Scholarships helped overcome tragedy
TWO scholarships made ade a world of difference for r Ashley Hall.
Miss Hall, who turned 21 yesterday, persevered despite traumatic adversity while studying for her diploma of community services at t the Gordon TAFE in Geelong.
“In 2017 I started studying and I had just t moved into my dad’s house,” Miss Hall said.
“I was’t really working ing much so I just really needed eeded the money.
“I came from a family that doesn’t have much money.”
Miss Hall, who lives in Grovedale, was raised predominantly by her single father.
In her first year at the Gordon, she was successful in obtaining a scholarship worth $2500.
“I applied thinking it would be able to help me out with my fees, especially the books because they’re so expensive,” she said.
Just one week after she obtained her scholarship, tragedy struck. Miss Hall’s beloved dad, David, was diagnosed with cancer.
“I needed the money even more… the scholarship meant I didn’t have to work and I could stay at home and look after Dad.”
Mr Hall died in January last year after falling and hitting his head, just nine months after his diagnosis.
“He had a stroke the week before the fall,” Miss Hall said.
Miss Hall moved out of home after her father’s death, and received youth allowance from Centrelink.
“It was covering my bills but I couldn’t have fun — I was just eating two-minute noodles basically,” she said.
Another Gordon scholarship in 2018, worth $1000, helped Miss Hall cover tuition and study supplies.
Despite the hardships she experienced, Miss Hall thrived, gaining employment with MacKillop in residential care last year.
She completed her course in December, and will graduate in March.
“I always encourage people to apply for scholarships… I just always say, give it a go, the worst that could happen is they say no,” she said
If you are enrolled in a Gordon course that is a certificate or above qualification, you can apply for a scholarship. Scholarships range from $500 to $10,000 and can be used for tuition or living expenses that help with studies.
Scholarship applications for this year close on February 22.
More information is available at https:// www.thegordon.edu.au/ future-students/scholarships
If you would like to become a scholarship benefactor, email scholarships@gordontafe.ed u.au