The vision of a university education for students in the Orana region long held by the late Tony McGrane will be recognised by the Tony McGrane OAM Memorial Scholarship Fund, recently established by the Head of Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty.

 

Dr Moriarty said, “In a long and distinguished career of more than 30 years as President of Gilgandra Shire Council, Dubbo mayor and State Member for Dubbo, the late Tony McGrane lobbied to promote economic growth in the Orana region and Dubbo electorate. He saw a University Campus in Dubbo as essential to the long term economic development of the region.

 

“As Dubbo mayor, Mr McGrane was instrumental in the establishment of Charles Sturt University in Dubbo. The scholarship fund will give the Dubbo community an opportunity to partner with the University to recognise his contribution to the establishment of the campus by raising funds for the student scholarship,” she said.

 

The Tony McGrane Memorial Scholarship Fund will provide financial assistance for eligible students who are undertaking a CSU degree.

 

“The Scholarship will be of great benefit to rural students wishing to further their education at Australia’s premier inland university and will create an appropriate and lasting memory of this outstanding man,” Dr Moriarty said.

 

As part of the fundraising effort, the inaugural Tony McGrane Scholarship Fund Dinner will be held in September 2010 to honour Mr McGrane and to keep alive his vision of economic growth and development within the Orana Region and Dubbo electorate. It is proposed to hold the dinner bi-annually.

 

Mr Richard Torbay MP, Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly, Member for the Northern Tablelands and a close colleague and friend of Mr McGrane in Local Government and the NSW Parliament, will be the guest speaker at the dinner.

 

Orana and Dubbo regional businesses and organisations are encouraged to support this fund.

 

“Sponsors will have the opportunity to be associated with the ongoing promotion of the Tony McGrane Memorial Scholarship Fund, ,” explained Dr Moriarty.

 

A committee has been established to organise the scholarship fund promotion and dinner, headed by Dr Moriarty with community representation and associates of Mr McGrane from Dubbo, Parkes and Gilgandra.

 

Monetary and in-kind contributions are welcome.  Donations towards the Tony McGrane Memorial Scholarship Fund are tax-deductible – the Charles Sturt University Foundation is a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).

 

If you would like more information on this initiative for the Dubbo community, please contact Ms Christine Stewart, Assistant to Head of Campus, CSU in Dubbo on chstewart@csu.edu.au or phone (02) 6885 7370.