A FORMER Supreme Court Judge was among those thrust into the limelight at Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre on Thursday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
La Trobe University awarded the Honourable Howard Nathan QC with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his community service and philanthropy.
Justice Nathan serves as a volunteer with the Mia Mia Country Fire Authority, and as a chaplain at Bendigo Health.
He sits on the board of the Bendigo Art Gallery, and funds regional educational scholarships for disadvantaged high school students.
La Trobe University law students might recognise him as a guest lecturer.
“I am mightily honoured to receive this honorary degree,” Justice Nathan said.
“I’m also proud of my convict origins – the transition from felons to a Doctor of Laws within five generations recognises that Australia is truly the ‘goldenah medina’ – the golden land – and it is especially apt that this should happen in Bendigo.”
La Trobe University Head of Campus Rob Stephenson said Justice Nathan’s influence, support and enthusiasm “appears endless”.
“He has become a much admired and loved friend of the community in both Bendigo and central Victoria,” Mr Stephenson said.
“He provides an exemplary model of modern-day philanthropy.”
It was an occasion for celebration for La Trobe, which awarded more than $100,000 in prizes to 86 Bendigo students during its annual prize ceremony.
Students were recognised for academic merit, personal achievements, and for overcoming barriers to academic achievement.
First-year Bachelor of Education student Stacy Bacon received a $10,000 scholarship in recognition of her community service and commitment to a regional area.
She was raised in Lockington, as part of a dairy farming family and the netball community.
Ms Bacon was a mentor at Rochester Secondary College, which she graduated from last year, and volunteered at schools and orphanages in Cambodia.
“Hopefully after I graduate I’ll go back to a country school – that’s why I chose to study in Bendigo rather than Melbourne,” she said.
She said the scholarship, paid over the course of four years of study, would make a huge financial difference.
“Especially considering the hardships my family has gone through with the milk industry,” Ms Bacon said.
“It will help a lot just with daily living expenses on campus.”
Mr Stephenson thanked the sponsors of the awards for their support and recognised the difference the awards would make in students’ lives.
