Western Chances | Get Involved

Following is some feedback from our nominators and young people:

• “The value of these scholarships for students has been immeasurable. One cannot put a value upon the lifting of self-esteem and a belief in them selves that these students have received from the Western Chances Scholarships.”

• “We have end of term interviews with each student. The student I was speaking to had not handed in much homework for the year. When I asked how he was enjoying school his reply to all my questions was NOT. Then I asked was there anything in his life that was captivating his attention. He said, yes the Digital Story Telling Program ...”

• “These scholarships recognise the hard work the students put in and encourage enthusiasm for an area in which they show a particular talent.”

• “Just a note to thank WC for the organisation of the recent workshops with Orchestra Victoria. Our school fosters music in our curriculum and to provide the opportunity for them to work with musicians at the elite level in many ways is life changing for them.”

• “One of our students was fortunate enough to have a Cello donated to him by a Stringed Instrument Maker in Castlemaine. While I understand they seek no publicity, I’m sure this alliance would not have occurred if it wasn’t for your program. Naturally our student is ‘Over the moon’.”

• “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making a difference in our students lives.”

• “Western Chances has changed the lives of students in our school.”

• “They now can see a future and have renewed vigour and enthusiasm for life. Life has a new meaning as it has a purpose and a future.”

• “I would like to thank WC for giving me a scholarship for the second time. It is a great privilege and greatly appreciated. I was very proud and honoured when I was presented with my second certificate on Tuesday.”

• “I didn’t know so many clever people lived in the west – wow, it’s OK to live in the west!" (after the launch)

• “The Western Chances Scholarship has kept me at school. Because of the scholarship I started to attend school regularly. I didn’t realise that when I actually attended school I could achieve so much. Now I will be the first person in my family to attend University.”

• “Dancing is my passion and my life. I am now able to learn dance with exceptional teachers because of Western Chances. I tried to earn my own money to pay for my dancing lessons, because they are soooo expensive. However my school grades dropped so now with the scholarship everything is working well again.”

• ACMI: "These past two months have been surreal and have changed the way I think. I believe all of this wouldn’t have been possible without your help.”

• ACMI: "Paired up with Industry Professionals, I was able to pick up tricks of the trade and was shed some insight about successful movie making. I learnt skills in the digital story telling that not even my teachers know at school. But mostly importantly the skills I learnt will be carried on into my own movie making ventures in the future.”

• ACMI: “I learnt what it was like to be a movie maker and how much sacrifices need to be made. I worked many hours into the night so I can have material to work with. It’s this hard work ethic instilled on us that made the program so successful.”