Four Tasmanian Students Awarded Long Tan Bursaries

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9th May 2008, 04:52pm - Views: 1101





Government Government Minister For Veterans' Affairs 1 image





The Hon Alan Griffin MP

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs


VA046


Friday 9 May 2008  


FOUR TASMANIAN STUDENTS AWARDED LONG TAN BURSARIES


The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, today announced four Tasmanian students, all

children of Vietnam veterans, will receive up to $9,000 each to help them complete their tertiary

education.


Mr Griffin said the Government recognised the challenges children face due to their parents’

service.


“The Long Tan Bursary scheme aims to help hard working students from Vietnam veteran

families to take up the challenge of tertiary education and achieve their long-term study goals,”

he said.


“The bursary is awarded to students, including mature age students, who have achieved good

academic results and who have overcome personal challenges to successfully complete their

secondary education.


“These students have proven their ability and determination to pursue their careers and I am

pleased the Australian Government has been able to support them in their studies.”


Long Tan Bursaries will be presented to 53 students across the country in the coming weeks.


This year, four Tasmanian students have received bursaries:

Madelaine McCausland, Bachelor of Arts, University of Tasmania;

Garry James, Bachelor of Ocean Engineering, Australian Maritime College, Launceston;

Samuel Kruimink, Bachelor of Science, University of Tasmania; and

Catherine Parsons, Bachelor of Business, University of Tasmania.


Mr Griffin said 250 sons and daughters of Australia’s Vietnam veterans had benefited from the

bursary scheme since it was introduced in 2000.  The scheme was introduced in response to

the findings of the Vietnam Veterans’ Health Study to provide financial support to children of

Vietnam veterans with their tertiary education.


The bursary is named after the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966, in which Australian

soldiers of D Company 6 RAR encountered and fought off an enemy force of up to 2500 troops

in a rubber plantation north of the village of Long Tan.  Eighteen Australians lost their lives in

the battle. 


Media inquiries: Laura Ryan 0437 863 109






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