Wattle Range Council is set to contribute a further $30,000 for university scholarships which honour the memory of a former Millicent resident.

A generous donation to Flinders University by the Wattle Range Council in 2008 enabled the establishment of the Terry Roberts Memorial Student Scholarship to recognise the contribution made by him to South Australia, the Wattle Range Council region and the Millicent community.

The scholarship was established to assist students from the Wattle Range Council area to commence undergraduate study at Flinders University.

Mr Roberts was a Labor MLC from 1985 until his death in 2006 and was a cabinet minister for his last four years in office.

He was educated at the Convent of Mercy (now St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School) and Millicent High School and worked at the KCA Millicent Mill.

His many sporting interests included golf, football and cricket.

Following an approach from the university to increase the monetary value of the scholarship, Wattle Range Council decided at its June monthly meeting that it would provide two scholarships per annum for the coming three years.

The scholarships have doubled in value to $5000 each.

Council also funds Terry Roberts scholarships at Uni SA while the State Government has also funded another tertiary scholarship to mark his commitment in a particular community sphere.

He was State Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation from March 6, 2002 until his passing on February 18, 2006.

He was a passionate advocate for Aboriginal people and won the admiration and respect of South Australia’s Aboriginal communities.

This scholarship is a memorial to his great compassion, empathy and commitment for Aboriginal people.