Parkes High School's 2023 dux Genevieve Bligh is the recipient of the 2025 Jack Scoble Scholarship.
The scholarship was awarded at a formal ceremony on 18 February, acknowledging the outstanding achievements and community spirit of this young Parkes local.
The Jack Scoble Scholarship program was established in 2006 to honour the memory of Jack Scoble OAM, a beloved former Mayor of Parkes who served from 1960 to 1979.
Mr Scoble was a passionate advocate for youth, believing in fostering opportunities for young people to reach their full potential.
His passing in 2003 had a profound impact on the community he loved and served so well, and the establishment of a scholarship in his name ensures his legacy will live long into the future.
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Fourteen eligible applications from across the Parkes Shire were received for the scholarship, with Parkes Shire Council's Community, Liveability and Access Committee shortlisting five.
The panel was extremely impressed by the candidates and after detailed consideration, it decided to allocate the $15,000 scholarship to Genevieve.
Genevieve attended Parkes Public School and Parkes High, graduating with an ATAR of 96.85.
After taking a gap year, she is now pursuing a Bachelor of Genetics at the Australian National University.
According to the panel who interviewed Genevieve, she has a clear vision for her career and is proactively working towards achieving her goals.
While Genevieve was unable to attend the ceremony in person, she joined the event online from Canberra.
Also joining virtually was Bronwyn Webster, the daughter of Jack Scoble, connecting from Adelaide.
Representing Genevieve in-person at the ceremony were her parents Sonia and Craig Bland who accepted the scholarship on her behalf.
Expressing her gratitude, Genevieve highlighted the significant impact of the scholarship on easing the financial pressures of university life.
"The Jack Scoble Scholarship is such a blessing to have for students from a rural community," she said.
"Moving to a new city, house and starting university is incredibly scary, and there are a lot of expected and unexpected financial pressures.
"You don’t realise how lucky you are to use mum and dad’s pots and pans, food, couches, and even have a bed until you leave."
Genevieve explained how the costs of moving out and starting university can quickly add up.
"We have had to furnish a new place, get parking permits, negotiate fuel and food costs, as well as rent. All of these things just weigh on your mind when you see the money disappearing and know that, as of yet, you don’t have any income - yet you still have to buy food," she said.
The scholarship has provided Genevieve financial security, allowing her to focus entirely on her studies.
"Through the amazing generosity of Parkes Shire Council, the weight of financial burden just disappears," she said.
"Gone is the worry of how you will manage borrowing a textbook from the library that is constantly on loan to one of your 500 fellow students in the course.
"It gives you the freedom to make decisions that benefit your health, happiness, and productivity - it means you can buy that $180 textbook and reference it whenever you like for the next three years."
The scholarship will also allow Genevieve to take on extra learning opportunities.
"Because I don’t yet have to find a job, I’m thinking of enrolling in the extra lectures for the honours pathway in chemistry, to gain higher-level knowledge for next year and beyond," she said.
"I am so grateful for Parkes Shire Council and the panel that selected me, and I’m excited about the future of my degree in genetics and where it will lead."
Cr Bill Jayet, who was a member of the judging panel, said Council was pleased to support Genevieve in her journey through this scholarship.
"All candidates proved that they're going to make wonderful successes of their lives," he said.
"But when it came to deciding on who would be the recipient of the scholarship we were unanimous in our decision and my fellow panel members were Jeffrey Evans, Lyn McLeod and Kerryn Jones, our Manager of Culture, Education and Library Services.
"What was so wonderful about interviewing Genevieve was the fact that she went through the public education system.
"We wish Genevieve all the very best and she plans to come back to the country and this area once her course is finished."
Since its introduction, the Jack Scoble Scholarship has provided $161,000 in financial assistance to local students, helping them achieve their academic aspirations and contribute to their communities.
