UA31502 Impact of Giving 2025 - A4 FINAL Web version 22.5.25 - Flipbook - Page 5
When I was in year 12 my younger
brother had a severe asthma attack
requiring air retrieval to the Royal
Children’s Hospital... seeing the lack
of both access and availability of
services in my community.... was the
motivation for studying medicine.”
Impact of Giving
Lachlan Matheson
Lachlan Matheson
Hunter scholarship
motivates aspiring doctor
Growing up in regional
Victoria, Doctor of
Medicine student, Lachlan
Matheson, always had
an interest in pursuing
a career in health, but it
wasn’t until his younger
brother was airlifted to
hospital that his passion
for medicine was sparked.
“I loved many aspects of living rurally
including being part of a small closeknit community and being involved in a
wide range of sporting and community
groups. However, I could also see the
health disparity that can exist between
metropolitan centres and their regional
counterparts,” Lachlan said.
“When I was in year 12 my younger brother
had a severe asthma attack requiring air
retrieval to the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Witnessing the amazing work of the
healthcare professionals, in addition
to seeing the lack of both access and
availability of services in my community
(often when you need them most) was
the motivation for studying medicine.
Determined to pursue his dream of
becoming a doctor, Lachlan took a gap
year to work and save before starting
his studies. Now in the final years of his
degree, he is grateful for the financial
support of the Tom and Elizabeth Hunter
Scholarship, which helps ease the
pressures of study and placements.
Established in 2015 by Alastair Hunter
OAM, the endowed scholarship
provides vital support to Doctor
of Medicine students in the final
three years of their studies. Alastair
hopes that his gifts will create a
lasting impact, inspiring scholarship
recipients to make a difference in
their own way in their lifetimes.
“I am incredibly grateful for the
support the Tom and Elizabeth
Hunter Scholarship has given.
This scholarship has significantly
reduced the financial burden
associated with my studies and
placements. I believe it is a great
privilege to work in healthcare,
and beyond the financial
assistance this scholarship has
also motivated me to continue to
aspire for a career in serving others
and giving back to those less
fortunate,” Lachlan said.
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