Rotary donates $2500 to indigenous scholarship program

Broome Rotary Club members have contributed $2500 again this year for the Magabala Book's Australian Indigenous Creators Scholarship Program to support local indigenous writers.

Broome Rotary became a major sponsor in 2015, two years after the annual program was founded to raise funds for the scholarships program, a literary fund to keep important books in print and the Books For Little Hands program which donates books to local children.

Rotary Club president Richard Baker said he was expecting four people to be sponsored this year because any donations would be matched $1 for $1 under Creative Partnerships Australia’s Plus 1 Program.

“It’s going to be an ongoing thing that we do because it fits well with our group. The beauty is that the cheque of $2500 will be doubled,” he said.

“There are so many different projects around that we could do but we try to do one international and keep the rest local. We sponsored two people last year and we did the same again this year but because it’s doubled, it will actually be four individuals.”

Magabala Books director Trish Newton said the partnership with Broome Rotary was an asset to the community and she encouraged applications for the 2016 Scholarship Program which opened May 4 and had produced 18 indigenous creators so far.

“We are thrilled to have such a strong local partnership with Broome Rotary. Last year their donation enabled Magabala Books to support the professional development of two Broome-based indigenous creators, including aspiring illustrator Sharona Williams and established graphic novelist Brenton McKenna,” she said.

“This support helps us take our Kimberley creators to the world, where they are achieving recognition alongside Australia’s leading literary figures.”