Pictured from left: Cr Geoff Hudson, scholarship recipients Virginia Tapscott, Zoey Ong and Abbey Quinlan, with Mark Norden, Director of Medical Education UNSW.
The program supports local students entering medicine at the University of New South Wales with an aim of encouraging them to return to regional communities where their skills are desperately needed after graduation.
Each of the four 2025 recipients received $2,500 to assist with their studies.
The first recipient, Abbey Quinlan, is a graduate of Victory Lutheran College with an ATAR of 94.70. She received the 2024 Victory Medal for overall academic excellence and was recognised with several other awards, including the Resource Smart Award, Cain MacDonald Service Award, and Secondary School Citizenship Award.
Abbey has volunteered with the Upper Murray Family Care Interchange Program since 2022 - earning the 2024 Betty MacLean Award - and has contributed to the Wodonga Tennis Centre as a coach and volunteer.
Passionate about accessible healthcare, she hopes to return to the Border region to serve her community as a medical practitioner.
Kris Grover, a 2024 graduate of Trinity Anglican College Thurgoona, earned an ATAR of 93.15 and the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award. A strong performer in mathematics, he tutored young students at Kumon Learning Centre and volunteered at FoodShare and local shelters.
He also works as a medical receptionist at Elmwood Medical Centre, where he gained valuable insight into patient care. Kris aspires to become a rural doctor known for his compassion and connection with patients.
Zoey Ong completed her HSC at MacRobertson Girls’ High School in Melbourne, having previously attended Trinity Anglican College Thurgoona and Albury High School. She has tutored students at the Albury Kumon Centre and currently volunteers with the Regional Education Support Network, offering academic support to regional students.
Zoey has also been active in community service through the LEO and Interact clubs. Inspired by her mentors and community leaders, she was drawn to medicine as a way to give back through compassionate, human-centred care.
Virginia Tapscott, a mature-aged student who has lived in the Albury region since 2019, has a background in rural journalism and communications. She worked as a rural reporter and PR consultant with Cotton Australia and is a director of the Parents Work Collective.
Virginia has also volunteered with local organisations including the Table Top P&C, Albury Wodonga Health Cancer Centre, and Bowna Wymah Community Centre.
Motivated by her own experiences in rural communities, she is passionate about improving access to healthcare.
Albury Mayor Kevin Mack said the program plays an important role in strengthening rural healthcare.
“I’m incredibly proud that we can support four more bright minds as they begin their journey into medicine,” Mayor Mack said.
“As we all know, our region urgently needs more medical professionals, and I hope these students will one day bring their skills back home.”
AlburyCity has offered medical scholarships since 2007, with 34 scholarships awarded to date. Of the 23 students who have completed their studies (11 are still in-progress), 14 have undertaken professional work in the medical field in the wider Albury region.