Recently Mary attended the Podmore Foundation's Scholarship Presentation Lunch at the Royal Canberra Golf Club.
The Podmore Foundation Inc. is a non-for-profit organisation that engages a diverse group of Australians who are dedicated to creating educational opportunities for others.
The organisation raises funds and mentors specially-selected Indigenous boys and girls from rural and remote communities and towns, who have received scholarships on merit to some of Australia’s finest independent boarding schools.
Mary and her husband Ian have been involved with Podmore over several years, and they continue to donate privately to assist several students to live and study in Canberra. One of the beneficiaries, Miss Sarah-Cait Kirkland (pictured above), is a young Indigenous student from Moree, now studying at the Canberra Girls Grammar School (CGGS).
“As a mum to five children, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild, I know that the greatest gift you can give to a child is a good education, and Ian and I are delighted at the opportunity of assisting these children to achieve their dreams,” Mary said.
“The lunch provided us an opportunity to catch up with Miss Kirkland, and others, where we discussed how they were progressing in their studies,” Ms Porter remarked.”
This individual scholarship is named after Mary’s deceased parents, Mr and Mrs Pannell, who gave Mary the opportunity of emigrating from England to Australia as a child.
“Ian and I wish all the students all the best in their studies,” Mary concluded.
For further information on how you can be involved visit http://podmorefoundation.org
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