April Bottom Scholarship Awarded for 2012
April Bottom, a committed Christian, experienced first-hand the difficulties of educating her children while running a station and living in remote NSW. Before her death from cancer in 2003, she organised for a fund to be set up to assist families from the West Darling Parish region with students wishing to undertake secondary or tertiary education outside the parish. Her desire was to assist those who had the potential to achieve, but not necessarily the opportunity.
The 2012 April Bottom Scholarship for $8500 has been awarded to 18 year old Hayley Lawrence from Kara Station in north western NSW (via Broken Hill).
Hayley has dreamed of being a nurse her whole life. With a family tradition of nursing and influences from the Royal Flying Doctor Service, she has been determined to reach her goal and has even attended a nursing academy through Broken Hill Hospital and The University of Sydney since Year 7. Hayley hopes that once she becomes a nurse, she can give back to the community in a similar way: “Growing up in a rural area, I believe that it is one of the most important jobs as nurses are in such demand…I want to become a nurse to hopefully one day give back what they have given so many people.”
Described as courteous, determined and a hard worker by her teachers and Deputy Principal, Hayley has one exam to go before she completes her HSC in English, General Mathematics, Biology, Modern History and Industrial Technology Timber Products (for which she ranked top of her class). She has applied to do a Bachelor of Nursing at universities in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria and is eagerly awaiting an offer. After her degree, she would like to complete a post graduate course in Midwifery, which will give her the extra qualifications needed to find work in a rural area.
Hayley is very grateful for receiving the April Bottom Scholarship. The drought left her family struggling, financially and emotionally. Receiving this scholarship will ease the financial burden of university costs and allow Hayley to focus on her studies.
We wish Hayley the best of luck with her future studies and thank all the applicants for their participation.