2020 Mumbida Wind Farm Scholarship Recipients Announced

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  • Education scholars win top honors in 2020
  • The Mumbida Wind Farm Scholarships are part of the Hollomby Foundation’s scholarship program, supporting students studying through the Geraldton Universities Centre (GUC)
  • The scholarships provide financial assistance to students of Australia’s Mid-West region

The Mumbida Wind Farm is proud to announce the recipients of their 2nd annual scholarship program, awarded to students pursuing tertiary education through the Geraldton Universities Centre (GUC).

The scholarships benefit students studying courses through GUC partner universities at the Centre’s Geraldton campus.

This year, education students topped the two respective scholarship categories. Tania Littely who is completing a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at CQUniversity (CQU) was awarded the Mumbida Wind Farm Scholarship (Open), worth $5,000. She achieved the highest overall score of all of the 44 applicants.

Malcolm Maloney, also studying Education (Primary) at CQU was the primary winner of the Mumbida Wind Farm Scholarships for Indigenous students, which he shared with Jaide Morgan who is studying social work, also at CQU. Malcolm and Jaide respectively were granted $4,000 and $3,000.

Other Open Mumbida Wind Farm Scholarships valued at $1,000 were awarded to CQU students, Emily Gee who is studying secondary education, Kirsty Harper who is pursuing psychological science studies and University of Southern Queensland (USQ ) nursing student Zoe Wright.

Director of Mumbida Wind Farm, Hugh Webster said it was a privilege to play a supporting role in the education of the region’s future bright and talented leaders alongside the Hollomby Foundation.

“We warmly congratulate all scholars who have demonstrated excellence and commitment in their education pursuits, and are building a stronger future for the region by staying local and studying through the GUC,” he said.

In 2019 the Mumbida Wind Farm pledged $150,000 over ten years to support the Hollomby Foundation, the charitable body established to advance tertiary education in the Mid-West region through the GUC. Mumbida Wind Farm’s donation provides annual Indigenous and open student scholarships that comprise financial assistance to GUC students.

The Hollomby Foundation which administers the scholarship program in partnership with patrons and donors purposefully spread the scholarships wider this year given the financial hardships on students and their families caused by COVID-19.

Hollomby Foundation Chair and GUC Secretary, Yvonne Messina, said the Hollomby Foundation scholarship program continues to grow as a community pillar for GUC and the region.

“We are grateful to the Mumbida Wind Farm and all our donors for supporting our students in what for many will be a difficult year. These scholarships are a vital part in ensuring quality education remains a steadfast focus across the Geraldton region and that students are rewarded for their effort and community spirit,” she said.

Notes:

Recipients

2020 Mumbida Wind Farm Scholarships for Indigenous students
$4000 – Malcolm Maloney – Bachelor of Education (Primary) CQU
$3000 – Jaide Morgan – Bachelor of Social Work CQU

2020 Mumbida Wind Farm Scholarships (Open)
$5000 – Tania Littely – Bachelor of Education (Primary) Tania received the highest overall score for all scholarship applicants. CQU
$1000 – Emily Gee – Bachelor of Education (Secondary). CQU
$1000 – Kirsty Harper – Bachelor of Psychological Science CQU
$1000 – Zoe Wright – Bachelor of Nursing USQ

About the Hollomby Foundation

The Hollomby Foundation is Geraldton Universities Centre’s philanthropic body dedicated to the advancement of tertiary education in the Mid West region. The Foundation supports the GUC and Mid West students through its endeavours to increase academic opportunities, facilitate a thriving university presence, and provide direct financial support to students and their families. Established in 2019, The Hollomby Foundation was named in honour of the late Joe Hollomby. Affectionately known as “the Shortbread Man”, Joe baked, distributed and sold thousands of batches of shortbread and apple pies over nearly 20 years, earning more than one million dollars for charity.

About the GUC

The Geraldton Universities Centre (GUC) is an independent, not-for-profit, incorporated body, supporting university courses in Geraldton on behalf of partner universities including CQUniversity, the University of Southern Queensland and Curtin University. The GUC’s unwavering objective is to facilitate access to university education for people residing in the Mid West by providing high quality online experiences accompanied by local face-to-face support.

Mumbida Wind Farm donation huge boost for GUC Student Scholarships

  • Mumbida Wind Farm Pty Ltd donates $150,000 to Hollomby Foundation
  • 24 students awarded Hollomby Foundations Scholarships for 2019.
  • The Hollomby Foundation is named after the late Joe Hollomby, affectionately known as the ‘shortbread man’

Mumbida Wind Farm has provided a generous $150,000 donation to the Hollomby Foundation to support students studying through the Geraldton Universities Centre (GUC) over the next 10 years. Mumbida’s donation commenced this year and is dedicated to providing $15,000 for annual Indigenous and open student scholarships, travel bursaries and associated programs that provide financial assistance to students studying through the GUC. Operations Director of Mumbida Wind Farm, Hugh Webster was in Geraldton today to sign the agreement on behalf of Mumbida and attend the 2019 Hollomby Foundation Scholarship Presentations.

  • Mumbida Hugh, Mariah, Joshua
  • Mumbida Wind Farm Group
  • Mumbida Hugh and Mariah Kara
  • Mumbida Hugh and Joshua Arundell

“Mumbida Wind Farm is delighted to be a patron of the Hollomby Foundation, allowing Mumbida to provide the local community quality support for the benefit of local families” said Mr Webster Hollomby Foundation Chair Grant Woodhams said the donation was a very tangible way that industry can provide support to both students and the GUC for advancement of tertiary education in the Mid West.   

“I am very grateful to Mumbida Wind Farm for their generous donation.  Their patronage of the Hollomby Foundation over the next ten years will provide great financial support for GUC students and also is a long-term investment in our Mid West community.” Mr Woodhams also thanked the wider Mid West community whose generosity has also made the Hollomby Foundation Scholarship program possible.

The inaugural winners of the Mumbida Wind Farm Indigenous Scholarships are nursing student Isabella Capewell-Randall, and psychology student Mariah Kara.  Secondary education student Joshua Arundell has won the open scholarship. Isabella, Mariah and Joshua were presented with their awards at today’s event, and joined another 21 students who have shared in $63,500 in scholarships.

The Hollomby Foundation is named after the late Joe Hollomby, affectionately known as the ‘shortbread man’, who raised over $1million for charities and local organisations as well as people in need, baking and selling shortbread and apple pies.  The Hollomby Foundation was established for the advancement of tertiary education in our region and supports Mid West students to fulfil their educational dreams.

Mumbida Wind Farm Open Day

Mumbida Wind Farm participated in the Clean Energy Council’s National Wind Farm Open Day. 

Mumbida Wind Farm opened its gates on 21 October 2018, offering the public a behind-the-scenes look into the clean-energy operation. Some 300 people journeyed to the wind farm site 40 kilometres south-east of Geraldton, winding their way past canola fields and green crops. Once on site they enjoyed guided bus tours through the farm to experience the towering turbines up close.

Mumbida Wind Farm General Manager Hugh Webster said participants gained a better appreciation of wind energy, thanks to wind farm experts delivering information about how the wind energy process works.

“People were amazed to learn that the facility’s 22 wind turbines generate enough electricity (about 200GWh) a year to meet the needs of approximately 35,000 Australian homes and offset over 150,000t of greenhouse gas emissions annually,” Mr Webster said.

“The 85-metre high turbines are each made up of three tower sections.”

During the open day, the young and young at heart were also entertained with activities including a craft tent, face painting, Wildlife Park reptiles and bouncy castle. The Mumbida Wind Farm Open day was one of 10 wind farms across the country that opened their gates to the public on the day.