Applications for The Sharon Alcorn Bursary 2021 are now open!
The Sharon Alcorn Bursary was set up to assist women who plan on studying or furthering their education. The bursary can help assist financially, for example, assistance with enrolment fees, purchase of text books, stationery or laptops.
The Sharon Alcorn Bursary is named in honour of the late Sharon Alcorn, previous staff member of Mackay Women’s Centre. The bursary was established by Sharon’s family.
Sharon was passionate about “Women” and believed in the value of empowering and encouraging women of all ages to further their education.
By providing opportunities for women to apply for financial assistance to complete either a short course, a Certificate, Diploma or even Tertiary Education, the Sharon Alcorn Bursary will assist successful applicants to create a positive change in her life and the lives of others, keeping Sharon’s legacy alive.
Sharon’s legacy
“Sharon always valued education and although she only completed up to Year 10 at high school, after all the children left home, Sharon took the opportunity to start her own career. She completed studies in Community Services and Counselling.
In 2005 she undertook student placement at Pregnancy Help. People at the centre knew straight away that Sharon had passion and potential. She was offered the opportunity to fill in for leave cover in January 2006 and again in 2007 before permanently taking over as coordinator at the beginning of June 2008.
After that Pregnancy Help amalgamated with Mackay Women’s Health & Information Centre to become the Mackay Women’s Centre (MWC). During the transition, Sharon was instigative in the maintenance of services during all the upheaval and developing a positive relationship with the co-located service Domestic Violence Resource Service (DVRS).
Sharon gave her everything to the Women’s Centre as she believed in the work and was committed to helping the Centre be as fruitful as possible. She did this because she was passionate about helping people reach their full potential, especially women, and about protecting their beautiful children.
One of Sharon’s colleagues described her as “beautiful, sincere, genuine, passionate and a little bombshell in a good way”.
Sharon was devastated that her work at the Centre had to end with the onset of her illness and she missed her clients, their children, and colleagues dearly.
Our hope is that through The Sharon Alcorn Bursary, we can keep her legacy of empowering women and protecting children alive, by assisting women in furthering their education. We would like to sincerely thank the Mackay Women’s Centre for their ongoing support and assistance with the Bursary and we look forward to building on an already strong relationship with the fantastic team. We also hope in turn that the successful recipients of the Bursary continue to support the Mackay Women’s Centre.
We have all seen first hand what an education can do for someone’s life. Whether it is a computer course, which will enable someone to re-enter the workforce, a Certificate or Diploma, or even tertiary education, our dream is that this bursary will assist people to take their next step in whatever pursuit they desire. Hopefully then, they too will feel empowered to support other women to improve their lives.
Sharon would be very proud of your desire to better yourself and it is our honour that we can present the Bursary. We look forward to following your journey.”
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Application packs can be collected from reception at Mackay Women’s Centre. For more information email admin@dvrs.org.au or phone 4953 1788.
