The Ben Hackney Educational Grant was established in 2018 to support a student entering VSC/HSC with costs associated with completing secondary school as well as promoting knowledge of the Battalion’s history to this generation of young people. The grant was provided over the two VSC/HSC years. From 2023 the Educational Grant has been expanded to support any student over two years of their secondary schooling.
The grant is funded by the Ben Hackney Trust. The Ben Hackney Trust is a charitable fund administered by three Trustees for the benefit of ex-members of the 2/29th Battalion AIF and their families.
This exciting opportunity provides to the successful applicant $1,000 per year, for the two years (2026 and 2027), to assist with the costs associated with their further education; as well as promoting knowledge of the Battalion’s history to this generation of young people today.
There is no application form, and one grant recipient will be selected based on the submission of a well-written and researched essay.
Applicants must:
* have a familial connection to a Veteran of the 2/29th Battalion AIF, and
* be entering Year 7 to Year 11 in 2026
Applications will be in the form of an essay which:
* outlines the applicant’s family connection to a 2/29th Veteran
* includes details of the veteran’s service
* includes details of the veteran’s life before and after the war
* uses anecdotal family memories, books, documents and/or research online
* is between 800 to 2000 words in length
* includes references and acknowledgment of online content
Applicants must include their contact details, name of school attending, favourite school subjects and other interests.
Applications must be submitted to the Grant Coordinator, Dianne Cowling at dianne.cowling@gmail.com no later than 15 November 2025.
All applications will be evaluated by a panel of judges.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome before the beginning of the 2026 school year. Payment of the grant to the successful applicant will occur in January 2026 and January 2027.
The successful essay will be published in the Association’s newsletter, and its author will be invited to attend the Annual Reunion Luncheon on 24 April 2026, accompanied by a responsible adult.
Enquiries can be made by contacting the current Grant coordinator, Dianne Cowling on 0412 297 368.
The Grant issued in previous years has been warmly welcomed, and the Trustees of the Ben Hackney Trust are pleased to again offer this biennial Grant opportunity to assist secondary students in the coming years.
Dianne Cowling, on behalf of the Educational Grant Sub-Committee
