AIMS OF GALLIPOLI SCHOLARSHIP

The Gallipoli Scholarship's first aim is to provide significant financial assistance to the most deserving and meritorious Australian applicant(s), resident in New South Wales or the ACT, to commence the first year of a NSW or ACT University degree course in 2009. In assessing suitability for an award, a 60% weighting will apply to financial need and a 40% weighting to educational merit. The scholarship support does not extend beyond one year.

The second aim of the Scholarship is to perpetuate among Australians an understanding of those enduring traditions of perseverance, courage and self sacrifice which were established so indelibly in the cause of world peace at Gallipoli and thereafter on other battlefields in World War I. Subsequently these traditions have defined the Australian response to war.

In WW2, our soldiers at Milne Bay were the first to halt the advance on land of the Japanese Army. Bill Hall OAM BEM, the founder of the Gallipoli Scholarship, served in that battle. Now, a new component of the Fund’s activities is to provide a scholarship for those descended from WW2 veterans. The Bill Hall Memorial Scholarship is for such descendants, and was awarded for the first time in 2007.

THE AWARD

Each scholarship will be worth $5000 tax free to undertake the first year of an approved degree study at a NSW or ACT University. Continuation for the full year will depend on satisfactory progress.

ELIGIBILITY

An applicant for the Scholarship must be:

* A lineal descendant of an Australian World War I ex-serviceman or ex-servicewoman, or, for the Bill Hall Memorial Scholarship, a lineal descendant of an Australian World War II veteran.


* An Australian citizen resident in NSW or the ACT.

* Under 25 years of age on or before 1st March 2009.

* Able to explain the importance of the Gallipoli tradition to our nation and peoples, or, for the Bill Hall Memorial Scholarship, able to explain the importance of the battle at Milne Bay.

* Commencing the first year of your course in 2009.

Your application will provide details of your eligibility by:

* drawing the family tree which traces your relationship to the WW1 or WW2 veteran.

* being able to authenticate the family tree should that be requested (the R&SL in your local area can advise you on authentication issues).

* including a copy of your birth certificate.

* enclosing your essay describing the Gallipoli tradition etc or, for the Bill Hall Memorial Scholarship, your essay concerning Milne Bay.

FINANCIAL CRITERIA and other NECESSITOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

* You may be able to demonstrate with the appropriate documentation that you ARE OR HAVE BEEN recently receiving educational benefits for full time study under Youth Allowance, Abstudy or a replacement Commonwealth benefit.

* You must provide a statement showing necessitous circumstances for you and your family, giving specific details as to family income and expenditures, housing situation, family composition and any health or other difficulties which have affected, and will continue to affect, your continuing education.

*To meet this requirement you should detail the following in supporting documentation to your application:

- Your family’s taxable income and the working status of your parents/guardians
- Your family’s housing circumstances with regard to ownership or rental - and the monthly payments of either the mortgage or rent
- Your present accommodation situation - either at home or away, and if away the details of your arrangements
- Your family composition - parents or single parent, other children by age and working/schooling status
- Any abnormal and/or urgent family expenditure needs and whether it is met weekly, monthly or otherwise.

* All information supplied in support of your application will be treated in confidence and only available to the Selection Committee and support staff. The Selection Committee reserves the right to certify your claims.

EDUCATIONAL CRITERIA

Your application must be supported with:

* A confidential report of your academic performance and your suitability for tertiary studies from your school principal.

* Authenticated copies of official Higher School Certificate and University admission index information.

* Evidence that you have been offered a place in 2009 in an appropriate University degree course.

You are also to provide a short statement outlining your reasons for undertaking your chosen course and career, and especially, your prospects of proceeding to graduation in the minimum time for a degree.