Outstanding academic achievement, a passion for music and an altruistic spirit have been recognised by the General Sir John Monash Foundation awarding a graduate from The University of Western Australia, Ben Etherington, one of the Foundation’s prestigious post graduate scholarships.
He is the second Western Australian to win the General Sir John Monash Award, which is regarded as being similar to a Rhodes Scholarship.
A bassoonist who has played with the WA Symphony Orchestra, Mr Etherington completed honours courses in both musicology and English at UWA in 2004.
He will commence at Cambridge University in England later this year to study a Master of Philosophy in English Studies.
The General Sir John Monash Award, launched in 2002, enables leading scholars to attend a university of their choice to complete a higher degree. The awards for scholarship and leadership support the education and development of future leaders of their fields and of the community.
The Chairman of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, General Peter Gration, and Vice Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson, were present at a ceremony at the Prescott Room in the Vice Chancellery, UWA, at 5pm on Friday, April 1, 2005 to recognise Mr Etherington’s achievement.