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VCA Drama is proud to announce the winners of the Richard Pratt Bursaries for 2006 and 2007. The 2006 recipients are Benedict Hardie and Meredith Penman. Recipients for 2007 are Zahra Newman and George Banders.

These students all received the top marks for their first year of study in the VCA’s Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting). The bursary is intended to assist the students with financial support during the remainder of their study.

The students were presented with their bursaries by Richard and Jeanne Pratt at their home ‘Raheen’ on Thursday 17 May 2007.

The prestigious Richard Pratt Bursary Fund was created to celebrate the seventieth birthday of Mr. Richard Pratt, the philanthropist, businessman and long time supporter of the Victorian College of the Arts. Two Bursary awards, which each cover one year of HECS fees plus a cash amount, are offered annually through the generosity of Richard and Jeanne Pratt.

BENEDICT HARDIE (NSW) had worked as a professional actor and comedian in Sydney before coming to the VCA

Before studying at the VCA MEREDITH PENMAN (NSW) was involved in fundraising activities for the Arts, and she is thrilled to be on the other side of the transaction

ZAHRA NEWMAN (QLD) immigrated to Australia from Jamaica with her mother when she was fourteen. She had never been to Victoria before she began her studies at the VCA and has supported herself since the age of seventeen. This award comes at a time of extreme financial hardship and will help her tremendously in her ability to fund herself for the remainder of her study here

GEORGE BANDERS (SA) had aspired to the VCA since high school and feels that to have achieved this level of acknowledgement with such a prestigious award is a total honour