The Sinclair Scholarship

Congratulations to Oakley Tarrant who is one of five year 11 students from across the Murray Plains electorate to receive The Sinclair Scholarship. 

The scholarships provide our younger generation with an insight into the local connection of the Kokoda Trail and the sacrifices made by men from this area so they can enjoy the lives they live today.

The award is an opportunity to join a Kokoda trek with ‘Adventure Kokoda’ in the July school holidays (July 3-13).

Colin Sinclair from Rochester was a private in the 39th Battalion and he died, aged 28, of wounds on December 19, 1942, following the battle of the beachheads.

His cousin Ronald Sinclair had moved from Moama to Rushworth before enlisting. Although he transferred out of the 39th before Kokoda, he was in New Guinea when the battle started, having been transferred to the New Guinea Force Training Centre which handled reinforcements from Australia, and returnees from hospital, who had been ill or wounded.

Oakley was required to complete a written application and then complete an in person interview as part of the scholarship process. It’s great to see him get recognition for his hard work and can’t wait to hear about his experience.