A commitment to education in Gippsland that spanned more than 30 years has been celebrated at TAFE Gippsland’s Bairnsdale campus with a gathering to remember the late Tim Weight.
Tim passed away in late 2021, after devoting a large proportion of his career to vocational education and training opportunities for Gippslanders, beginning in the early years of East Gippsland Community College of TAFE through to TAFE Gippsland as it’s known today.
Members of Tim’s family, TAFE Gippsland colleagues and industry representatives from throughout Gippsland gathered to remember Tim, to announce educational scholarships in his honour and also unveil a Seat of Learning under the oak tree at the Bairnsdale campus.
Tim Weight’s son Jonathan, daughter Anna, grand-daughter Romy, and son-in-law Robin, with (front) daughter Amelia and wife Jayne on the Seat of Learning in memory of Tim at the TAFE Gippsland Bairnsdale campus.
TAFE Gippsland Deputy Chairperson, former Chief Executive and long-time friend, Angela Hutson, told the gathering Tim knew that education changed people’s lives and he was dedicated to ensuring equal access to all.
“Tim understood that access, equity and inclusion were not buzz policy words. He demonstrated a philosophical commitment to changing people’s lives regardless of age, location, cultural background or gender,” she said.
“Importantly Tim was an outspoken advocate for the role TAFE plays in the social and economic development of the region and for regional and remote communities.”
In Tim’s honour, the annual Tim Weight Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to five Gippsland-based students studying with TAFE Gippsland to support them in achieving their vocational, academic and career goals by assisting with the costs of undertaking their TAFE qualification.
Successful recipients of this scholarship will each receive $2,000 to be put towards the costs of study, including accommodation, travel, learning materials and course expenses. The Scholarship will be open to students across our February and July intake periods each year.
The Seat of Learning is located under the magnificent old oak tree at the Bairnsdale campus, a place where Tim’s family and former colleagues hope students and visitors will gather for a chat or relax.
“Tim always made an effort to chat with staff, students and colleagues and importantly he listened with a Capital L,” Ms Hutson said.