The AVCAT Tertiary scholarships are open to children and grandchildren of Australian ex-serving veterans. Applications close in 3 days time!  

Scholarships provide up to $4000 per year, for three years, to full-time students at uni, TAFE or a registered training organisation. Many Scholars have been supported to further their study and set themselves on their career path. It offers incredible financial relief and significantly lightens the burden that tertiary study can present. 

AWW NSW proudly supports AVCAT Scholar Megan Beecher, who is currently studying for a Bachelor of Primary Education (Dean’s Scholar). To learn more about Megan’s story, read here.

Applications are open and close at midnight this Sunday 31 October. For more information about eligibility and the application, visit avact.org.au.

The post AVCAT scholarships closing soon! first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

In 2020, Megan was the recipient of the AVCAT Australian War Widows NSW Scholarship. The support provided by AWW NSW to Megan continues throughout her Bachelor of Primary Education (Dean’s Scholar) study until 2023. 

Megan’s grandfather, Major Arthur McDermott (Grandpa Mac, as he was to Megan and her brothers) was a veteran, serving in the Australian Army from 1951 – 1975.

The challenges of the pandemic have not escaped Megan. Megan studied online, battled ill health of her own, and split her time between her home in Griffith and with family in Berry (where Megan has eventually moved) to help her Mum care for her Nanna, who was undergoing palliative care. Sadly, her Nanna passed away at home on August 18th. A very sad day, yet poignant as it was Vietnam Veterans Day, the 55th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan; where her husband (Megan’s Grandpa) was posted at Nui Dat with 1st Australian Task Force as Second-in-Command of 1st Field Regiment of the Artillery.

Megan has shown immense strength and resilience to still achieve 1 High Distinction and 2 Distinctions from her studies in semester 1.

Megan also undertook a three-week professional placement through the University of Wollongong with Griffith Public School, this was an incredibly valuable experience for her as she learned a lot from the very talented staff and eager students.

Megan is very grateful for the support AWW NSW provides. It offers incredible financial relief and significantly lightens the burden that tertiary study can present. Megan’s focus and tenacity are to be commended.

In Megan’s words:

“The constant, underlying motivation of; ‘would Grandpa Mac be proud?’ has seen me come to understand that educating children is a heart-warming joy, amazing privilege, and great responsibility. In the same way Grandpa Mac taught me; as teachers, we are not responsible for preparing students for something – it is our job to help students prepare themselves for anything!”

AWW NSW is very proud of Megan’s achievements amongst her own personal challenges and those endured throughout the pandemic.

We look forward to hearing more about Megan’s academic journey and wish her better health.

The post AVCAT Scholar Megan Beecher first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.

We are now at the start of the second half of 2020 and I hope the situation is not as dire as we have experienced so far with fires, floods and the pandemic. Please feel free to contact me or the office staff with any issues as we are always interested in helping our members.

In this newsletter we provide information on the Gold Opal Card and how to save on energy bills. If you do not have a Gold Opal card yet, please contact Transport NSW. There are also events and people to celebrate this month, including our Army Nurses. I am sure we have Army Nurses among our members and their family. If you were an Army Nurse, we’d love to hear from you.

Take care and stay safe,

President & Chair, War Widows NSW
\”We rise by lifting others\”

The post War Widows NSW eNewsletter Update first appeared on Families of Veterans Guild.