“In 1993 a group of people from Boorowa got together to support and encourage their school leavers to pursue their careers or studies,” Mr Taylor said.

 “The Boorowa Education Foundation started raising funds and in the first year raised $5,000 and provided scholarships to five students.

“The idea soon spread to the nearby communities of Yass, Cowra and Harden – all towns in the Hume electorate.

“In 2003 the Country Education Foundation went national and CEFA has since grown a network of more than 40 local education foundations across Australia.

 I am grateful that there are a disproportionate number in my electorate. This year CEFA has given out over 400 grants to disadvantaged regional youth across Australia helping them to realise their educational and career goals. The grants totalled nearly half a million dollars and are on the increase.  

“CEFA is funded through private and corporate philanthropy and receives no government funding…communities raise funds in the way they see fit.

On one occasion in Yass the great Rat Race was held – with 200 people attending and thousands raised.

 In Goulburn they conduct an art exhibition and auction in an historic woolshed - raising tens of thousands of dollars.

“I cannot think of a better example  of a community organisation, designed by regional people, for  regional people, and addressing in a  most practical and hands-on way the  needs of regional people: in this case  our young people.

 “I commend CEFA and the local education foundations for recognising the value of education,  and for helping to ameliorate the  significant economic and social barriers  to young regional people at this  “make or break” point in their lives.”