Macey Phegan announced Peter Marks Scholarship winner

A passion for helping people has seen Macey Phegan named this year’s Peter Marks Scholarship recipient.

The Moama resident will take on this year’s Fairley Leadership Program as the winner of Committee for Echuca Moama’s (C4EM) Peter Marks Scholarship.

The announcement was made at the program’s launch at Rich River Golf Club last night.

Macey is relatively new to Echuca Moama, but has a regional background, having grown up in Wagga. After six years in Melbourne, studying a Bachelor of Applied Science and Masters of Occupational Therapy and working, Macey and her partner, schoolteacher Darcy Dullard, returned to his hometown last year.

‘It’s lovely to be back in a small country town,’ she said. ‘The city has it’s perks, but I’m really looking forward to getting to know the locals and joining the community.’

Macey works in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and is a generalist OT, meaning she helps people from 0-67.

‘I was always very passionate about wanting to help people,’ she said. ‘I knew I wanted to work in some sort of philanthropic role. Initially I thought psychology, but I ended up taking a different route and chose occupational therapy.’

Macy works for herself, however she has recently teamed up with Jason Clymo to launch JM Pathways.

‘We help NDIS participants to identify their career interests, set goals, develop job-related skills, organise and support work experience opportunities, apply for traineeships and apprenticeships, and apply for jobs, university or TAFE,’ Macey said.

‘I love it. We identify employment-related goals of each person and their passions. What are they interested in? Do they like working with their hands? Do they want to go to university? I’ve found the transition program to university is not often spoken about.’

Macey said she was looking forward to meeting like-minded people during the Fairley program.

‘We just had our first two-day opening leadership intensive which was really good,’ she said. ‘It was engaging and gave me time to reflect on what leadership looks like.

‘I am honoured to have been chosen for the Peter Marks Scholarship and would like to thank C4EM for the opportunity.’

The Peter Marks Scholarship honours the memory of Peter Marks, a long-time C4EM board member and recognised community leader. C4EM is committed to supporting and growing our future leaders by providing the financial assistance to cover the enrolment costs for completing the Fairley Leadership Program beginning in March each year. 

The Fairley Leadership Program has been running since 1997 and explores leadership and community building and enables participants to realise their potential and demonstrate community leadership in action.

For more details about Fairley Leadership and how to apply for the 2025 program, visit GMCL | Home (goulburnmurraycommunityleadership.com.au)