General News
19 February, 2026
Sights set high for Salt Creek scholar
WARRNAMBOOL’S Justin Hyland persevered through the tragedy of losing his father to claim this year’s Salt Creek scholarship.
The Brauer College graduate said he was “stoked” to have received the $37,500 scholarship at a presentation ceremony last Friday.
“I really feel like this is a big life-changer for me because I wouldn’t have been going to university this year without it,” he said.
“I would have had to replace a year of education with a year of full-time work just to go in the preceding year.
“I’m so grateful to be able to get straight into it, no lazing around or going through a forced procrastination because it’s unaffordable.
“It’s massive – going straight from high school to university helps me feel like I can keep that routine and not lose track.”
Justin will study a bachelor of science majoring in physics, with ambitions of pursing a career in engineering while keeping his options open in case he wants to pivot to a profession such as teaching.
Regardless of what decision he makes, his father Travis, who died last year in a farming accident, will be a guiding presence through the process.
“I have three years to figure it out, but the thing that inspired me was my dad,” he said.
“He was a fitter and turner so seeing him work on all the machinery, knowing how to fix and create things as much as he did, really inspired me.”
Engineering had been more than just a profession for Travis – it had been a point of connection between a likeminded father and son who enjoyed the challenges of building and fixing things.
“He was a great man – I really looked up to him and, as my father, he was the biggest male figure in my life,” Justin said.
“On top of that he was my friend and he was my mentor.
“I worked with him out on the farm helping him manage everything, building things and fixing fences.
“I really looked up to him and his attitude towards helping others and the dedication and hours he put into work.
“Even things that didn’t give him much of a benefit, he would do it if it made other people’s lives easier.”
Justin said his father was proud as punch knowing he intended to pursue a similar career path, seeing the potential in his son long before a scholarship panel could.
“He was really happy that I was wanting to help out on the farm and I was similar in the sense of wanting to purse engineering,” he said.
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“It made his life easier having another set of hands.”
Justin encouraged any high school students who are interested in attending university to apply for the next round of the Salt Creek scholarship.
“Just give it a go,” he said.
“I never thought I stood a chance but you don’t know unless you try.
“There’s no point in living with the regret of not trying – it’s easier to live with knowing you gave it your best, gave it a red-hot crack.”
The scholarship has now reached more than $250,000 supporting students in covering the cost of accommodation.
Salt Creek Marino Stud owner Peter Coy, the founder of the scholarship whose land Salt Creek Wind Farm is situated on, had been inspired to start the fund after seeing his own daughters struggl with the prohibitive costs of attending university.
He resolved to donate more than $15,000 each year to the fund, which Salt Creek Wind Farm developer Tilt Renewables quickly agreed to match.
Mr Coy said he was proud of the resilience Justin has shown to achieve among the best results at Brauer College despite the unimaginable pain of losing his father.
“It’s quite a remarkable achievement to get such a high VCE score when he was in shellshock,” he said.
“He’s a very bright kid, very strong in physics and wants to be an environmental engineer.”
Mr Coy said each year he was impressed seeing how many young people are passionate about getting involved in industries which help to shape the future.
“When they were building the wind turbines here, there were so many younger workers,” he said.
“The head engineer was a young woman from Tasmania and she was the only girl in her course – it’s a very masculine industry but she was the head honcho.
“I encouraged my granddaughter, who was pretty good with maths and physics, to do engineering.
“She did it, she loved it and now she’s out working in the wind industry herself in New South Wales.
“I think for a young person, engineering is a great course because you can walk straight out of university and into a good job.”
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