Suzanne Lazaroo
5 December 2025: When University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ Bachelor of Nursing student Samantha Leeman received the email informing her that she had received an Audrey Thew Scholarship 2025, she looked out the window and saw a double rainbow – a special reminder of her late mother, whose experiences in aged care inspired Ms Leeman to become a nurse.
“At the time my mum was dying, we saw lots of rainbows. And it just felt like such a lovely connection, so special,” Ms Leeman said.
Ms Leeman and fellow second year Bachelor of Nursing student Benjamin Lueck are this year’s recipients of the University’s Audrey Thew Scholarship – which celebrates the passion, compassion, and quiet-but-mighty impact of the nurses who journey with patients.
Each recipient will receive $5,000.
Now in its second year, the eponymous scholarship was established by Peter Thew, in memory of his own late mother, Audrey – who was very appreciative of the nursing care she received in her life.
Born in ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥ in the 1930s, her father was a foreman at the Yarralumla Brickworks and the family lived nearby, surrounded by people who worked at the brickworks, helping to build ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥.
“I certainly hope she’d be proud of the scholarship,” Mr Thew said. “I know her friends and our family view it in a very positive light.
“I’ve had a few visits to hospital this year [myself] and I’ve been amazed by the proficiency the nursing staff have shown while they looked after myself and the other patients. Nurses do so much: listening, comforting, explaining what’s going on, and making sure people feel safe and cared for. Their efforts and dedication have truly impressed me.”
“Peter’s story of his mother reminded me of why I do what I do, in spite of the fact that it’s hard work,” said Mr Lueck. “It brought home the impact of the role of nurses, and reminded me that ultimately, I want to help create the environments that people like Audrey will be in.”
Born in ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥, Mr Lueck moved to Sydney in 2018 to complete a music degree.
“I finished my degree in 2021, but my first job was actually in the health sector, with headspace,” he said.
Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace provides early intervention mental health services for young people aged 12 to 25.
“I was working especially with LGBT kids, and realised that a front-facing role in healthcare, working with the LGBTIQA+ community was exactly what I wanted,” he said.
“As a profession, nursing is flexible enough that it allows you to be front-facing, while also moving into an administrative role if you decide you want to do that.”
Building relationships and providing support is a big part of nursing for Mr Lueck.
“From my own experiences, I know that people can feel a lot of fear and loneliness navigating health systems, and I want to help make people feel safe,” he said.
“I have loved every moment of my nursing study and experience – every placement is different, there are so many new ideas to explore, and so much established knowledge, generously shared by teachers and peers.”
For Ms Leeman, her foray into nursing has meant reskilling as a mature age student – and it’s not the first time she has charted a new course in life.
A former ballet dancer, Ms Leeman had performed around the globe. When an injury meant hanging up her pointe shoes, she returned to Australia and retrained as a ballet teacher and examiner.
And when she decided to become a nurse, she also stepped onto a new path with resilience and grace.
“I have felt very welcomed at UC, and appreciate that my years of life experience are valued,” she said. “It can be scary to give up something you know so well and step into something new, but the nursing profession has been very accepting.”
In 2020, Ms Leeman’s mother saw a decline in her health, and she moved into an aged care residence.
“She had such wonderful nurses caring for her there – they valued her for who she was and were such a comfort to us in Mum’s final days,” Ms Leeman said.
“But the aged care system itself was difficult to navigate, and I thought a lot of changes were needed. I wanted to be involved, to help somehow – but had no idea where to start.”
Three years later, the answer came with sudden clarity, in the last week of her mother’s life.
“My sister and I were sleeping on the floor of her room, and one morning I woke up and I knew … I just said ‘I’m going to be a nurse!’,” Ms Leeman said.
For Professor Jenny Weller-Newton, Head of School, Nursing and Midwifery at the Faculty of Health and a highly experienced nurse herself, it is nothing short of inspiring to hear the stories and see the passion driving the next generation of nurses.
“Nursing is one of the most trusted professions, and it is wonderful to see such beautiful people who are driven to make a difference,” she said.
Little wonder then that Professor Weller-Newton herself has dedicated her life to both making that difference for others, and empowering generations of nurses to do the same.
Both Ms Leeman and Mr Lueck are very grateful to have received the scholarship.
“The scholarship couldn’t have come at a better time for me, because my car was older than I am and I was very stressed about how I was going to get to classes and placements – so this has been a lifesaver!” Mr Lueck said.
For Ms Leeman, it will help with her placements, and with supporting her to be as self-sufficient as possible.
Mr Thew said that the impact of nurses stretches far beyond hospital walls, as they play a huge role in community education and support.
“I can only hope that [the scholarship] provides support to the students and, in the future, benefits a wider community by allowing the students to finish their course or training,” he said.
“It reminds me of the “pay it forward” adage: helping someone today will also provide help to others in the future.”
Want to learn more about making an impact by paying it forward? Visit the University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥’s Philanthropy page.
To explore some of the scholarships available at the University of ÃØÃÜÖ±²¥, visit the Scholarships page.