Community
7 May, 2026
Generous donation
THE Mortlake Lions Club has introduced a new grant to support the next generation of the town’s professionals.
The Mortlake Lions Club awarded the 2026 Grant for Further Education to former Mortlake College student Molly Goddard, who was officially presented with the award on Saturday evening.
“The Lions Club offered me the grant a few months ago to help me go to university in Ballarat,” Ms Goddard said.
“It’s really helped to pay for my accommodation because I had to put down a deposit, and it’s also helped me with some of my books.
“It definitely relieved a lot of the stress of my first time going into further education, and helped me be more prepared to start this journey.”
In December last year Ms Goddard had been named Mortlake College Dux, earning her place after an arduous year of diligent study to get the ATAR score she needed while also giving back as a school captain.
She has now transitioned to studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at the Australian Catholic University’s Ballarat Campus, a leap which she said she’s loving every minute of.
“It has been incredible,” Ms Goddard said.
“Everyone at the university is so kind and the education side of it is so well taught.
“You feel so guided, so it’s been really good.”
Ms Goddard said studying physiotherapy had been an ambition of hers as it gave her the opportunity to help people at a time when they need it most.
“It helps people after they’ve had something quite traumatic in their life or they want to go and better their movement to get more active in life,” she said.
“It’s really cool to help people to heal.”
Ms Goddard said she was grateful the Mortlake Lions Club had sought to assist students in pursing their education as costs often disadvantaged students living in rural areas.
“It was incredible because I was quite nervous about how I was going to pay my way through university,” she said.
“It is really expensive but this grant as afforded me so much more comfort.
“Just having a job at the Mt Shadwell Hotel, they helped me pick up a few extra shifts, so it’s all helped me go through university pretty comfortably so far.”
Mortlake Lions Club president Heather Rowe said all involved with the club were thrilled to be able to support Ms Goddard.
“We feel very privileged to be able to do it,” she said.
“We do a lot for the community but it’s good to be able to do something for a child going to university.
“We give grants at the school, but to add this was really good.”
The selection process was completed in conjunction with Mortlake College, with the school having recommended Ms Goddard based on the strength of her results, school community involvement and her diligent approach to study.
The grant had been the brainchild of facilitator Julie Southwick, who said she wanted to find a new way of supporting young people in Mortlake.
“I thought it was something we needed to do so I suggested it to the other members, they accepted it and we went from there,” she said.
“I feel privileged when we have a chance to help where it’s needed.
“It also helps to get the Lions name out there so we can hopefully get more people to help, to get more involved and bring in more money so we can do more grants – whatever we’re needed to do.
“I like the idea of keeping as much as possible within the community – a lot of money goes out of the community, and it’s all to great causes, but there isn’t a lot in the community.
“I’m glad we were able to do something which supports people within our community.”
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