Keith and Dorothy Mackay Honours Scholarship

Francis Keith Mackay, known as Darby, was born on 7th April 1895 in Maitland. He married Kathleen Brodie in 1922 and lived at Scrumlo, east of Aberdeen. After Kathleens death in 1954, he married Dorothy Abbott. Darby was involved with the Mackay properties including Lawn Hill, Cuplacurapa, Mantuan Downs, Boonaldoon, Branga Plains and Scrumlo. Throughout his life, Darby loved and was most interested in birds and animals, and this interest continued right up until the time of his death. He was respected as having good judgement with sheep and cattle and their management, and as a breeder of stock horses, notably, Scrumlo Creamies. He was a member of the AJC and Vice-President for some time. In 1961, he contacted the late J.L.G. Johnstone in Armidale regarding setting up a trust for scholarships, to include The Armidale School and the University of New England. Funds given to UNE were to be used for both an Honours Scholarship for students who are prevented for financial reasons from completing an Honours course, and for travelling scholarships for postgraduate students. Darby Mackay died in Sydney on 5th June 1990, aged 95 years. Darby was known to have been very generous to people less fortunate than himself, however he shunned publicity, so the full extent of his generosity will never be known.

Eligibility

Academic merit; Financial need; Responses to the application questions; Australian Citizen/Permanent Resident: The applicant must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident as defined by the Commonwealth