The Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund is an initiative of our local community and provides an opportunity for our local youth to succeed in their tertiary education by encouraging students to embark on a journey of lifelong learning by financially supporting those moving on to pursue tertiary studies.

The fund was established in 2003 and has assisted hundreds of local students over the many years. Scholarships have covered many disciplines including accounting, agriculture, allied health, animal science, law, architecture, arts/theatre, civil engineering, education, information technology, medicine, nursing and social work.

The fund is open to all local students under 25 years wanting to further their training and education at university, TAFE, or an accredited training organisation.

A scholarship can help with expenses like:

• Purchasing textbooks,
• Relocation and other travel costs,
• Living expenses, and
• Contribution towards tuition fees.
  
  

The Pamela Helen Rickard Scholarship

Gunnedah Shire Council can now add a new scholarship to our extensive list – "The Pamela Helen Rickard Scholarship".

Very generous sponsors, who have asked to remain anonymous, have donated a substantial amount of funds for this scholarship, which are to be disbursed as $2,500 per student, per year, with a maximum of three full-time students per scholarship year, to attend the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, preferably to study Asian Studies, Economics or Business Management. In the event that no student is looking to undertake studies in these areas, there is the potential to look at a scholarship for a student who will be enrolling in any other ‘full-time’ course at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. The funds will be disbursed each year until all expended.

The sponsors have created the scholarship in honour of Pamela Helen Rickard, who was the Dux of Gunnedah High School in 1969. Pamela attended the Australian National University from 1970 to 1972, undertaking a combined Asian Studies/Economics degree and was a prize-winner in Economic History.

Pamela spent many years in administration at Monash University, including in the role of assistant to the Dean of the Faculty of Law in the 1990s, utilising her strong personal skills backed by her academic studies, including a Graduate Diploma in Business Management.

The sponsors said Pamela was always very proud of her Gunnedah roots, and believed deeply in the value of education and the encouragement and provision of opportunities for young people.

Sadly, Pamela has passed away and in honour of her memory, the scholarship will be open to students of the Gunnedah Shire to support their undergraduate studies at the Australian National University, Canberra.

A note was found among Pamela’s last writings that talked about the establishment of a fund to help Gunnedah students. Thank you to our anonymous sponsors and thank you to Pamela Helen Rickard.

Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund Applications have now opened

Applications for the 2025 round have now opened.

You can find the application form here: Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund application form 2025 

Applications will close on 8 January, 2025.

For more information about the fund, please contact Gunnedah Shire Council on (02) 6740 2100 or council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Scholarship Fund can do so by sending their donation to:

Gunnedah Community Scholarship Fund
Gunnedah Shire Council
PO Box 63, Gunnedah NSW 2380