高清福利片

Heidi Montgomery, the daughter of聽western-NSW sheep farmers, is the first recipient of聽a聽$300,000聽Dalara聽Foundation scholarship聽to support her veterinary science studies.聽

The聽Dalara聽Foundation scholarship is for a student from regional or remote Australia, providing $50,000 per annum for six years.聽

Funded by a philanthropic gift聽from the聽Dalara聽Foundation,聽the聽scholarship聽is the largest the University has ever offered聽for a veterinary science student.

When Heidi, now 18-years-old,聽was aged 12,聽she and her older sister聽started a flock of聽15 ewes, which they bred for their meat.聽Six聽years later that mob of sheep has grown to 60 and finances the running of the sisters鈥� cars.聽

Heidi, her sister and younger twin brothers have always聽helped on the聽family聽farm and Heidi鈥檚 love of agriculture and interest in it at as a career started聽at an early聽age. Her parents鈥� 6000- acre sheep farm is in Trangie, Western NSW,聽where they have lived for 20 years. Originally working as wheat farmers, they turned to sheep farming, with a focus on meat, about five years ago. When the impact of the drought hit the central west hard, the farm had to be destocked because the animals聽couldn鈥檛聽be fed. Her parents are still pursuing sheep farming but need to restock the farm with suitable breeding stock to get back to maximum capacity.聽

鈥淲hen I was in Year聽10聽I did work experience with a local Dubbo vet. I worked with small animals but was also聽hands-on with聽horses and livestock. The whole experience聽made me sure of聽the career I wanted,鈥� said Heidi.聽

鈥淚鈥檝e seen first-hand how much damage can be done to a farm if disease takes hold of animals and I also know there is a shortage of vets in rural聽areas,聽so I鈥檇 love to come back here and apply my knowledge when I graduate.鈥�

Veterinary medicine is an expensive degree聽and聽students often reach the maximum debt they can incur through the HECS/FEE-HELP scheme. The聽Dalara聽scholarship is generous enough that the recipient will graduate with minimal or no debt. The scholarship will:

• cover聽government and University fees, including the Student Contribution Amount聽
  
• cover or contribute to the cost of accommodation, whether on or off campus
• provide a modest allowance for living聽expenses聽

鈥淚 applied as soon as I was accepted for the course at the University聽and saw the scholarship online,鈥� said Heidi.聽鈥淩eceiving the scholarship is a massive help,聽especially聽with accommodation costs in Sydney.鈥澛�

The聽Dalara聽Foundation is the philanthropic foundation of Allan and Lyn Davies.聽The Foundation has been supporting the Sydney School of Veterinary Science since 2009, including a major gift of $250,000 supporting research into equine disease, including the Hendra virus.聽聽

Professor Paul Sheehy, Acting Head of School and Dean, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, said: 鈥淭he incredibly generous philanthropic support from donors like the Dalara Foundation can be transformative, not only to the recipient but to the broader community who will benefit from access to a highly trained veterinarian with the skills and expertise developed through the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree Program. The school congratulates Heidi as the worthy recipient of this significant award.鈥澛�

Heidi hopes to soon meet the Davies, who also own farms in NSW and Queensland. Record NSW floods prevented an earlier meeting going ahead.聽

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Generous scholarships, entrepreneurial programs and industry placements equip our students with the support and leadership qualities they need to聽take on great global challenges.

Scholarships can open doors for students who might otherwise miss out. By聽making a donation, you can make a difference.