Now in its 13th year, the fund lends a financial helping hand to local students who are going on to tertiary education.

The 2016 scholarships totalled about $20,500.

Gunnedah deputy mayor Gae Swain said at the presentation of the scholarships at the Civic Theatre that the fund had been set up after it was found the region had the lowest number of people going on to further education.

“We think it’s hard for our young people from rural areas to tackle leaving home,” Cr Swain said.

She said Gunnedah was the only community in NSW to have such a fund, and it had helped 332 students with a total of $290,000.

Cr Swain said while there was no obligation for students to return to Gunnedah, it was hoped they would pass the benefits of their education on to rural NSW.

Gunnedah High School principal Shane Kelly agreed.

“If we can get quality trained people in rural areas it will be to the benefit of NSW,” he said.

Scholarship recipient Sarah Clark, a St Mary’s College graduate from 2014 who is now studying medicine, thanked the sponsors who made the fund possible.

“We all know how hard it can be to fund your own business, let alone a stranger’s education,” she said.

Sarah said while it had been daunting to leave Gunnedah, she did not regret it. “I am beyond proud of our town and will return to make a difference, just like this scholarship has made a difference to me,” she said.

Sarah said she originally dreamt of becoming a rural psychologist, but was now unsure what area of medicine she would specialise in.

Other recipients absent on the day not mentioned in the photographs were Ivy Watterson, Emmi Schillert and Linda McCann.