Scholarship Family members John McLoughlin, Gaayathri Thiru and Shanthi Tamilkodi, with Clinical Hub Paramedic Daniel Sutorious, Vas Tamilkodi, St John Group CEO Kevin Brown, ECU Associate Dean Dr David Reid, with Pospa Marimathu, and scholarships winners Renee Fury and Kaitlyn Barrow with ECU Development Manager Ferdi Fourie.
Three Indigenous students from Edith Cowan University (ECU) have been honoured with $20,000 scholarships from St John WA (SJWA).
ECU paramedicine students Kaitlyn Barrow and Renee Fury and nursing student Amber Pidek were awarded the Fiona Lavelle and Tinesh Tamilkodi Memorial Scholarship to pursue health sciences qualifications at ECU.
The Scholarship pays tribute to respected St John Ambulance Paramedic Fiona Lavelle, who tragically passed away in a hiking incident while off-duty, and to beloved St John Clinical Support Paramedic Tinesh Tamilkodi, who died in a car crash whilst on route to a call-out last year.
The memorial scholarship was created by SJWA and Fiona and Tinesh’s families to honour the dedicated paramedics' shared passion for lifelong learning and service to humanity.
Among the recipients, first year nursing student Amber Pideck, (not pictured) paid tribute to Fiona Lavelle and Tinesh Tamilkodi, and thanked SJWA for the opportunities this Scholarship will allow.
"I am inspired by the stories of Fiona and Tinesh, whose legacy is honoured through this scholarship. Their commitment and passion to helping others are the principles I strive to uphold through my own career," said Amber.
"Fiona and Tinesh's stories have motivated me to pursue my studies with an even greater dedication and purpose. I am very proud to receive a scholarship in honour of such inspirational individuals.
"This scholarship has and will continue to alleviate the financial burden of my living and education expenses, allowing me to focus my studies, which I may not have been able to afford otherwise."
ECU Bachelor of Science (Paramedical Science) student, Kaitlyn Barrow.
Second year paramedicine student, Kaitlyn Barrow, said she also takes inspiration from Fiona and Tinesh’s dedication to serving the community.
"Helping someone when they are experiencing a health crisis or trauma and providing reassurance and treatment as an Aboriginal paramedic is my dream and is a way I believe I can contribute back to my community," Kaitlyn said.
"The opportunity to fulfill this dream whilst honouring Fiona and Tinesh and their passion and commitment to the service as a recipient of this scholarship is something I didn't expect, but I feel extremely grateful and proud."
St John WA Group CEO Kevin Brown said the scholarships were a fitting tribute to the two compassionate, humble, and hardworking team members who were deeply missed.
"This initiative will be a lasting legacy that captures Fiona and Tinesh's strong passion and desire to teach others."
