Scholarships Appeal

Among alumni, there is an overwhelming feeling of warmth towards Perth Modern School, and gratitude for the extraordinary educational opportunities is provided as a selective school." This is the opening statement of the recommendations in the Scholarship Fund feasibility study (May 2009) by consultants Agnew Associates Pty Ltd that was commissioned by the Board of the Sphinx Foundation Inc.

The report explored the feasibility of conducting a Sphinx Foundation Scholarship Fund Appeal. Resulting from this report, the PMS Council Meeting on 13 July 2009 resolved:

That the Council supports the establishment of a Sphinx Scholarship Scheme as recommended in the decisions of the PMS Scholarship Committee (especially decisions 1 – 12 of 4 Dec 2006), bearing in mind the recommendations of the ‘Feasibility Study for a Scholarship Fund’ (May 2009).
That the purpose of the general scholarships be advertised (in line with the School’s Educational Framework 2009 – 2011) as: To support the growth of individual students to their full academic, intellectual, social and physical potential.
That the Council supports recommendations 1 and 2 of the Feasibility Study for a Scholarship Fund.
1. That the Perth Modernian Society work to develop an integrated approach to advancement.
2. That the Society create a cohesive advancement strategy that includes alumni relations, communications and fundraising.
  That is, the PMS Council, the Sphinx Foundation and the School develop this integrated approach.
That a single advancement database related to School Alumni activities be established, depending upon feasible costs and resources.
That the Council supports the Recommendation that a bequest programme be initiated as soon as possible to formally initiate the Sphinx Scholarship scheme.

Donations and bequests are tax deductible

All donations and bequests to the Sphinx Foundation Scholarship Fund are tax deductible. If you can help, please contact us at SphinxScholarshipFund@PerthModernianSociety.org.au

Click HERE for further information.

Gift or bequest form: Bequest form Donation form

For further information, please contact:
Treasurer of the Sphinx Foundation Inc.
Tel. (08) 9487 1192
PO Box 1349, West Perth, WA 6872 (the registered box of the Sphinx Foundation)
Email: sphinxscholarships@perthmoderniansociety.org.au

What we want the Sphinx Foundation Scholarships to achieve:

a) Support for students to fulfil their potential:

ü Academic Excellence; Encourage talented WA students (City and Country) to choose Mod over other alternative schools.

ü Equity and Access: Encourage WA students in need: Criteria: Low income, Disability, English as Second language.

ü Encourage WA Aboriginal students to get a first class school education

ü Principal's discretionary Bursary Fund: Nominal 10 awards per annum of average value $400, for cases of special need, at the Principal's discretion

b) Build a sense of Community - 'it's good to be involved with your (local) public school'

c) Build a sense of Philanthropy - Bequests, Major Gifts, Annual Giving, etc.

d) To develop the 'badge of honour' concept for attending and being associated with Mod.

e) Teacher development - (long term goal): Bursaries to encourage teachers at Mod to deliver excellence in teaching and leadership.

Progress to date

Good news! As at June 2011, $136,000 had been donated or pledged towards the appeal target of $490,000. And $42,000 has been donated by Old Modernians John Down and the late Jim Cundill for subject areas scholarships (namely in Music and Creative Writing).

At the May 2011 Annual General Meeting of the Perth Modernian Society, the President Barrie Baker expressed the Society's enormous gratitude to the 36 donors who have given so far.

The Appeal will be on-going, and with your help the endowment fund will grow, but at the same time be dispersed as scholarships are awarded to deserving Perth Modern School students. In this regard, 13 worthy applications were received from students accepted for Year 8 in 2011. On 14 February 2011 - the school’s Centenary – the inaugural McCusker Scholarship (Academic Excellence) and the inaugural Perth Modernian Society Scholarship (Academic Excellence), each tenable for three years, were awarded to Jessica Knight and Brennan Smith respectively. Eleven Centenary Bursaries were also awarded. . At the Year 10 Honours Assembly in December 2010, on behalf of the donors and the Sphinx Foundation Inc., Barrie and Peter presented the second Daniel Girling Music Scholarship for 2010 (value $700) to Alexander Turley, and the Jean and Jim Cundill Creative Writing Scholarship for 2010 (value $1000) to Adrienne Petterson. The winners also each received a copy of “Perth Modern School: the history and the heritage”.

At the Society's 2011 Annual General Meeting, the Principal Lois Joll attested to the great inspirational and economic value of the Sphinx Scholarships, and accordingly encouraged further support from Old Modernians via donations or bequests.

Help! Volunteers with suitable skills (e.g. financial planning, legal) are needed to help advise and administer this fund. If you can help, please contact us at

Sphinx Foundation Inc., PO Box 1349, West Perth, WA 6872 AUSTRALIA

Telephone: (08) 9487 1192 Facsimile: (08) 9380 0550

Email: sphinxfoundation@perthmoderniansociety.org.au