Community
31 July, 2025
Scholars awarded
FORMER Mortlake College students Ashton Maher and Lily Schuuring have been announced as scholarship recipients under the latest round of a council program designed to support rural students pursuing a university degree.
Earlier this month the shire announced three students would each receive $5000 under the 2025 Moyne Shire Academic Support Scholarship Program.
The scholarship provides financial assistance to Moyne Shire residents entering their first year of full-time study in tertiary education.
Lily will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, with her sights set firmly on a career as a veterinarian.
She said it was an honour to be named among this year’s recipients.
“I was very grateful and a little bit surprised,” Lily said.
“But I was honoured to receive the award because it’s such an amazing opportunity – I’m really happy to have received it.”
Lily said the process of applying for the scholarship involved showcasing why each of the students were deserving of the support, highlighting their academic results in addition to wider community involvement.
“You had to explain your contribution to the community and your leadership during the Victorian Certificate of Education years in secondary education,” she said.
“I was lucky enough to have a few things which I could mention that seem to have impressed the selection panel.
“I included two references who could support the contributions I had made to the community; one of my teachers was a reference and so too was my netball coach.
“The application process was easy to follow and understand though, which was really good.”
Lily said she appreciated Moyne Shire Council had established a program for rural students who face disadvantages in attending higher education.
Where students in metropolitan areas can stay closer to home for their studies, rural students are often required to make the move into the city with expensive accommodation bills.
“I think it’s really important because I’ve already found it makes the transition a lot less stressful,” Lily said.
“I’ve found this semester I don’t have to commit as much time to part time work – I can just focus a bit more on my studies which in the long-run will improve my scores.
“I think it’s a big relief, and very important to allow rural students to have the same opportunities as the people from the city.
“It gives us a bit more of a chance – the scholarship is amazing with helping towards that.”
Lily said she had been inspired to pursue a career as a veterinarian after growing up on a farm.
“I’ve always had a love for animals and there is always a need for vets, so I thought that’s a pathway I want to go down,” she said.
“It gives you a chance to not only help animals, but to help people too.
“I think it will be a fulfilling career.
“I looked at a few universities but the University of Melbourne had a good pathway in.”
She said she was enjoying her first year of university already, settling in with finding a balance between study and socialising with her new peers.
“I’m on one of the residential colleges which has been really nice – it’s been easy to make new friends, it’s a good commute to the city and the subjects are pretty good so far.”
Ashton Maher, who was last year named Mortlake College Dux, will also be joining the University of Melbourne.
He plans to pursue a Bachelor of Arts majoring in politics.
Hannah Van der Aa rounded out the trio of scholarship recipients.
She plans to pursue a Bachelor of Health Science at Deakin University.
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