TWO inspirational Border residents have won substantial grants from the AMP Tomorrow Fund.
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Farm entrepreneur Sam Marwood and former Albury Young Citizen of the Year Ram Khanal won $15,000 and $20,000 respectively from the program, which has handed out more than 180 grants of up to $100,000 since its inception in 1992.
The local duo are two of 45 people to receive grants
Mr Khanal’s story is well known in the Albury-Wodonga community – arriving on the Border as a 16-year-old, having grown up in a refugee camp, he vowed to study medicine and become a doctor.
After graduating as the DUX of his high school, Mr Khanal completed a Bachelor of Medical Science, and has just passed his first year medical exams at the University of Wollongong.
“I feel so blessed to live in Australia and appreciate the amazing opportunity this country provides,” Mr Khanal said.
“I want to give by becoming a doctor for the bush and helping people with the most desperate needs.”
While he is on placement in Cooktown, on the Cape York Peninsula, his younger brother Narayan stepped in to accept the award on his behalf at a ceremony last week.
Mr Marwood, who was behind unique farming social enterprise Cultivate Farms, was presented with his grant at an earlier event in Sydney.
Cultivate Farms looks to link retiring farmers with young people looking to become involved in the industry, but who don't have the means to get started.
Prospective farmers pay a small annual fee for access to the ‘match-making’ website.
Mr Marwood said the grant would help him further grow his idea and hopefully, expand the business.
“Through Cultivate Farms we want to make rural Australia the vibrant, prosperous and desirable place we know it can be,” he said.
The enterprise was established after he teamed up with close friend who was looking to enter the industry, but was unsure how to do it.
Long frustrated with the amount of young people leaving country areas for major cities, Mr Marwood’s hope is that the enterprise can help revitalise rural communities.
With the charity enjoying it’s 25th anniversary this year, AMP Foundation head Helen Liondos said the calibre of the grant winners was particularly strong in 2017.
“The 2017 AMP Tomorrow Makers share a selflessness and sense of determination we believe should be supported and celebrated,” she said.
“We hope these grants will take their good work even further and make a positive impact on their community and the nation.”
