December 23, 2016
While most people will be enjoying their Christmas/New Year break, Morwell’s Rebecca Thorburn will be packing her bags to spend seven months in Singapore after securing a Federal Government scholarship.
Miss Thorburn, who has finished her second year studying electronic engineering at Latrobe University, is among 105 talented young Australians to win a prestigious New Colombo Plan scholarship to live, study and work as an intern in the Indo-Pacific region.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester congratulated Rebecca on her achievement as she prepared to leave.
“The New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Federal Government to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific by supporting Australian undergraduates, like Rebecca, to study and intern in the region,” Mr Chester said.
“To win one of these scholarships, Rebecca demonstrated exceptional academic performance, community engagement and commitment to deepening relationships with our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific.
“She will be a terrific ambassador for Australia, Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley and will be part of the growing network of personal links we are building between Australia and our neighbours.”
Miss Thorburn will study for one semester at the National University of Singapore. She is hoping to land an internship in the electronic communications sector as she has particular interest in audio and navigation systems.
“The National University of Singapore is ranked the sixth best university in the world to study electronic engineering, so I’m excited to have this chance to study there,” Miss Thorburn said. “Singapore is one of the most multicultural countries in the world and I’m looking forward to the chance to explore.”
“I am also interested in seeing how they work or if they operate differently to how we do in Australia. When I come back home in July next year, it will be great to have knowledge of an overseas company, the different way people work and their different mindset.”
Callan Green from Sarsfield has also been awarded a New Colombo Plan scholarship by the Federal Government. Mr Green, who is studying at Deakin University, will go to India to study architectural design at India’s Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University in Ahmedabad.
Caption: Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester congratulated scholarship winner Rebecca Thorbun when she was home for Christmas.
