Mildura community raises over $5000 for local students

Many families are feeling the pinch with a soaring cost of living but this program is keeping students engaged with their education. Read Finley’s inspiring story.

The Mildura community has rallied together to raise more than $5,000 to boost local’s education opportunities.

Finley Watson is one Mildura student whose life was turned around by the Smith Family’s Learning for Life program, which supports children to remain engaged with their education despite experiencing disadvantage.

Thanks to the back to school appeal Finley Watson was able to head to melbourne to study at La Trobe University

Mr Watson was born in Adelaide but went to school in Mildura. It was during his later years of schooling that he connected with the program and the financial support allowed him to think of an academic future and dream of going to university.

“Through the Learning for Life program I was able to move to Melbourne and go to La Trobe University,” he said, adding it helped him to reach his “full potential”.

“Having the [support] really helped me be secure in the fact that I could go away and study at uni and really take part in it,” he said.

“I had access to scholarship funds which I could use for things like a computer and my textbooks and transport.”

Mr Watson is currently completing a PhD in political science and is also tutoring at both Monash and La Trobe.

“I was really interested in studying politics and hoping to change the world in some small way. My goal at the moment is to be an academic and teach,” he said.

Officeworks supports the program and Mildura Store Business Manager Rebecca Liston said the store was proud to give back to the community.

“We are so proud to be donating $5,234 to The Smith Family, thanks to the support of the Mildura community,” she said

“We know with the pressures associated with the rising cost of living, many families are relying on this support.”