When Walgett Shire councillor and former Deputy Mayor, Geoffrey 'Dick' Colless passed away from injuries he suffered in a farm accident in 2012, he could not have imagined the impact his legacy would have on local students.

An annual scholarship was established in his name, with $10,000 on offer to defray the study costs of tertiary students whose residence is in the Walgett Shire. This year, current Walgett Shire councillors, who act as judges for the award, agreed to share the scholarship in equal amounts amongst the recipients, with each person receiving $1428 each.

This year's recipients, all from Walgett Shire, and their avenue of study is as follows:

• Beatrice Thwaits - Bachelor of Environmental Sciences
• Erin Tym - Certificate III in Electrotechnology
• Georgia Hiscox - Bachelor of Education (K-6)
• Jack Witts - Certificate III Engineering and Fabrication
• Billy Witts - Certificate III Engineering and Fabrication
• Nicholas Tedim - Bachelor of Paramedicine
• Clancy Barry - Certificate IV in Vet Nursing

For Georgia Hiscox, the funding is very welcome as she undertakes an unpaid placement for her teaching degree.

"I grew up in Walgett, finished school in 2020, and then went to UNE in Armidale and did three years at college," Ms Hiscox said. "This year I've moved home and now I study online and also do two day's work a week at the St Joseph's Catholic School."

"Receiving the Dick Colless Scholarship is very helpful because I've got to do seven weeks of prac teaching where I will have no income and I'll have to pay for accommodation, food and fuel. I've applied for Orange and Armidale to do my placement but not sure where I will end up yet. This is my last trimester of uni, I've just got two more units to do and my prac."

Ms Hiscox said she was enjoying being home in Walgett, getting back into football and working at the school that she attended.

"Probably around 70 per cent of the staff who taught me at St Joseph's are still there," she said. "It's great there at the moment as it's been the first time in around three years that the school has being fully staffed. Last year, the deputy and the principal were in the classroom more than half the week."

Ms Hiscox said she plans to stay around Walgett for at least a year after the completion of her studies, and has always had the ambition to become a teacher.

"I've always had an interest in education," she said. "In Year 10 I did my work experience at St Josephs and I don't really think there's kind of been another path for me."

"I'm very grateful for the scholarship and it's nice to link it to a name, because I knew Dick very well while growing up as he was very good friends with my dad."