Andrew Nikolic (Bass, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am delighted to inform the House that a former student of the Launceston Church Grammar School, in my electorate of Bass, is one of three outstanding young Tasmanians awarded 2016 Rhodes scholarships. James Haw is currently a cavalry officer serving in the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment. He grew up in Launceston and, after completing his schooling, was accepted for officer training in the Australian Army. James graduated second in his class at Duntroon after graduating from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Arts first-class honours degree and the University Medal in Politics. James joins an elite list of people who have been awarded Rhodes scholarships and is one of the very few from the Australian Defence Force.

I had the pleasure of spending time with James recently in Launceston, discovering that he is an avid South-East Asianist. He has attended the Indonesian army military academy and Universitas Airlangga—the second-oldest university in Indonesia. At Oxford, James will study a Master of Philosophy in Social Anthropology, aimed at better understanding the impact of military operations in the world's tribal regions.

Interestingly, James is the 17th student from the Launceston Church Grammar School to become a Rhodes scholar. I congratulate him and the school on this wonderful achievement. I know his family in Launceston and many school friends will draw great pride from his outstanding academic career. I am sure the Australian Defence Force will benefit from his studies as a Rhodes scholar.