July 13, 2023
Professor Kevin Williams – a Gunggari and Wakka Wakka man – has set up a scholarship to encourage First Nations students from regional or remote Queensland to study law at CQUniversity.
The plan is to award the inaugural scholarship in 2024 and then build the fund over time so a $5000 scholarship can be awarded annually in perpetuity.
Prof Kevin Williams decided to establish the scholarship to honour his parents’ memory and their commitment to ensuring their children had a quality education.
He said the CQUniCares Maureen and George Williams Law Scholarship would continue the legacy of his parents in championing the success of First Nations people.
“The world was a very different place in the ’50s and ’60s,” Prof Williams said.
“Aboriginal people didn’t get an education and my teachers and classmates certainly didn’t treat me seriously, even though I was achieving top results in my classes.
“If it weren’t for my parents who worked so hard for us and encouraged us so strongly to get an education, I can’t imagine that I’d have lived the life that I have. It always comes back to Mum and Dad.”
Prof Williams is now an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and previously held prestigious roles in human rights advocacy, university ethics committees and government advisory boards.
His career began after he received a scholarship which enabled him to undertake tertiary education.
He became the first male Indigenous graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from CQUniversity (then known as the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education).
He went on to study a Bachelor of Laws at the University of NSW before obtaining a Master of Laws from Southern Cross University.
Prof Williams’ parents met on Alroy Station in western Queensland in 1949 where his father, George Williams, was working as a stockman and his mother, Maureen Stanley, worked as a domestic servant.
Maureen and George (214kb PDF) were provided an opportunity to move into a house in Longreach to work with the Council, leaving behind their tough life living in tents in the bush.
Being closer to town and schools allowed them to provide their children with the opportunity to receive an education.
“My parents were thrilled that we achieved a Year 12 education, as that was something they never had access to,” Prof Williams said.
“They knew that when I got my education, that it wouldn’t just be for me and bettering my life, but that it would also be for the benefit of others and that I’d be able to use my education to help other Indigenous people realise their dreams, and make culturally safe places for our people to succeed.
“I set up this scholarship in honour of the two most decent, hardworking, thoughtful people who endured much hardship in their life to give their children an opportunity they never had.
“I am eternally grateful to my parents.”
Prof Williams is hoping other people within the community will appreciate the history of this scholarship and the importance of providing opportunities for young First Nations students by contributing financially to the future of the scholarship.
“With this legacy we’re really hoping people will get behind this cause to make donations into the fund, and I hope it can help to change the lives of other Indigenous students studying law at CQUniversity,” he said.
Kevin’s sister Patricia also reflected on the profound impact of her parents in her own strong work ethic and resilience in persevering through challenges, having worked her way up to a senior management position during her dedicated career with CQUniversity and receiving a Graduate Diploma in Careers Education from RMIT, Melbourne.
“It was hard work while I was also bringing up my daughters, but they also understood the vision of my parents and have both studied and now also have great careers,” Mrs Lieschke said.
“Now as a proud grandmother to six grandchildren with four having achieved degrees and diplomas – it’s just such a legacy for my parents with the path they paved for us and generations to come.
“I hope that this scholarship in honour of my parents will help First Nations students to understand that it is possible to achieve whatever you want if you work hard for it, and that there are people out there willing to provide support and assistance to help you get to where you want to go and be what you want to be.”
The endowment fund target is $150,000 to be able to use the interest to fund in perpetuity at least one annual scholarship.
- To find out more about how to support the scholarship fund, contact Francois Gallais, Deputy Director, Philanthropy on (07) 4923-2822.
