Our Story

“Mum you have done the best any parent could ever do and that is give us a good education which enabled us to achieve and have a life that you could only have dreamed about.”

While in Longreach we were encouraged to play sport and became members of the local swimming club, I played junior football and played my first A grade game of cricket at the age of 16 with my father coming out of retirement at 52 to play with me. (Dad was a very good cricketer who was offered a contract early in his career to play in Brisbane but declined it to ensure our schooling wasn’t disrupted)

When mum and dad moved to Rockhampton in 1971 Pam and Leslie attended the local catholic high schools and then Tracey and Sue-Ann went to the catholic primary school.

My final two years at high school were paid for by the Qld Department of Native Affairs, I went to boarding school in Charters Towers. I managed to get a scholarship to university but didn’t go to uni for several years. I was a mature aged student when I became the first male Indigenous graduate from Central Queensland University with a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA), I went on to undertake a Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) at UNSW and then a Master of Laws (LLM) from Southern Cross University and enjoyed a career teaching law at several universities until I retired.

Mum and dad’s foresight has seen Patricia, Tracey, Sue-Ann and Leslie as well as I go on to higher studies and mum and dad’s grandchildren and great grandchildren have also undertaken tertiary education.

I set up this scholarship in honour of two of the most decent, hardworking, thoughtful people who endured much hardship in their life to give their children an opportunity that they never had, my parents Maureen and George Williams and to them I am eternally grateful. 

My older sister Patricia told me about a conversation she had with mum several years ago. Mum said, “I’m sorry that Georgie and I have nothing to leave you when we die.” Patsy's response was “Mum you have done the best any parent could ever do and that is give us a good education which enabled us to achieve and have a life that you could only have dreamed about.”

Kevin Williams BA (CQU) LLB (UNSW) LLM (SCU)