Kojonup, a major sheep and grain farming hub 256 kilometres southeast of Perth, is home to Veterinary Medicine student Annabelle Trezise.

Growing up

Annabelle grew up on a sheep and cropping farm, surrounded by animals. It didn’t take long for her to become fascinated by them, and by the science of caring for them. Horses in particular.

“I see the beauty in horses, born through years of training many different ones. I love the science of analysing how they behave, so I can use their strengths in their training. That’s what made me want to know how to physically care for them,” she says.

Annabelle has always been self-driven. At school she set herself two goals: to do everything to her full potential, and to beat her sister’s ATAR of 97.80. She achieved both.

Finding her path

After high school, Annabelle took two gap years to work on cattle stations in the Northern Territory and the Kimberley. That’s where her calling to become a vet became clear, and it led her to apply to study at Murdoch University.

Making the move

For regional students like Annabelle, moving to the city for uni can be exciting and daunting in equal measure. On top of leaving family behind and learning to live independently, there’s the new financial pressure of living away from home.

Easing the pressure

That’s exactly why we created our Country to Campus Scholarship: to make education accessible to everyone, no matter where they call home. Annabelle received one, and it made her move to Perth that much easier.

The scholarship helped with more than money. It also gave her the confidence to chase her dreams.

“Relocating to Perth was a very large financial burden, so I was grateful for any support,” she says. “By receiving this scholarship, I’ve learnt that I’m worthy of it, which motivates me to strive for other goals and opportunities.”

Looking ahead

Now in her second year, Annabelle looks back on what the scholarship has meant for her journey to university.

“The scholarship took some financial pressure off my shoulders. It has given me the opportunity to become a better student, and hopefully in the future a better internship student and a specialised doctor,” she says. “I’ll hopefully then be able to support students in the same financial way.”

Every year, the generosity of our community helps fund scholarships like Annabelle’s. They make a real difference for capable, determined students, who can pursue their dreams without the fear of financial hardship. Thank you to everyone who makes that possible.

To learn more about how you can support regional scholarships or to donate, visit https://www.murdoch.edu.au/giving-to-murdoch/areas-to-support/country-to-campus-scholarship/