Prestigious scholarship open to Australia’s brightest and best rowers
21 August 2019, Rod Warnecke and Aaron McNaughton
Combining rowing aspirations with university studies has now become a lot easier with a new prestigious sporting scholarship to be offered to talented student-rowers from 2020.
The Jopling Family Rowing Scholarship will be Australia’s preeminent university sporting scholarship, supporting emerging student rowers as they strive to reach their rowing and academic potential at Australia’s number one ranked university, the University of Melbourne. The scholarship will provide financial support of up to $25,000 per year, as well as additional in-kind support, for up to four years of study, depending on the course of the scholarship recipient.
The values inherent in rowing and their application to other avenues of life inspired Peter Jopling AM QC to establish the Jopling Family Rowing Scholarship. The scholarship recognises and honours the contribution made to rowing, education and the Victorian community by Peter’s grandfather and father – John Jopling Senior and John Jopling Junior.
The scholarship seeks to inspire a new generation of community leaders, who possess the same passion for rowing as the Jopling family have maintained since John Jopling Senior first took up an oar on Ballarat’s Lake Wendouree in the early 1900s.
The Jopling Family Rowing Scholarship recipient will be supported by the University’s Elite Athlete Program and the Melbourne University Boat Club (MUBC), Australia’s oldest rowing club. Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist, MUBC member and Arts/Law alumna Kim Brennan OAM has continued to become a respected leader off the water as a media commentator, sports administrator and lawyer.
“Rowing teaches you the importance of leading by example and being the type of person who inspires, enables and supports those around them. It is impossible to be a great rower, even in a single scull, without a team around you. Everyone needs to share in the same goal and thrive in doing their bit to the best of their ability. This scholarship will give students the opportunity to thrive as people who are also great leaders, rowers and students.”
Law alumnus, MUBC member and Olympic silver medallist James Marburg is grateful for the opportunities that rowing providing him during his studies.
“To row at the University of Melbourne is to take part in history – it means being a steward for a legacy that is bigger than any individual. I am inspired by the volunteer contributions that people make to the club, through their time, experiences and financial commitment. There is a strong culture of giving back led by the coaches and master’s rowers. Everyone is focused on giving the young members of the club the same opportunities and experiences that they enjoyed. This scholarship will create an opportunity where there was not one. It will literally change a life and should be grasped with both hands.”
To be considered for the Jopling Family Rowing Scholarship, students must be:
- An Australian citizen or permanent resident;
- A talented rower with aspirations to be the best they can be;
- An applicant or an already enrolled student in a course at the University of Melbourne for 2020 with outstanding academic results; and
- Available to row for the University and Melbourne University Boat Club
In alignment with the values of the Jopling family, it is highly desired that candidates also have demonstrated their aspirations to be leaders in the community.
For more information, and to express your interest visit our Jopling Family Rowing Scholarship page