04 Jul 2022
Margaret Pratt Science Scholarship Recipient, Sarah Abusah (Year 12)
The Margaret Pratt Science Scholarship recognises and rewards Loreto Toorak students who display conscientious interest in the broad area of Science. Awarded to a student as they begin VCE, the financial endowment supports their plans to undertake a career or further study in a scientific or medical research area.
The award is supported by Dr Lesley Gillespie (OAM) and Dr Roger Gillespie (OAM), and was named in honour of Loreto Toorak Alumna Margaret Pratt (Whitty, 1977), who was diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension. Margaret was the first person in Australia to undergo three double-lung transplants as clinicians worked on new ways to battle the disease. Margaret died on 13 September 2009 as a result of organ rejection.
Sarah Abusah and Principal Angela O’Dwyer
A special morning tea was held in Term 1 to acknowledge Sarah Abusah (Year 12), who is the current recipient of the Margaret Pratt Science Scholarship. Sarah’s capabilities in STEM are well known across the staff and student community. Current donors Dr Lesley Gillespie and Dr Roger Gillespie attended this morning tea along with Margaret’s widower Mr Tony Pratt, Sarah’s parents and grandmother, and members of staff.
Above L-R: Mr Tony Pratt, Dr Leslie Gillespie, Sarah Abusah and Dr Roger Gillespie
Encouraged by speaking with Sarah and hearing about the importance of promoting STEM, Mr Tony Pratt made the generous decision that he too would match the Gillespie’s donation and provide for another Science prize in Margaret’s memory. Lesley, Roger and Tony all believe that a donation to increase the number of girls studying Science helps improve Australia’s future; it is something from which we all benefit.
Congratulations, Sarah. We support your future journey and look forward to hearing about your success post-Loreto Toorak.
If you would like to discuss the possibility of supporting a Loreto Toorak education through a donation to our Scholarship Fund, please contact our Director of Engagement Judy Reid via email (judy.reid@loretotoorak.vic.edu.au) or phone (8290 7540).
This article was published in the June 2022 Mandevillian (Vol. 37, No. 1), available for online reading and download in the Publications section of our website.