Geoff Vickers Youth Scholarship

The Upper Yarra Community Enterprise is committed to supporting and investing in our young people and local youth-led and focused projects that help make a real difference in the community.

An initiative of UYCE Ltd this Scholarship program is made possible through the generous support of Community Banks Warburton and Yarra Junction and was first awarded in 2014.  Since its inception over $48,000 of financial support has been provided to 31 Upper Yarra students.

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Our Scholarship program continues to help young people in the Upper Yarra pursue and realise their academic dreams. We aim to provide support for expenses that might otherwise dissuade our young people from taking the leap towards tertiary education.

• Scholarships are awarded to full-time or part-time, first year undergraduates studying at an Australian university or TAFE (Diploma or Advanced Diploma) for the first time.
• They are for a 1 year duration.
• Scholarship values can range from $1000-$5,000.
• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident; AND must live, study or work in the Upper Yarra region as defined by towns with postcodes 3799 and 3797.

Our Scholarship program can support the following study related expenses – accommodation costs, course costs, study-related materials/equipment, textbooks, tutoring and /or education related travel (within Australia).

Applications are reviewed and recommended by our Selection Committee, with final endorsement from the Board of Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Ltd.

About Geoff Vickers

• Warburton Community Bank branch of Bendigo Bank, Steering Committee Member 1998-1999
• Warburton Community Bank, Board Director, 1999 -2019
• Company Secretary, 2002-2019
• Executive Officer, Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Ltd formerly Warburton Community Financial Services Ltd 2006-2019

Geoff’s involvement with Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Ltd (formerly Warburton Community Financial Services Ltd) which franchises the Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank branches, extends some 20 years from 1998 to 2019.

Geoff has been at the forefront of key milestones including and not limited to: the opening of our Yarra Junction branch in 2008, 10 year Birthday Celebration of our Warburton branch, the role of our Community Bank in the establishment of Upper Yarra Community Power (mini hydro power scheme); the role of our Community Bank in the support extended to the operation of the Warburton Waterwheel Visitor Centre.

To honour his contribution, dedication and commitment to UYCE and the Branches the Youth Scholarship has been renamed the Geoff Vickers Youth Scholarship commencing 2019.

Honour Roll – Geoff Vickers Youth Scholarship

Congratulations to all of our Scholarship Winners, and good luck to all the aspiring Scholarship Winners out there!
We know that recipients will make their community proud, acquire valuable skills and may in time bring these back to our Upper Yarra community.

Please read more about these individuals below.

Watch this space.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UPPER YARRA STUDENTS

$3,000 each to three locals

Congratulations to Upper Yarra Students Grace Cole, Ashlyn Hermansen and Lucas Rush. They all received $3,000 Scholarships under the 2024 Community Bank Warburton and Yarra Junction Scholarship program.

Open to local Upper Yarra students who are embarking on first year tertiary studies at University or TAFE this local program, operated by our two local Bendigo Bank branches, is now in its 11^th year. It has provided a very impressive $48,000 of financial support to 31 Upper Yarra students since its inception in 2014.

Grace, Ashlyn and Lucas are the latest additions to the Honour Roll and are thrilled to have received a great boost to their education futures.

Grace Cole from Wesburn, studied at Lilydale High School and will be commencing Environmental Science Wildlife Conservation and Biology at Deakin University Burwood Campus

Ashlyn Hermansen from Launching Place, studied at Upper Yarra Secondary College and will be commencing a Bachelor Arts Degree, at Monash University Caulfield Campus

Lucas Rush from Yarra Junction, studied at Upper Yarra Secondary College and will be commencing a Double Degree Exercise and Sport Science/Business (sport management) at Deakin University Burwood Campus

All three students showed exemplary commitment to their studies in a range of challenging circumstances and demonstrated need that financial assistance would help ease the demands of travel expenses incurred in living at home whilst studying and course costs.

Community Bank Warburton and Yarra Junction Senior Branch Manager Kristy Sumner said

“Supporting students towards tertiary study is part of the branches’ commitment to provide opportunities for our Youth and ultimately building a stronger Upper Yarra community. It’s just another part of our Community Investment program that we are very proud of. “

Photo: 2024 Upper Yarra Scholarship Recipients L to R:

Lucas Rush, Grace Cole, Bendigo Bank Branch Manager - Kristy Sumner, Ashlyn Hermansen

Following their Academic Dream, with a little help from Community Bank Warburton and Yarra Junction.

Five shining stars from the Upper Yarra region will each receive a $2,000 Geoff Vickers Youth Scholarship to assist with their First Year Studies at Uni or TAFE in 2023.

That is a total of $10,000 made available to assist our Youth with the cost of pursuing tertiary studies.

We congratulate our five deserving recipients and wish them Good Luck with their 2023 tertiary studies!

The five recipients are:

Katelin Harrison                        Sophie Gray                            Emily Hay                           Brodie Voce                          Amy Morris

Katelin Harrison, from Gladysdale

Studied at Lilydale High School, enrolled for First Year Bachelor Degree of Nursing / Bachelor of Paramedicine at the Australian Catholic University

Sophie Gray, from Launching Place

Studied at Upper Yarra Secondary College, enrolled for First Year Diploma of Nursing at Box Hill Institute of FAFE.

Emily Hay, from Warburton

Studied at Upper Yarra Secondary College, enrolled for First Year Double Degree Science at Monash University.

Brodie Voce, from Millgrove

Studied at Upper Yarra Secondary College, enrolled for First Year Bachelor Degree of Nursing at Federation University Australia

Amy Morris, from Wesburn

Studied at Upper Yarra Secondary College, enrolled for First Year Diploma of Sport and Coaching Development at Latrobe University.

Two Scholarship Recipients in 2022!

JENNY MORRIS and AYLA TSOUMBAKOS

Both graduated from Upper Yarra Secondary College, and both are undertaking Bachelor Degree courses at Deakin University.

Jenny and Ayla each received $2,500 Scholarships to support them in their first year of study.

We congratulate Jenny and Ayla and wish them every success in the pursuit of their academic dreams!

JENNY MORRIS, Wesburn

First year Bachelor of Science Degree, Deakin University

AYLA TSOUMBAKOS, Warburton

First year Bachelor Degree Nursing, Deakin University

We are pleased to announce ‘JOINT RECIPIENTS’ of the Geoff Vickers Youth Scholarship 2021. 

LAURA JAYNE, Warburton

First year Bachelor of Arts Degree, Victoria University

ASHLEE SHOTTER, Launching Place

First year Nursing Diploma at Box Hill Institute

CHELSEA SZABO, Warburton

First year Bachelor of Design Degree, Melbourne University

Our Congratulations Are Extended to Laura, Ashlee and Chelsea.

We wish them all the best to pursue and realise their academic dreams!

Pictured from left to right: Laura, Ashlee and Chelsea

Chelsea Neale, from Powelltown, will be studying a Diploma of Community Services at Box Hill TAFE and has a keen interest in fostering community and metal health. Chelsea has been an active member of the Yarra Junction Netball Club, achieving ‘Volunteer of the Year’ in 2018, and several best and fairest awards. She is also an umpire and mentor to junior players. This Scholarship will assist her in travel expenses to and from TAFE in Lilydale, study materials and the purchase of a computer for her coursework.

Indiya Bosen was our other recipient of a 2020 Scholarship. She says: “Ever since I was in primary school, I have wanted to be a doctor. I knew it would not be easy to get into this field, but I have worked hard right throughout my schooling and I am very happy and proud to have received a high enough ATAR to get into my first preference at university for 2020. To get into Medicine, I am required to do a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and once that is finished, I will sit an assessment which will determine whether I get into Medicine (a further 4-year degree). I have decided to do a double degree (Bachelor or Biomedical Science & Bachelor of Science) in 2020 to give myself more options of employment or further study, should I not get accepted into the next phase. It is my intention to work extremely hard, attend all lectures and classes and to take full advantage of all resources offered to me by Monash University.”

We wish Chelsea and Indiya the very best in their chosen field of studies and look forward to hearing about their progress.

CONGRATULATIONS to Caitlyn Muir and Cody Dunne who were both awarded a Scholarship from the Warburton & Yarra Junction Community Bank branches for 2019.
They were presented with their scholarships by Neil Jorgensen, one of our volunteer Board Directors.
Caitlyn will be attending the University of Melbourne, undertaking a Bachelor of Arts degree with plans to go into a Masters of Education. She hopes to major in Literature and Psychology.
Cody will be going to La Trobe University undertaking a Bachelor of Creative Arts, majoring in Screen and Writing.
We wish both Caitlyn and Cody great success in their chosen fields.
Pictured from left to right: Denise, Caitlyn, Director, Neil Jorgensen, Cody and Ben.

Braden Taeuber              Abigail Szabo                  Rachel Lee

Abigail Szabo completed an incredibly full year in 2017, which included completing an International Baccalaureate. She has been offered a place at Monash University to begin her Bachelor of Laws (Honours). Abigail says “My vision is to either become a lawyer or work in a career where a law degree is applicable, such as in the corporate or human rights areas.”

Braden Taeuber completed Year 12 with SEDA College in 2017 and plans to study a Diploma of Sports Development and a Diploma of Leadership and Management at Swinburne. Braden hopes to complete this double Diploma in partnership with the Richmond Football Club and is keen to take up any volunteer opportunities with the Club, hopefully in data analysis.

Rachel Lee will be studying a Bachelor of Arts/Masters of Teaching (Secondary) at Deakin University. Rachel says “I intend to go to university to enable me to reach my ultimate goal of becoming a secondary school teacher. I have a passion for helping others, and promoting the importance of young people’s engagement, voice, opinions and actions.”

Ebony Lily will be studying a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) at RMIT. “In the future, I aspire to work as a human resource manager, as I feel that’ll be a very good use of my abilities and skills. I hope to accomplish this through dedicating myself to my studies 100%, and embracing all opportunities that come my way.” Ebony said.

We’re pleased to announce three very worthy recipients of our Scholarships 2017 program. Please join us in congratulating Miss Mary McIntosh, Ms Talitha Boone and Mr Sebastian Northey, all from the Upper Yarra Valley.

All three candidates will be setting off for their first year at university with the financial support from the Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank branches and we’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate them and wish them well.

These young people will be studying:

Mary McIntosh

Miss Mary McIntosh – Bachelor of Education – Primary and Secondary Health and Physical Education – Monash University (Peninsula campus)

Mary has just completed her schooling at Upper Yarra Secondary College where she has been an inspiring College Captain and leader within her school community.

She has lived in East Warburton since she was three years of age and has wanted to be a teacher all her life. Her passion for sport and the outdoors together with her interest in health have led her to pursue a career in teaching and she is keen to help her future students achieve positive change and success in all they do.

Talitha Boone

Ms Talitha Boone – Bachelor of Outdoor Education at La Trobe University (Bendigo)

With a background in volunteering, missionary and humanitarian work, Talitha and her family worked internationally before settling in Warburton more than 10 years ago. Talitha has been an exemplary student achieving outstanding results at the Mountain District Christian School. Her passion for the environment has led her to a future in outdoor education and wilderness work, with conservation of the environment a high ideal in her working and personal life. She would love to help people from disadvantaged circumstances.

Sebastian Northey

Mr Sebastian Northey – Diploma of Digital Interactive Media, RMIT (Melbourne)
Homeschooling and distance education have provided Sebastian with the time and space to pursue his love for art. Honing his skills in drawing through his studies in Visual art, Sebastian now has the passion and drive to establish a career in the field and is particularly interested in Interactive and Digital Media. He appreciates the opportunity he has to study and work in a field unique to his personality while making an exciting contribution to this emerging area of artistic vocation.

Our Scholarships program helps young people in the Valley realise their academic dreams. We aim to provide support for expenses that might otherwise dissuade our young people from taking the leap towards tertiary education.

We know these three fine young people will make their community proud and in time will bring valuable skills back to the Upper Yarra Valley. Well done everyone!