On Tuesday 14th February the Governor General of Australia, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce AC, awarded the 2012 John Monash Scholarship winners with their certificates at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. The Ceremony was attended by 150 guests, including all of the 2012 Scholars and their families; past Scholars; members of State and National Selection Panels; Directors of the Foundation; and representatives of State and Federal Governments, and twenty corporate partners and sponsors of the Foundation.
In her speech during the Ceremony, the Governor-General spoke eloquently about the legacy of General Sir John Monash: "The scholarships we award today are a living legacy to the ingenuity, inspiration and determination of an extraordinary General. As recipients of the General Sir John Monash Foundation Awards, you have already shown your exceptional talent and capacity for hard work. You are ready to take your place among some of the finest thinkers, researchers and scholars around the world.
Your fields of study cover sustainability, climate policy, aeronautical engineering and taxonomy through public health, immigration, economic history and justice. For the first time, too, we have a Tasmanian Scholar, Anita George, our first teacher Iwan Walters, and the first military officer serving overseas Flight Lieutenant Chris Lowe. My friends, you join a select group of 72 Australian men and women - ranging in age from 20 to mid-40s who have shared this Scholarship. They are a loyal, motivated and committed alumni - offering enduring friendships and networks. Relationships you build now will sustain you in the years ahead. "
The Victorian Minister for Higher Education and Skills, the Honourable Peter Hall also spoke: “Victoria has strong connections to the Sir John Monash Foundation, and the Victorian Government has strongly supported the foundation over the last few years. We are also proud to host its Head Office here in Melbourne. I join with the Governor-General in congratulating the recipients of the 2012 John Monash Scholarships on behalf of the Victorian Government.
You are about to enter a very exciting stage of your careers – one that will no doubt propel you towards many remarkable achievements in your chosen fields. I encourage each of you to aim for even greater success as you pursue your calling in the world’s finest universities. But like Sir John, I encourage you to take a balanced and well-rounded approach to your studies and future careers. Sir John was not only a brilliant war-time general, an outstanding scientist, engineer and administrator - but also a passionate man of letters, a great lover of music and a keen bushwalker.
However, as outstanding as those achievements are, growing up in Gippsland, I myself had a special appreciation for the contributions Sir John made to the provision of power here in Victoria. Sir John was the first chairman of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria in 1920. Sir John’s work in making abundant and cheap power available by harnessing the huge deposits of brown coal in the Latrobe Valley removed a crippling handicap to development of industry in Victoria. The result of Sir John’s utilisation of Gippsland brown coal was the electrification of much of Victoria, a luxury we all take for granted today.
I hope Sir John’s achievements and approach to life will be an inspiration to you all as you travel across the world to pursue your studies. And like Sir John, I hope that you each have the opportunity to stamp your own unique contribution into the history pages of this great nation.”
The Chairman of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Ms Jillian Segal AC, thanked the Governor General for her role in the Ceremony and for her inspirational words, and thanked the Minister for his support.