19-year-old Kempsey local Connor McKelvie is flying high after being accepted into the Royal Australian Air Force where he will begin training next year.
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Connor is currently studying a Bachelor of Paramedicine at Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie, a degree he said he wouldn’t have been able to study if it wasn’t for the grant he received from the Country Education Foundation of the Macleay Valley (CEFMV) earlier in the year.
“I saw uni as a stepping stone to get into the Air Force, I wouldn’t have been able to afford going to uni if it wasn’t for the scholarship,” he said.
CEFMV provides much needed financial support to local youth to help them achieve their post high school education. The grants consist of donations from the community, fundraising and for the last few years they have also received funds from the Kempsey Shire Council Mayoral Fund.
The money is then given to the applicants of the scholarship to help with a range of aspects related to their study, from petrol money for travel, text books and uniforms for certain courses.
Connor said the grant has allowed him to live at home while studying and has made the cost of travel easier.
“It’s helped a great deal with the cost of travelling to Port Macquarie for classes, I would have spent well over $1000 on petrol this year,” he said.
Connor received $2000 from CEFMV and Charles Sturt University partnered with CEFMV and supplied Connor with an additional $1000 which he has used to purchase petrol for travel, text books for his courses and his uniform for practical classes.
“Leading up to the end of high school, I really wasn’t motivated to study but I have been able to go to uni because of this scholarship,” he said.
Connor has always been passionate about aviation and has recently found out he has been accepted into the Australian Air Force.
“I have always loved it and been passionate about it and now that I’ve been accepted, it’s really amazing.”
He hopes to one day begin his own organisation similar to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, where he would use both his paramedic and flight training.
“While I’m training with the Air Force I’ll also be training in the Army School of Health to get my diploma of paramedicine and once I’m finished my training, the Air Force will pay for me to continue my bachelors degree as well.”
“This wouldn’t have been possible without the scholarship. It isn’t very well known and it does take time to apply for the grant, but if the opportunity is there I would definitely encourage other young people in the community to apply.”
Connor will set off for Williamtown on January 14 for a month before he will begin his 76 weeks of training with the Air Force in Wagga Wagga.
