SYDNEY, 29 October 2025 –
At the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund, we are proud to share the stories of our scholars — stories that highlight the true meaning of service, sacrifice, and support. Raechel McKinnon’s journey exemplifies the profound personal and professional impact of being part of the GSF community, demonstrating that the Fund’s influence extends far beyond financial assistance.
“Since becoming a Gallipoli Scholar in 2024, I have been granted the honour of meeting Veterans and community leaders on countless occasions. Most recently, I was privileged to attend a Queanbeyan RSL Sub-Branch meeting with GSF Chairperson, Major General Mike Smith (OAM), and five of my Gallipoli Scholar peers, to celebrate and thank the Queanbeyan RSL Sub-Branch for increasing its commitment to the GSF for 2026 and beyond.
At this event, I had the pleasure of not only speaking one-on-one with Sub-Branch members, but also the opportunity to give a short speech regarding how the GSF has influenced my tertiary education and related journey. I was able to easily articulate the profound impact the GSF has had on my life, because its impact is at the forefront of my everyday life – it is evident in where I live, who my support networks are, and who my closest friends are.
Having been awarded the Hall Rotary Bursary in 2024 and the Bill Hall Bursary in 2025, I can honestly say that the financial support from these generous sponsors have kept me afloat, especially during particularly trying times such as unpaid student placements associated with my Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Paramedicine. I felt that being able to thank the Sub-Branch for their investment in us as a GSF contingent was particularly meaningful. Not only do GSF sponsors invest in us as individuals, but they invest in the future, as all of us Scholars collectively aspire to perpetuate our Veteran ancestors’ values of mateship, perseverance, and courage.
Ultimately, I most enjoyed telling the Sub-Branch about the people who I have met through the GSF, because as it turns out, I needed them more than any sum of money. Through the GSF, I have been welcomed into the homes and families of Mike, my non-academic mentor, Aisha Collins, and Hall Rotary representative, Vic Gibbons. These individuals, in addition to my fellow Scholars of whom cross State and Territory borders, have become my support system and some of my closest friends. As such, there is no understatement in saying that the GSF is not only a fund, but also a family.
I would like to thank the Queanbeyan RSL Sub-Branch, both for increasing its commitment to the GSF and for hosting us on this occasion. It was such a privilege to meet the Sub-Branch’s members and Veterans, and thank them directly for their investment in us and our ambitions.”
Raechel McKinnon’s words capture the essence of the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund… a legacy of service, a commitment to education, and a spirit of mateship that binds our community together. The GSF is proud to stand beside scholars like Raechel as they honour the past and shape the future.
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