Students bank on scholarships

TEN local students have had their study costs subsidised by Community Bank Collie. Four of the students will attend TAFE, while six are destined for university studies.

Typically, the bank’s board of directors awards three university scholarships, however this year it doubled it to six.

TAFE students will receive a one-off payment of $1200, with the option to reapply for subsequent years of study, while the university recipients will get $3000 each year for up to four years.

Board chairman Jeff Riley said investing in the future of local students is an integral way of giving back to the community.

“Community Bank Collie has put more than $7 million back into the local community, and we are pleased some of that has been in the form of scholarships and funding the future of local youth,” he said.

“Tertiary studies can be very expen- sive on the students and their families.

“Attending TAFE or university often means moving to Perth or travelling.

“The bank understands this and is pleased to lighten the load and help these students reach their goals.”

Jessica Barrett, who is in her second year of nursing studies at Edith Cowan University, said the scholarship will allow her to cover fuel costs for her practical assessments.

“It is a lot of money, as we attend prac for four to six weeks, and it is mostly not in town,” she said.

“I have alway wanted to be a nurse and help people. I remember telling mum when I was little that I wanted to be a nurse.” concern at the blending of coals, indicating that the power stations have been built to handle local coal, not imported coal which has different calorific characteristics.

Other university scholarship recipients were Lachlan Papalia, Ebony White, Chevy Ellison, Liam Cain and Narcia Mumme.

TAFE scholarship recipients were Ella Birkinshaw, Morgan Scoffern, Sash Hughes and Serra McCallum.

Mr Thomas also said questions aimed at finding out what a “fair” price for Collie coal is have gone unanswered.

He believed the government had negotiated a new price with Griffin Coal’s receivers but refused to reveal it.

The Minister representing the Min- ister for State Development, Jobs and Trade, Roger Cook, said Synergy’s coal pricing arrangements are “commercial in confidence”.

He said the government had not set a fair price, but expects a fair price is paid, reflecting the cost of production. “Griffin Coal receivers and managers have made assessments as to what the current cost of production is and have engaged mining consultants to assist in mine planning and cost forecasts,” he added.