Bob Such Memorial Scholarships

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Higher Education, Employment and Skills a question about how the government is commemorating the life work of the Hon. Bob Such, the former member for Fisher.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: The Hon. Dr Bob Such passed away on 11 October 2014, having served as a South Australian parliamentarian for 25 years, an extraordinary length of time. Can the minister update the chamber on the Bob Such Memorial Scholarships?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:13): I thank the honourable member for his interest in this area. I am sure that all members in this place share a similar sadness at the passing of Dr Bob Such, former member for Fisher, in October last year. Our colleague, Dr Such, certainly was a very proud South Australian and served as a parliamentarian for 25 years in a long and distinguished parliamentary career. He was the minister for employment, training and further education and minister for youth affairs and Speaker of the House of Assembly for a period.

Dr Such was also a graduate of all three of this state's public universities, receiving a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in economics and politics and a PhD in environmental politics from Flinders, a Diploma of Teaching from the University of South Australia and a Diploma of Education from the University of Adelaide. To honour the life and passionate work of Dr Such, this state government and Flinders University have provided funding to establish the Bob Such Memorial Scholarships.

The state government will allocate $30,000 annually over three years for the establishment of the Bob Such Memorial Scholarships. The scholarships will be targeted at first-year university students studying at Flinders University who reside in the southern suburbs and who are experiencing financial hardship. Flinders University is within Dr Such's electorate, and the focus on disadvantaged students reinforces Dr Such's commitment to improving the life of disadvantaged South Australians.

The scholarships will have the following disciplinary attachments: education (to reflect Dr Such's lifelong interest in education) and science, technology, engineering and maths (to reflect the government's STEM priorities); this means any education or STEM-related bachelor degrees will be eligible. There will be 12 scholarships annually, valued at $2,500 each. Students will use their funds to support their educational expenses, which can include paying their HECS contribution or student amenity fees.

Dr Such was held in great esteem by all the politicians he worked with during his long distinguished career. He was also a well-loved local member in his electorate of Fisher. These scholarships are a fitting reflection of Dr Such's lifelong passion for education and his continuing and ongoing commitment to helping disadvantaged South Australians. Furthermore, they are targeted specifically at areas of higher education which are important to South Australia's future. The scholarships will be welcomed by Dr Such's constituents and the wider public and are a worthy tribute to his service to the South Australian community.