The Natalie Burton Memorial Award will this year go to seven students who have overcome adversity from seven Hawkesbury High Schools in a major expansion of the award in this, its 20th year.
Natalie Burton (pictured) was a Hawkesbury woman who achieved many extraordinary things despite a cancer diagnosis at 25 which sadly claimed her life when she was just 32, in 2003.
After finishing school as the Dux of Colo High in 1987, she completed two degrees to become a veterinarian. In 1994, Natalie received a fellowship to Cornell University in the USA where she studied epidemiology with leading academics in the field. In 1995, she was awarded the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists College Medal for her work in epidemiology.
Natalie had a profound sense of optimism towards her disease. She continued to follow her dreams, getting engaged, climbing in the Himalayas and cycling around Australia and overseas. She was posthumously awarded a Master's of Public Health degree.
Her family established the Natalie Burton Memorial Award in 2004, awarding one local high school student every year since.
This year, the family has decided to expand the award to provide more funds to more students.
Natalie's mother Elizabeth Turner and her fiancé's family, Julie, Alan and Jeff Lawrance, are passionate about the benefits of the award to the community.
"Natalie would have been very happy to know that her legacy has made a difference to young people in the Hawkesbury. Increasing the award's reach allows us to deliver greater impact to more students and honour Natalie's life in new ways," Elizabeth said.
The high schools who will each award a student in 2024 are:
1.Arndell Anglican College
2.Bede Polding College
3.Colo High School
4.Hawkesbury High School
5.Richmond Agricultural College
6.Richmond High School
7.Windsor High School
