship inspired me to formulate the research which I am currently engaged in. The study is examining the potential for collaboration as a strategy to attract commercial funding for business research at university. Business research is important in the current competitive global economy of which Australia is a major player.
I am sure the if Mick Young was with us today he would be proud of all of us for continuing to cherish his vision. We must continue to support the noble cause he established, where he reiterated, and I quote “education is a right not a privilege” .
I am proud to be an ‘Ambassador’ to the living legacy of a great and visionary leader who believed in a “fair go” in education for all.
Asante Sana! (Thank you!)"

Dr Njau Gitu
Doctor of Business Administration
Southern Cross University

Wendy Beckett

"About 25 years ago, I submitted an application to the Mick Young Scholarship Trust in the hope of being the lucky one who might be chosen and financially supported to realise my fantastic ambition of becoming a playwright. I did win, becoming the first recipient of the Scholarship.
This allowed me to further my studies as well as travel to Europe to understudy the renowned author Lawrence Durrell. I remember the celebration dinner in the Finsbury Hotel in Port Adelaide after I won. I got to meet and ‘dance’ with the Prime Minister Bob Hawke!
I remember Mick telling me a story that night: it was about when he was a boy and his Mum one Christmas had given him the option of getting a new pair of trousers or a book. Mick told me he chose the book. That night I had my photograph taken with these two famous men, Mick Young and Bob Hawke. You can imagine how many people I rushed around showing it to.
It’s difficult to find the words to explain how it feels to have your life turn around 180 degrees, to get right up close to your dreams and look through that window. A future, an opportunity you had so longed for, made real.
This surge of confidence led me on to gain, not one but 5 university degrees and to write what is now 22 plays on stage, many of which I now direct myself. In addition, I have written biographies, magazine articles, books, radio plays and interviewed on ABC Radio. It’s a fantastic career and I feel graced to work in this industry.
When I was a young girl in Port Adelaide I had a fantasy of one day having a play in the Sydney Opera House. Last May that dream came true when my play ‘For The Love Of Alma Mahler’ opened there. And just when I thought ‘this is as good as it gets’ I find myself opening yet another play on 42nd Street New York.
‘This brilliant career’ as Miles Franklin called it, is all due to the initial support of the Mick Young Scholarship Trust; the catalyst that gave me the confidence, the determination to strike out, and have a go, at pursuing a career in play-writing.
Young people can do extraordinary things, all they need is someone to believe in them and for me that person was Mick Young."

Wendy Beckett
Playwright
MYST recipient 1984

Hind Suleiman

"When I came to Australia from Iraq, I felt that I was nothing. I was a radiographer in Iraq but my qualifications not looked at in Australia.
I went to TAFE to ask about nursing course and they told me about Mick Young Scholarship. When I got the scholarship, I could not believe it. You don’t know how much it means to get help in a country you don’t know the language or the systems.
Mick Young Scholarship has given me a future and completed my life. Now I am able to work in my new country."

Hind Suleiman
Enrolled Nursing
Port Adelaide TAFE