The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
VA051
Friday, 23 May 2008
NINE VICTORIAN STUDENTS AWARDED LONG TAN BURSARIES
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, today announced nine students studying in
Victoria, all children of Vietnam veterans, will receive up to $9000 each to help them complete
their tertiary education.
Mr Griffin said the Government recognised the challenges children face due to their parents’
Vietnam War 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, nine* students in Victoria have received bursaries including:
Hannah Jones, Diploma of Community Welfare Work, Holmesglen TAFE;
Amy Longhorn, Bachelor of Arts, Deakin University in Warrnambool;
Claire Dowling, Bachelor of Psychological Science, University of Ballarat;
Nikita Donovan, Bachelor of Outdoor & Physical Education, La Trobe University, Bendigo;
Bess Skelton, Bachelor of Fashion Design, RMIT University; and
Michael Haviland, Associate Degree in Technology (Aviation), Swinborne University.
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
Editors note: *Three of the Long Tan Bursary recipients have asked to remain anonymous.
NEWS 
