Advance Ashburton Community Foundation

12/10/2026

We extend a warm invitation to all in our Mid Canterbury community to attend the Advance Ashburton Community Foundation Annual Celebration.

We are thrilled to welcome home our keynote speaker - Superintendent Tony Hill, District Police Commander for Canterbury. Tony grew up in Mid Canterbury, attending Hampstead School, Ashburton Intermediate, and Ashburton College before joining the New Zealand Police in 1990. His first posting was in Whangārei and since then, Tony has worked many roles across New Zealand including a long stint in the CIB. Returning to Canterbury five years ago has brought Tony closer to family and into a role where he can support aspiring leaders and grow strong teams.

Julie Moffett, Ashburton District Councillor and Chair of the Ashburton Age Friendly Steering Group, will also speak about the development and progress of the Age Friendly Action Plan for the Ashburton District. As Julie says, "the age friendly ethos is really just reality friendly - ageing populations are the norm and people now live longer, so society needs to normalise life for older people. They're not the exception to the rule."

Outstanding young local soprano, Erin Connelly-Whyte, will showcase the talent that recently saw her named as the inaugural winner of the Honor McKellor Mentor Award, as well as first place in the Ōtautahi Aria.

We will also present the Jan Early Memorial Scholarship and Advance Ashburton Leader's Scholarship to our 2026 recipients.

All this and so much more!

Get your ticket to the Advance Ashburton Community Foundation Annual Celebration today - https://events.humanitix.com/advance-ashburton-community-foundation-annual-celebration-2026

There is no cost to attend thanks to the generous sponsorship of Argyle Welsh Finnigan and Forsyth Barr.

11/10/2026

It was a pleasure to attend 'Eclectic Epilogue', the final concert of the year for the Ashburton Musical Club this afternoon. The audience was treated to a contrasting programme featuring talented pianists from across the region, including Mark and Naomi in the photograph below.

Advance Ashburton Community Foundation currently has scholarships open for all types of further education, tertiary study, industry training and personal development. This includes the Graham Gunn Music Scholarship, and the Colin & Alison Crampton Music and Arts Scholarship.

We welcome applications from people of any age in Mid Canterbury to advance their education, knowledge or experience in Music or The Arts. These scholarships could enable the purchase of musical instruments or materials, tuition, examination or competition fees, or support expenses for tertiary study.

Applications are open now at https://www.advanceashburton.org.nz/ and close on 31st October 2026.

11/10/2026

08/10/2026

Advance Ashburton Community Foundation has applications open now for:
🩵 ANY type of tertiary study or further education
🩵 ANY type of personal development course
🩵 ANY type of industry training or apprenticeship

Apply now at www.advanceashburton.org.nz

Applications close 31st October 2026.

06/10/2026

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OPEN NOW!

Through the generosity of EA Networks Mid Canterbury, we are proud to offer the EA Networks Scholarship, specifically targeted to courses which could lead to a career in the electrical industry.

Up to two scholarships are available of $5,000 per year of undergraduate studies remaining for students in their second or subsequent years of study in:
⚡Electrical Engineering
⚡Information Technology
⚡Systems Management
⚡Human Resources
⚡Accounting
⚡Communications
⚡Safety Management

This scholarship may also include paid work during university holiday breaks to help cover study costs and provide valuable work experience.

Advance Ashburton Community Foundation has many great scholarships available for ALL TYPES of further education, tertiary study, industry training and personal development. Application forms and further information is available on our website: https://www.advanceashburton.org.nz/

Applications close 31st October 2026.

01/10/2026

Want to know more about Advance Ashburton Community Foundation?

Our Executive Officer, Carolyn, had a chat with Phill Hooper on the leaner up at the Ashburton Guardian this week about scholarships, leaving a gift in your will, and the upcoming Annual Celebration.

30/09/2026

SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN NOW!

If your plans for 2027 include further education, tertiary study, industry training or personal development, Advance Ashburton Community Foundation may have a scholarship for you.

Thanks to the generosity of local donors, Advance Ashburton offers scholarships ranging in value from $1,000 to $20,000, open to people based within Mid Canterbury.

The awards cover any type of tertiary education, alongside specific scholarships for study in health science, nursing, environmental studies, audiology, music, arts, agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture.

Some scholarships, reflecting the wishes of individual donors, are targeted towards applicants of Māori or Pasifika descent, those living in Tinwald, people who are hearing impaired, newcomers to the Ashburton District, or those facing significant financial hardship or other disadvantage.

While a number of scholarships are available to first-year students, many are reserved for those in their second or subsequent year of study. Applicants who missed out in previous years are encouraged to apply again.

Scholarships aren't limited to university or polytechnic study. Industry training scholarships support people undertaking vocational training or trade apprenticeships of any kind, and personal development scholarships can cover course fees for experiences such as Outward Bound or Spirit of Adventure.

Whatever your study or training plans, there could be funding to help you get there.

Applications for 2027 scholarships close on Saturday 31 October 2026.

For further information and application forms, visit www.advanceashburton.org.nz, phone 03 307 5902, or call in to the Advance Ashburton office at 161 Burnett Street, Ashburton (Level 2, Somerset House).