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Are you studying (or planning to study) human health?

Do you have a strong connection to the Barossa region?

If you’ve answered yes, you might be eligible to apply for the Dr Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship.

What is the Dr Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund?

Foundation Barossa and the Angaston Medical Centre established the scholarship in 2020 to honour the memory of Dr Ben Baker.

‘As Ben’s friends and business partners, we wanted to remember him in a way that helps someone achieve their dream of becoming a health professional’. Dr Adrian Griscti, Angaston Medical Centre

The fund will provide an annual education scholarship of $1,000 to a student studying a course of (human) health.

Through scholarships like this, Foundation Barossa is helping young people to contribute to the future of the community.

Dr Baker’s colleagues and family hope the scholarship will remove some of the financial stress of studying health. They want to support another doctor or health professional to build community connections, as Dr Baker did.

“The impact Ben had on his patients and our community is proof of the amazing doctor he was. We’re all so proud of Ben’s achievements, so this scholarship means a lot to our family”. Paula Baker

Dr Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund recipients

Tracey Noack was the 2022 2021 recipient of the Dr. Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship.

Tracey is studying Nursing and Midwifery through Uni SA with the goal to be working in the Barossa region mainly as a midwife but with further education in Registered Nursing.

Tracey grew up on a farm in Moculta, moving to St Kitts when she got married 21 years ago. Tracey is a mother to seven children. Sadly, her eldest daughter was diagnosed with severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and passed away nine years ago. Tracey had always dreamt of being a midwife, but as a full-time carer to her daughter, she never thought it would happen.

Tracey said “Studying Nursing and Midwifery at University was something I had previously never thought possible, but I have the opportunity to complete a degree that I had I had in the past only dreamt of doing.

Along with the support of my husband and children, this Scholarship will help me fund some of the costs of studying externally. Being awarded this Scholarship has extra special meaning to it, as it was actually Dr. Ben that encouraged me to look further into making my dream a reality, and told me about the pathways that I could take to gain entry into University. I am extremely grateful and honoured to have been given this wonderful opportunity.”

Josh Clasohm was the 2021 recipient of the Dr. Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship. He is completing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Adelaide and has just finished his first year of study.

Josh said: “The Foundation Barossa Scholarship has helped immensely this year, providing me with financial support in a challenging year of moving out of my family home for the first time and balancing a large study load. The scholarship has also allowed me to purchase many study materials and crucial textbooks that have assisted greatly in my studies throughout 2021.

It is incredibly reassuring knowing I have the support of Foundation Barossa to pursue my passions and career dreams.

It has been extremely humbling to receive the Dr Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship as I understand his importance to the Barossa community and the lasting positive impact he has had on so many people’s lives.”

Jacqueline Henschke was the inaugural recipient of the Dr Ben Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund. Jacqueline has a strong connection to the Barossa and is an active participant in several community groups. The scholarship will support her to finish her Bachelor of Social Work.

“I feel extremely honoured to be the recipient of the scholarship. Dr Baker was a much-loved GP for my family through some difficult times, so this scholarship touches me not only professionally but personally”, she said.

“It also gives me great encouragement, that despite the challenges I face, I have the support of the Foundation Barossa and the Angaston Medical Centre Partners to follow my passion and vision for the future”.