Political passion pays off

Scholarships

A University of Adelaide student with a passion for international politics has been awarded a prestigious Hawker Scholarship.

Northern Territory-born Rhiannon Pulford, 19, is enrolled in a Bachelor of Law and International Relations double degree at the University of Adelaide. She has taken up residence at St Mark's College.

Rhiannon is one of six recipients of the 2006 Charles Hawker Scholarships, valued at up to $60,000 over four years.

She was presented with her scholarship certificate at a function at St Mark's College in April by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Member for Wannon and Hawker family member, the Honourable David Hawker MP.

Rhiannon has an outstanding academic record, achieving a Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) of 99.8 in 2004 from Kormilda College in Darwin.

Her exposure to local, Northern Territory and international politics through the Darwin City Council, the last Northern Territory elections and various United Nations Organisations has fired her political passion.

In 2005, Rhiannon took a gap year to work as an administrative assistant for the Police, Fire and Emergency Services Training College, a data input officer for the Criminal History and Warrants Unit, and an administrative assistant for the Leader of the Opposition in the Northern Territory.

As well as her outstanding success, Rhiannon has been actively involved in numerous extracurricular activities. These include working with youth, the United Nations, fund raising and business interests.

"By any measure, Rhiannon is a high achiever," said Mr Hawker. "She has the intellect, energy, capacity and ability to achieve whatever she determines to do in the coming years.

"Australia needs more people with her ideals, capability and commitment," Mr Hawker said.

The Charles Hawker Scholarships perpetuate the memory of one of Australia's most respected pastoral pioneers, Charles Allan Seymour Hawker.

Since 1991, the trustees have awarded more than $2.5 million to 56 young Australians.

"Each of these recipients has already displayed a strong commitment to the ideals upon which the Charles Hawker Scholarship is founded.

They are gifted scholars with inquiring minds and have already contributed to the wider community," Mr Hawker said.

Story by Candy Gibson