Vetnews - Faculty of Veterinary Science - University of Melbourne

SCHOLARSHIPS
Generosity of pet lovers helps
broaden students’ horizons
The generosity of long term clients of the University of Melbourne Veterinary
Hospital has enabled 16 Werribee-based veterinary science students to
undertake valuable training across Australia and around the world.
Hoppers Crossing couple Dale and Lynette
Sayner have been taking their pets to the
University’s veterinary teaching hospital for
the past 15 years and, over the previous
five years, they have funded travel bursaries
and the purchase of equipment to help train
veterinary science students.
Johannes and Dianne Schelfhorst, from
New South Wales, have been making
regular donations to the Hospital since 2007
when their dog, Tess, received life-saving
surgery to remove a tumour on her spinal
cord. Both couples hope their support
will provide trainee veterinarians with
opportunities to work with diverse species
of animals in environments they may not
otherwise experience.
Among those to benefit from the most
recent bursaries are:
• Xiao Yi Niu, from Melbourne, who will
use the funds to travel to the US to
undertake externships at the University
of Pennsylvania and Colorado State
University, working with small animal
soft tissue and orthopaedic surgeons.
• Tessa Muir, from the UK, who is also
traveling to the US for a three week
externship at Rood and Riddle Equine
Hospital, in Lexington, Kentucky.
“I hope to get exposure to a wide variety
of cases, in medicine, surgery and
ambulatory fields,” says Tessa. “Through
this very generous bursary I’ll gain a better
understanding of the veterinary profession
in the USA, where I hope to apply for an
internship next year.”
Fellow scholarship recipients Denia Ford
and Maggie Schibler are both hoping
to work as country veterinarians after
graduation. For them, the bursary provides
an important opportunity to gain experience
in rural practice by covering the extra costs
associated with rural placements, such as
accommodation and transport.
Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science,
Dale and Lynette Sayner, Professor Ken Hinchcliff
and Johannes and Dianne Schelfhorst”
Professor Ken Hinchcliff says: “Both the
Sayners and Schelforsts recognise the
value of these placements as formative
experiences for students and have
committed to supporting University of
Melbourne students. The Faculty is deeply
appreciative of the support of these
families.”
A number of scholarships and bursaries
are offered by the Faculty each year,
providing invaluable support for veterinary
science students. If you would like to
find out more about supporting our
students, please contact Mr Peter Moran,
Advancement Manager, on +61 3 8001
2420 or pgmoran@unimelb.edu.au.
Dr Ted Whittem, Dale and Lynette Sayner, Professor
Ken Hinchcliff and Johannes and Dianne Schelfhorst
and travel bursary recipients
www.muvs.unimelb.edu.au 15