News

Boot up for education

Mar 16, 2026

Student learning support officer Shannon Williams and Phoebe Crothers picturted during Deniliquin High School’s Boot Bash fundraiser last year.

Get the polish ready, it’s time to get those boots on for the Country Education Foundation Edward River Region again.

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After the success of the first local Boot Bash fundraiser in Deniliquin and district last year, the local branch has launched its 2026 fundraiser.

The aim of the CEF is to give rural and regional students a fair go at further education.

And you can help just by taking part in this fun and interactive national awareness and fundraising initiative.

Edward River Region committee member Mel Broadbent said the March fundraising drive aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by rural and regional students in accessing further education and training, as well as the funds needed to support them.

According to CEF CEO Wendy Mason, students from rural and regional Australia often face greater challenges in accessing tertiary education than their metropolitan peers.

“We know 82 per cent of CEF students have to move away from home to access further education or employment opportunities, and the cost of relocating from a regional area is a huge financial burden and a major barrier to higher education for many of the young people we support,” she said.

“The Boot Bash is a fun way for everyone to get behind CEF and raise awareness of the critical work our local foundations do to ensure rural and regional students get the support they need to undertake further education.

“We’re also encouraging people to pull on their favourite boots and donate to the campaign to give rural and regional youth a fair go at further education,” Ms Mason continues.“

In its first year participating in the Boot Bash, $500 was raised for the Edward River Region branch.

This helped contribute to the futures of Edward River-based students like Dakota (surname withheld for privacy reasons).

“This scholarship has given me the confidence to afford equipment and uniforms for my study and work without the sacrifice of other life essentials,” Dakota said.

“Reaching out to the local branch to ask questions or receive my benefits has been super easy! CEF have really helped me succeed.”

Mrs Broadbent said any donations made through March would be added to the 2026 Boot Bash Total, and she encouraged organisations and groups to host their own Boot Bash events to make the fundraising fun.

“Our branch is proud of the work we do behind the scenes to be able to financially support local students,” Mrs Broadbent said.

“This year we have supported more than 30 students with payments towards accommodation and travel costs, IT equipment, textbooks and tools for trade.

“Donations made to our branch throughout the Boot Bash campaign will be allocated to current students.”

To ‘sign up’ to host your own Boot Bash event, or to donate to the Edward River Region’s open fundraiser, go to https://www.cefbootbash.org.au/teams/cef-edward-river-region.