ROTARY is renowned for supporting local communities but last week the club reached into the wider community to help a possible future prime minister and a top accountant on their way to success.
Footscray City College Year 10 students Patricia Delaney and Tanah Ku-Eden received the Doug Mills Scholarship award during the service club’s annual presentation. For the first time the club was unable to separate the contenders and presented two scholarships to help the students continue their secondary school studies over the next two years.
Both students have high aspirations, Miss Delaney wants to complete a law degree before moving into politics while Mr Ku-Eden wants to become a successful accountant.
Miss Delaney, 15, is already a member of a political party, plays an active role in the community and still finds time to squeeze in 10 hours of dance training a week.
Mr Ku-Eden, 18, who is Karen, has also made an important community contribution since he arrived in Australia in 2006 from the Thai-Burma border area where the Karen people live.
Scholarship organiser Elizabeth Drozd said both students were worthy recipients of the awards.
The generosity continued into the evening with the presentation of the community service and house of friendship fund grants to 10 community organisations.
The Salvation Army, Scouts Australia, Little Sisters of the Aged Poor, Australian Polish Community Services, MacKillop Family Services, Tweddle Child and Family Health Services, Baptcare, The River Nile Learning Centre, Women’s Health West and the Footscray Multiple Sclerosis Centre all received grants of varying amounts to support and enrich their services.
If you would like to know more about Rotary and the way its members support the community call Des Stayches on 8602 6966 or 0411 594 043.
