Media Release
September 23 2008
UniSA Chancellor urges more support for rural and regional students
University
of South Australia
Chancellor Dr
Ian Gould will be in Port Pirie this week to launch the
Annette and Leon
Davis Scholarship for Port Pirie school leavers and he is urging
more successful rural and regional business leaders to invest in the
education of the next generation of professionals.
The first Davis scholarship will be awarded next year and is targeted at Port Pirie school leavers, contributing $12,000 to students in the first year of their degree and $11,000 a year for the duration of their degree studies up to four years.
Dr Gould says the generosity of the Davis family is a fine example for others to follow and similar scholarships will be significant in ensuring the vitality of regional communities and the future of core industries in regional South Australia.
“Regional communities are reliant on industry and skills staying in the regions,” Dr Gould said.
“Universities in partnership with industry can do an enormous amount to support regional communities by educating current and future employees and by supporting relevant research in partnership with industry.
“When successful individuals such as Dr Leon Davis AO - born in Port Pirie, educated at one of UniSA’s antecedent institutions, an Honorary Doctor of the University of South Australia, Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, former CEO of Rio Tinto and Chairman of Westpac, among many roles - decide to give back to their community they set an example worth emulating.”
Dr Gould said he hoped more successful sons and daughters of Port Pirie and across regional South Australia would consider finding ways to support students.
“When you support education it is an investment that delivers
dividends well into the future and beyond just the individual student
who has been sponsored. One teacher can change the lives of hundreds of
school children, one nurse can make a difference to the health of a
community, one engineer can help build a sustainable future for a
community,” he said.
This is the first time Dr Gould has visited Port Pirie in his capacity
at UniSA Chancellor.
Dr Gould has had a long and distinguished career in the Australian mining industry holding top executive positions in companies such as, CRA, Normandy Mining and Comalco. President of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in 2004 and 2005 he has also served as Chairman of the SA Minerals and Petroleum Expert Group since 2006 and Chairman of the Australian Institute of Marine Science since 2005. Recently he joined the South Australian Economic Development Board and the Premier’s Science and Research Council.
In Port Pirie on Wednesday and Thursday (Sept 24&25) he will meet with local industries including Nystar, the Lord Mayor Geoff Brock and Port Pirie Council members, the Executive Manager of the Southern Flinders Ranges Development Board and attend a dinner with a range of local representatives from business, state and local government and the education sector.
Media contact
-
Michčle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673
email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au