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Jean Galbraith Scholarship Awarded

Former Kurnai College student now studying at La Trobe University Bundoora, Dean Ingwersen, has been awarded the 2004 Jean Galbraith Memorial Rotary Scholarship in Botany and Conservation Biology, by the Latrobe City Trust.

By Latrobe Shire Council - 19th October 2004 - Back to News

The scholarship, worth $1,000, was established in 2001 under the guidance of the Latrobe Field Naturalists to commemorate the life and work of the late Miss Jean Galbraith, who was born and lived in Tyers for most of her life. The Rotary sponsored scholarship is open to tertiary students continuing with full-time studies in botany, ecology or conservation of natural resources with demonstrated links to the Latrobe Valley.

Now residing in South Morang, Dean was born and raised in Morwell before leaving at the age of 21 to pursue his tertiary studies. He is currently in the final year of his Bachelor of Science (Conservation Biology & Ecology) degree, with Honours planned for next year.

The Scholarship was awarded to Dean recently at an informal afternoon presentation held at the Jean Galbraith flora Reserve in Tyers, the venue especially chosen as a tribute to the late Miss Galbraith and her family who donated the land to the Shire of Traralgon as a wildflower reserve in 1936.

Latrobe City Trustees and fellow Rotarians, Graham Gordon and Gloria Auchterlonie and Latrobe City’s Mark Brady joined with representatives of the Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists and the Flora Reserve Committee of Management to greet Dean on arrival. Dean, accompanied by his wife Hollie and mother Joan, came ‘home’ especially for the occasion.

In making the presentation, Mrs Auchterlonie said the Trustees were pleased to be able to award the 2004 scholarship to a student of Dean’s calibre who had completed all his primary and secondary education at public schools in Morwell.

"Dean’s academic results to date have been excellent and the Trustees were impressed with his commitment to further study. While the inaugural scholarship winner, Alison Vaughan, has pursued a career in botany, Dean’s ecology-based studies has provided the Trust with the opportunity to foster the conservation biology arm of the scholarship in awarding this year’s scholarship."

In presenting Dean with a cheque for $500 towards his course expenses this year, Mrs Aucterlonie encouraged Dean to target our local environment for future projects and field work whenever possible.

On accepting the award, Dean said his studies in conservation biology were born out of his love of the outdoors and natural history. While his Science Degree has included studies in botany, genetics and conservation biology, his main interest was the ecology of birds and bird communities.

"At this stage, I am intending to continue my studies further next year by completing Honours on the ecology of either birds of prey or bush birds, possibly the honeyeaters in Gippsland. With all my family living in Latrobe Valley, I hope to return to live here and work when I am qualified."

On congratulating Dean, Mark Brady, Latrobe City’s General Manager City Relations, said Jean Galbraith was known, loved and respected by people throughout Australia. "Her death in 1999, at the age of 92, saw the passing of one of Gippsland’s and indeed, Australia’s most noted botanists and authors."

"The intention of the Trust is to support students majoring in areas broadly related to the scientific interests of the late Jean Galbraith, by providing a grant of $500 for each year of studies to assist with the purchase of course materials or with field work costs," Mr Brady said.

The Jean Galbraith Scholarship in Botany and Conservation Biology Fund is one of several funds managed by the Latrobe City Trust for the benefit of individuals and charitable bodies within the Latrobe community.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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