Scholarship cousins aim to make a difference

Cousins Alice Pettit and Tahlemah Togo have got their university life off to a great start, winning $20,000-a-year scholarships.

The young women – 17 and 18 respectively – grew up across the road from each other outside Robinvale in north-west Victoria.

Ms Togo had to work most nights during year 12 to help her family, while Ms Pettit studied while minding three younger siblings.

They will now be able to concentrate on their academic work thanks to Rotary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tertiary Scholarships from the Rotary Club of Balwyn.

They received their awards at an official presentation last night.

Both women have just started Bachelor programs at RMIT University – Ms Pettit focusing on legal studies and Ms Togo on social work.

Ms Togo said they were involved in the Aboriginal community in Robinvale. “We’re both in the dance group and also part of the Dreamettes, an Aboriginal girls’ club,” she said.

“We had to do an interview with Rotary and we told them how we were among the few Aboriginal kids in year 12 and how we’d overcome hardships.”

Ms Pettit said she was hoping for a career in law, dealing with children, and to return to help her community.

Ms Togo said she was motivated to do social work because of personal experience. She, too, aims to go back to work with local people.

Why had they chosen to study at RMIT?

“I came to visit RMIT on the Koori Express back in 2007,” Ms Togo said.

“When I applied, RMIT was the only university that rang up and made me feel welcome and wanted.”

The cousins thanked the Rotary Club of Balwyn for its support. “We’ll be using the money to pay fees, books and living expenses and travel back to our families,” Ms Pettit said.

“The money will just make the hugest difference.”

Bob Batrouney, vice-chair of the Balwyn club’s scholarship committee, said the scholarships were awarded by an advisory committee on the basis of being a life-changing experience for the students.

“We hope that they will become future role models and leaders in the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community.”

The club funded the scheme through profits from its Camberwell market.

It had been able to expand from one scholarship a year in 2004 to two with help from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Skills Victoria and Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, he said.

Stuart McFarlane, manager of the Ngarara Willim Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at RMIT, congratulated the two women.

“They will add to what is a growing cohort of Aboriginal students at Ngarara Willim and I’m confident they will make a great contribution to RMIT and their community over the coming years.

“This is a great start for Alice and Tahlemah as they aspire to attain their goals and dreams through education.

“These young women are the future leaders of our people: they will make a great difference not only to their own lives, but also to their families and communities and their contribution will lay the foundations for other young Aboriginal students seeking education pathways into RMIT.”

The two students have a message for other Aboriginal young people.

“Follow your dreams, no matter what,” Ms Pettit said.

“Don’t give up,” Ms Togo added. “Set your goals high and don’t worry about discrimination – look at us!”

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