We used to run from police, now we run towards them’: Natayleah Georgetown first Indigenous graduate from unique scholarship

Cop this: Three disadvantaged teens – including the first Indigenous student – are the first of their families to graduate with the help of a scholarship set up by inner city police.

The unique NSW police scholarship has seen its first Indigenous graduate, Natayleah Georgetown, left, pictured with her grandmother, Patricia Georgetown, and sister Cyndell McDonald Georgetown, right. Picture: Richard Dobson

A young woman from Woolloomooloo has become the first Indigenous student to graduate with a unique scholarship program set up by Kings Cross police nearly a decade ago to bridge the divide between young people and cops on the street.

Natayleah Georgetown, 18, celebrated her graduation from prestigious SCEGGS private school in Darlinghurst on Wednesday after being awarded a scholarship from the Woolloomooloo & Inner City Police Community Scholarship Foundation.

The achievement has made Natayleah the first in her family to graduate, with proud grandmother Patricia Georgetown praising her granddaughter as well as the scholarship.

“I’ve had her since she was five months old and I’m so proud that she went through,” Ms Georgetown said.

“There was a lot of help from the foundation, and without them none of this would have been possible.”

Pictured at a graduation ceremony held at Ovolo Hotel in Woolloomooloo are Patricia Georgetown, left, grandmother to sisters Natayleah Georgetown, centre and Cyndell McDonald Georgetown. Richard Dobson

Raising nine grandchildren, Ms Georgetown said that the foundation has made a huge difference for her family, and not just academically.

“We used to run from the police, and now we run towards them,” Ms Georgetown said.

NSW Assistant Commissioner, Michael Fitzgerald said the foundation was set up in 2015 to provide Indigenous and underprivileged students with funding for essential school items and scholarships in a bid to foster a better relationship between police and young people, and steer children in a positive direction.

Mr Fitzgerald said he was proud of the young people who attended and graduated at a presentation day held at the Ovolu Hotel in Woolloomooloo this week.

“You always hope as a policeman that you’ll change lives, but seeing these young people actually graduate high school, they’re the first in their whole families to graduate, is an amazing feeling,” he said.

He added that having the foundation’s first Indigenous graduate was “one of our greatest achievements”.

Natayleah Georgetown’s fellow scholarship recipients, Shannon Rogers, left, and Daniil Bloshenko, right, are also the first in their respective families to graduate high school. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Foundation has helped more than 50 kids from “the Loo’’ and currently are supporting another 18 with scholarships.

Following her graduation, Natayleah is now expected to receive an early offer from the University of Sydney to study primary and early childhood education.

“I’ve been surrounded by little kids my whole life, so I just decided I want to be a teacher,” Natayleah said.

She said that she’s not sure how to feel being the first in her family to graduate, but that the scholarship has meant she’s had “a lot of support behind (her)”.

Daniil Bloshenko and Shannon Rogers graduated with the scholarship alongside Natayleah on Wednesday, also becoming the first in their families to graduate high school.

“This scholarship has given me the chance to go to a school, meet people that are amazing, and be taught by incredible teachers. It’s an amazing thing, and I cannot be any more grateful,” Mr Rogers said.

Originally published as We used to run from police, now we run towards them’: Natayleah Georgetown first Indigenous graduate from unique scholarship