The privilege of being given the Australian Rotary Health Rural Health Scholarship thoroughly excites me. This opportunity is more than just financial support, but it’s also a chance to deeply engage with the Bega and Rotary communities as a medical student and eventually as a rural doctor. Balancing academics with community engagement has been rewarding, but supporting my family in Victoria has been challenging. This scholarship would ease financial pressures, allow me to focus on my studies and fund family visits during the few study breaks. Alleviating this emotional toll would enable me to engage more fully in the community.

A major part of my character is my people-oriented approach. It’s always been my mantra that when someone can give to others, they should relish that opportunity because they could have a profound impact on another person’s life. This mindset has driven me to volunteer as a tutor, assist at schools, fundraise for Jesuit Mission and Multiple Sclerosis Australia, and assisting with blood pressure checks at the Bombala Show. These experiences bring me joy as I see the  positive impact on people’s faces and gain invaluable insights from every person I interact with. I look forward to bringing the same passion and contributing to the Bega and Rotary communities.

As a medical student, I’ve partaken in opportunities that exemplify my commitment to fostering community spirit. I participate in the ANU Medicine Run Club which brings together peers for weekly runs followed by coffees. Having participated in netball, football and cricket teams, I endeavour to join these teams in Bega. I’ve participated in the ANU Med Revue for Companion House charity as a band member in 2023, and as a lead actor in 2024. I experienced the  enjoyment of stepping out of my comfort zone and making new friends which I found to be extremely rewarding. As the Social Representative of the ANU  Medical Students’ Society, I organised major social events for the entire medical school, focusing on building a positive environment for all year levels.  Balancing my commitments to these roles and studies has emphasised the importance of time management and community engagement. I hope to continue this attitude as Vice President of the society.

This scholarship would provide me with the support I need to continue my academic and extracurricular endeavours, as well as fully engage in the Bega  community where I have already begun building connections. I’ve joined the Kameruka Bush Orchestra after attending their Bush-dance and meeting the  guitarist, Dean Gray. I am excited to engage with the Rotary Club of Bega through attending meetings, getting to know all members and sharing my experiences as a Bega medical student to the whole club.

Overall, this scholarship would be of huge benefit to me academically, but also for me to contribute to the community at the heart of Bega. I look forward to the opportunities to give back to the Bega and Rotary Club communities, and to grow personally and professionally into a committed rural doctor.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be sponsored during my rural placement in Bega in 2025. The financial support eased a lot of stress for me, allowing me to engage more with my education but also the Bega community. The overall highlight of my year was certainly being able to connect with a small rural community through my studies and within the hospital, but also socially when the opportunities arose. The Rotary community was an absolute privilege to be a part of, meeting some truly wonderful and inspiring people. My favourite events were the Breakfasts at the Heritage centre and helping out at the Rotary Book Fair. I endeavour to continue to be involved with Rotary, particularly this weekend at the Men’s Shed for the Bega Show!

Playing for the local Bega-Angledale cricket club will certainly be memorable, and I continue to stay connected and follow how the teams are going in their weekly matches.   The Bega ParkRun community was also a delight to be a part of, being able to chat to the regular runners after the event. Along with the other students, the Bega Library Science Week activities was a fantastic way to engage with the younger members of the Bega community, and we hope that they learnt a thing or two about science from our activities.

A huge highlight of the end of the year for me was my trip to Sri Lanka. I travelled for three weeks with my partner around the country which my parents both grew up in. Following that, I partook in a 3-week elective placement in one of the Sri Lankan hospitals. It was definitely an eye-opening experience and further instilled my passion for serving communities that are limited in resources, staff and funding. I went on this adventure with two other medical students, where we had some time outside of placement to go watch Sri Lankan cricket, surf at the local beaches, and eat delicious meals at some amazing restaurants.

This year I will primarily be based in Canberra, but my partner is placed in Bega this year so I look forward to spending more time with the community as the year goes on, and hopefully one day be employed as a doctor very close to or in Bega!