Tara Old Girls' Association

Lauren is studying a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Sydney; in 2025 she commenced her final year which includes clinical and industry placements. These voluntary placements are full-time and completely student funded with monthly “tours of duty” at several veterinary clinics located throughout NSW. She has also secured a placement with Broome Cattle Vets as part of the Northern Australia Biosecurity Strategy which is a unique opportunity for Lauren as Australia’s Northern regions are known to have a shortage of veterinarians on call. To enable her to undertake these placements outside of Sydney, Lauren will be using the Award funds to fund her living and travelling expenses. Lauren is very appreciative and grateful to the Tara Old Girls’ Association in receiving this Award. She is a wonderful Ambassador and example of a Tara Alumnae with incredible perseverance and tenacity.

Alexandra Doubleday was an undergraduate student in the Department of History and Archaeology at Macquarie University when she received the Joan Waugh Scholarship. Alexandra was one of only two Macquarie University students invited to participate in a field season in Luxor, Egypt. As part of the Theban Tomb Project, she utilised her archaeological drawing skills to document and record archaeological finds. The Joan Waugh Scholarship helped cover the costs of flights, accommodation, and essential drawing equipment required for her participation in this significant research project.

Felicity used the scholarship funds towards becoming a Humanitarian Volunteer Engineer and becoming registered with RedR Australia, an organisation that coordinated professional volunteers with specific skill sets to be on standby for United Nations agencies, frontline relief organisations, and local governments. The funding covered the cost of attending the HEAT and EHP upskilling training courses conducted by RedR in Melbourne during 2023, which assisted her in achieving this goal.

Madeleine holds a Bachelor of Science (Physiology with Distinction) from the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (Hons I, University Medal) from Western Sydney University. In all, her academic life has taken her eight years to complete full time. She currently works as a Junior Doctor at Westmead Hospital, Sydney. Madeleine has been accepted to the University of Sydney for a Master of Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology) part-time to become a haematologist.

Jennifer graduated from University as a physiotherapist for 14 years before becoming interested in mindset, neuroscience and the connection between mind and body. Her skills as a physiotherapist and life coach complement each other and help her clients achieve better results. Early in 2019 Jennifer moved to Dubbo opening her own business – Physio Wellness Dubbo. Noticing an increasing need for better allied services in regional areas Jennifer has undertaken a course in Cancer Rehabilitation to offer the latest in evidence based treatment to cancer sufferers in Dubbo and surrounding areas.

Jennifer is completing her PhD in Endocrinology specialising in type 1 diabetes study project on why diabetic people are more prone to obesity, heart disease and early death. In particular, the question why complications occur with individuals with resistance to insulin may be due to abnormalities in the patients’ muscle or liver.

Sarah was currently completing her PhD in forensic psychology at the time of receiving the Joan Waugh Scholarship. Her research investigated witness’ allegations for crimes which occur repeatedly over time (such as domestic violence and workplace bullying}. This research has the potential to facilitate the detection of genuine and false accounts for recurring events, improving the justice of legal proceedings.