2006 Winners

Students who received a Minister's Student Achiever Award for studies in Tourism and Hospitality in 2006 were:

• Melissa Hocking  (Southern Cross University - The Hotel School Sydney)
  Studying at the Hotel School Sydney, Melissa is a consistent high achiever in both academic and practical activities. Melissa received four distinction grades for her in-class units and exceptional reports from her industry supervisors during her workplace internships.
• Sarah Rowsell  (TAFE NSW - Northern Sydney Institute)
  Sarah studied at TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney institute, but she started studying Hospitality at Ryde College while still as student at Carlingford High School. She’s an active participant in Worldskill competitions in the restaurant and service category and after winning several golds at the national level, she will represent Australia at the International Worldskill championships later this year.
• Jara Balla-Gow  (TAFE NSW Sydney Institute - Ultimo College)
  Studying at NSW TAFE Sydney Institute – Ultimo campus, Jara is very widely travelled having worked and lived in New Zealand, Europe, the US and Hong Kong. She worked at Hamilton Island for 10 months, before enrolling in her course and she is now completing an Advanced Diploma of Tourism Management.
• Melissa Greenwood (University of Technology Sydney)
  Melissa travelled to over 27 countries as part of a year long round the world trip with her family when she was 16 and hopes to put some of her experiences to work with Government Tourism offices. She is studying a Bachelor of Management in Tourism at University of Technology, Sydney.
• Isabella Rehayem  (University of NSW)
  Isabella is passionate about travel and her Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of NSW is a path to take her into tourism marketing or management. Not content with two majors she has taken the extra subject of Business Law to broaden her field of study.
• Jessica Wheatley  (Blue Mountains Hotel School)
  Jessica chose to study at Blue Mountains Hospitality School after completing the hospitality and food technology program at her high school and doing work experience at Four Seasons Hotel. Her interests are music, arts and languages and she also participated in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme in high school.
• Franca Wolfe   (TAFE NSW - North Coast Institute - Wollongbar Campus)
  Franca demonstrates a level of commitment to her studies at Wollongbar TAFE that left no room for improvement. She is has also shown her commitment to her local industry by volunteering at the Lismore Visitor Information Centre and the “Health and Herb” festival in Lismore. She’s very keen to be involved in developing sustainable tourism practices in the future.
• Angela Fong   (University of Western Sydney)
  Angela’s goal on completing her studies at the University of Western Sydney is to join the industry to plan and develop environmentally and socially responsible tourism. She is particularly interested in the area of Event Management.
• Josephine Takchi  (Kenvale College of Tourism and Hospitality Management)
  Josephine has been studying at the Kenvale College of Tourism and Hospitality Management having recently finished high school at Mt St Benedict. Her teachers report that she’s an avid networker, attending numerous industry seminars. As the eldest of six girls its no surprise that she’s well organised, working on her school Student Committee.
• Courtney Allison-Young (Southern Cross University - Lismore Campus)
  Courtney is studying at the Southern Cross University and recently completed a gap year placement at a UK Boarding school. She has also completed an internship with Surfing Australia where she helped organise the Surfing Hall of Fame Awards.
• Sarah Jones  (Southern Cross University - Tweed Heads Campus)
  Sarah is hoping to complete an Honours year for her Bachelor of Business in Convention and Event Tourism at Southern Cross University after which she hopes to move into management. She took part in a leadership program as part of her final year of high school.
• Natalie Smith  (Southern Cross University - Coffs Harbour Campus)
  Natalie has worked in the tourism industry since she was 14 at Taronga Zoo, Telstra Stadium and Captain Cook Cruises. She is studying at Southern Cross University in Coffs Harbour and one day hopes to manage a high end resort or hotel.

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