From Portarlington
to Parkville
“I love learning and
sharing my experience.
Studying pharmacy
at Monash has been
a great choice.”
Georgina Pennefather has always been a
rural student. She grew up in small towns
with strong communities. She’s from a
big family with a strong commitment to
education, life experience and community
service. So it’s no surprise she chose to
study pharmacy at Monash. And it’s no
surprise she’s this year’s recipient of the
Thea Pärnamäe Rural Pharmacy Bursary.
“I grew up near Mt Macedon before we moved to
the Bellarine Peninsula, which is where I live now
– at Portarlington. I love living in a rural area. And I
love learning and sharing my experience. Studying
pharmacy at Monash has been a great choice.”
Although Georgina is the first in her family to study
pharmacy, it was her family who encouraged her
to pursue this path.
“I loved bio and chemistry at school. My mum’s
a nurse. She suggested I think about pharmacy.
Mum’s dad did industrial chemistry, but always
says he regrets not doing pharmacy! So I guess
it’s been on my mind for some time. I work part
time in the Portarlington Pharmacy. I love it. It’s a
typical small rural pharmacy. Everyone knows the
pharmacist by name. Everyone knows and cares
for each other.”
Knowledge and caring are two qualities that
Georgina says her upbringing emphasised.
12
“Mum and dad always instilled in me the value of
life experiences and education. Money would be
spent on going places and doing things rather than
cars and stuff. We also do foster care. I guess we
value caring and sharing.”
Georgina says studying pharmacy at Monash has
opened her eyes to a world of possibilities.
“I’ve wanted to do pharmacy since Year 10. I love
everything about it. Being at Monash and learning
from such inspiring people really is an eye-opener.
I’m doing things I never thought I’d be able to
do. I’m even now thinking I could go on and do
medicine. If I could be at uni for the rest of my life,
I would!”
The Portarlington local says the Thea Pärnamäe
Rural Pharmacy Bursary has provided valuable
support and encouragement.
“The bursary means so much. It’s taken the
pressure off me financially. But it’s simply
the recognition for a rural student that’s so
encouraging. Going to uni has an extra challenge
for students from outside the city. I really appreciate
someone recognising that I do have to go that little
bit further.”
The Thea Pärnamäe Rural Pharmacy Bursary
supports female pharmacy students from rural
and remote areas. The bursary was established
by Dr Kersti Nogeste in honour of her late aunt,
Swedish pharmacist Thea Pärnamäe.