Student scholarships ease financial burden

For the past four years, Canterbury League Club has been working with Wiley Park Girls High School to provide education scholarships to their Year 7 students.

Since 2010, Canterbury has donated over $15,000 worth of scholarships to 22 students which were used to purchase school uniforms and backpacks, and pay for school fees and school photos. Each student receives $500 per year for two years, held in the school’s trust.

“$500 is a big help and provides a very positive start to secondary education,” said Maureen Davis-Catterall, Principal of Wiley Park Girls High.

Ms Davis-Catterall said the idea to provide student scholarships came from setting up a similar program when she was Deputy Principal at her previous school, Bankstown Girls High School.

“The first recipients of this scholarship partnership are now in Year 10. The girls embrace learning; they have remained engaged and they get involved in student leadership programs,” said Davis-Catterall.

“The reduced financial burden is also an added support for parents. During one Year 7 Welcome BBQ and Expo, a dad of a recipient thanked me. I told him to thank Canterbury League Club. It turned out that dad was a member and was very happy that Canterbury supported our school in this way.”

“Financial difficulties should never be a barrier to good education; however realistically that isn’t always the case. The scholarships go a long way in creating more opportunities for these students in their studies that they might otherwise not have had,” said Dr George Peponis OAM, Chairman of Canterbury League Club.

Wiley Park Girls High recipients of the Canterbury scholarships