New Scholarships To Empower Six Rural Communities

Six rural communities will enjoy the benefits of group fitness thanks to a new scholarship program from agricultural machinery stalwart Hutcheon & Pearce in partnership with Active Farmers and FIT College.

The Empowered Scholarship Program was launched in September this year, with an expert judging panel deciding on the six applicants to complete their Certificate III and Certificate IV in Personal Training and go on to work with the Active Farmers network.

As Active Farmers Founder and CEO Ginny Stevens explains, her organisation brings together farmers and other locals in small farming communities through regular group fitness and a fun and interactive environment.

“The Empowered Scholarships are a wonderful way of helping us overcome the barriers people face in becoming personal trainers.

“We were delighted to receive some very strong submissions in this first year of the program, with applications coming from NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania. I’m grateful to all of the applicants who got out of their comfort zone and sent in their videos.

“The judging panel was impressed with how much they care about the health and wellbeing of their communities, and we’re delighted to welcome these six trainers and their communities to our network. This brings us closer to our dream of supporting more farmers to be healthy, well and connected.”

CEO of AUSactive and fellow judge Barrie Elvish said he was thrilled with the calibre of applications, which made the job of selecting the six winners difficult.

“From personal experience living in regional Australia, I am aware of the importance of strong community networks, and we know the important role exercise and physical activity has in not just improving the mental and physical wellbeing of participants but also in creating lifelong social connections.

“I can’t wait to see what the six winners go on to achieve in their careers and in their communities.”

The six winners, who will receive training and equipment valued at $7000, were:

• Amanda Inglis – Yarragundry NSW
• Jacqui Younger – Hansonville VIC
• Lauren Ellis – Perth TAS
• Monica Van Dyk – Apsley VIC
• Thomas Groves – Coleambally NSW
• Kaysie Stevens – Pine Mountain VIC

Hutcheon & Pearce Managing Director Arron Hutcheon said thanks to the success of its inaugural year, the Empowered Scholarship Program will continue in 2022.

“Active Farmers is a fantastic organisation with a strong purpose, and we feel closely aligned in values. We rely on the same rural and regional communities and feel the same responsibility to take care of those communities – not only because they are our customers but also because we employ from those communities and we live in them, too.

“We know that we are nothing without our farming communities and we are happy to be able to contribute to their health and wellbeing in this way into the future.”