March 2; Liam Petterson
Bachelor of Science student Phoebe Georgakas has been awarded the inaugural Jopling Family Rowing Scholarship.
The scholarship is Australia’s preeminent university rowing scholarship, providing financial and in-kind support for up to four years.
Georgakas, the 2019 U23 World Championship bronze medalist, is Vice-Captain of the Melbourne University Boat Club and has competed in the Australian Boat Race twice, captaining the women’s crew on both occasions as coxswain. She has represented Melbourne twice at University Nationals Div 1, winning gold medals in the Women’s Coxed Eight and Coxed Four.
“I feel honoured to have been awarded the first-ever Jopling Family Rowing Scholarship,” she told MU Sport.
“It is an extremely exciting opportunity and I am very grateful to the Jopling Family. With their support, I am hoping to step up my performances in both rowing and academia.”
The scholarship has been made possible by Melbourne alum and Queens Counsel lawyer Peter Jopling AM, who graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1976. He created the scholarship to honour his father’s two greatest passions – education and rowing.
Peter Jopling AM (left) created the Scholarship to honour his father's two greatest passions – education and rowing.
“My father has always been passionate about the importance of a good education and the life-changing impact that such an education could have on an individual. The other great passion of his has been rowing and its connection to the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
“My parents taught me that it was incumbent on those who were more fortunate than others to give back so that others might benefit from one’s good fortune.”
“It is my hope that from humble beginnings this scholarship program might endure in a meaningful way for generations to come and build on the legacy of my parents that inspired me to give.”
Mr Jopling has had extensive involvement with the University, including as Governor of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Chairman of the Ian Potter Museum of Art, and as a board member of the Victorian College of the Arts Foundation. In 2014, he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law in Victoria and to the community.
“My association with the University has been a rewarding one at a personal level and I believe I owe much to the University in terms of career and personal development.”
“I hope that through these scholarships students will go on to receive a meaningful and inspiring education so that the recipients are then set to excel in their chosen professions and have exceptional career paths, row well and go on to become leaders in the community.”