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Dateline - June 6, 2008
Twelve Queensland students awarded Long Tan bursaries
 
The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, today announced 12 students studying in Queensland, all children of Vietnam veterans, will receive up to $9000 each to help them complete their tertiary education. Mr Griffin said the Government recognised the challenges children face due to their parents' Vietnam War service.

"The Long Tan Bursary scheme aims to help hard working students from Vietnam veteran families to take up the challenge of tertiary education and achieve their long-term study goals," he said. "The bursary is awarded to students, including mature age students, who have achieved good academic results and who have overcome personal challenges to successfully complete their secondary education. These students have proven their ability and determination to pursue
their careers and I am pleased the Australian Government has been able to support them in their studies."

Long Tan Bursaries will be presented to 53 students across the country in the coming weeks.

This year, 12* students in Queensland have received bursaries including:
   
* Brooke McKeever of Albany Creek, Bachelor of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland (UQ);
* Marion Angel of Burpengary, Bachelor of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT);
* Bronwyn Lyall of Wishart, Bachelor of Creative Industries, QUT;
* Krystelle Watts of Taringa, Bachelor of Photography, Griffith University;
* Katrina Brown of Gatton, Bachelor of Applied Science, UQ;
* Rebecca Cassidy of Townsville, Bachelor of Music, Queensland Conservatorium of Music;
* Khamla Mott of Coolum Beach, Bachelor of Applied Science, UQ;
* Arabella Haig of Allora, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Commerce, UQ;
* Colleen Bell of Robertson, Bachelor of Education, Griffith University;
* James Ridgwell of Warrnambool Victoria, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, James Cook University;
* Isobel Larkin of Alstonevale NSW Diploma of Dance, Queensland Conservatoire of Ballet.
 


Mr Griffin said 250 sons and daughters of Australia's Vietnam veterans had benefited from the bursary scheme since it was introduced in 2000. The scheme was introduced in response to the findings of the Vietnam Veterans' Health Study to provide financial support to children of Vietnam veterans with their tertiary education.

The bursary is named after the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966, in which Australian soldiers of D Company 6 RAR encountered and fought off an enemy force of up to 2500 troops in a rubber plantation north of the village of Long Tan. Eighteen Australians lost their lives in the battle.