Aspiring Margaret River engineer will be putting his skills to the test after receiving a major scholarship

An aspiring engineer from Margaret River will be putting his skills to the test after receiving a major scholarship. Thomas Hage has been announced as the recipient of the Southern Ports-backed 2025 Steve Lewis Regional Scholarship, providing full financial support over the four years of his Bachelor of Engineering studies at Curtin University. Mr Hage said receiving the scholarship was “life-changing”, and when he heard the news he was a successful recipient, he literally jumped for joy. “With the amount of study that I’m doing at the moment it’s a relief not having to add part-time work to that as well,” he said. “To be able dedicate my time outside of classes to study or work experience opportunities is a massive bonus that will really set me up for the future. “This scholarship will give me an added sense of stability in my life.” The scholarship was established in 2023 to recognise the legacy of former Southern Ports CEO Steve Lewis after more than two decades in the ports sector. Mr Hage is the second recipient, with a stipend per semester totalling $112,000. He is guaranteed the opportunity to be mentored by the Southern Ports team, and will have a place for paid vacation work while completing his undergraduate degree. “I’m equally excited about the opportunity to get hands-on experience and learn from people already working in my field as I am about the financial support,” Mr Hage said. Southern Ports CEO Keith Wilks said there was great talent in the regions, and the applications for the scholarship were proof of that. “It’s great to see another fantastic recipient coming through the scholarship program — particularly in the engineering field, which is a critical function to our business and ensures that our diverse and complex infrastructure and assets are fit-for-purpose,” he said. “I’ll be thrilled to learn even more about Thomas over the coming years as we welcome him into the Southern Ports team.” Curtin University chief advancement officer John Fitzgerald said the university was grateful to partner with Southern Ports to deliver the scholarship. “Their generous support and ongoing commitment to the scholarship are helping make a real difference in empowering regional students to pursue their higher education dreams and reach their full potential,” he said. “We deeply value this partnership and the shared vision we have for creating meaningful opportunities for students who may otherwise face significant barriers to further study.” Applications were open to students relocating from the three Southern Ports regions, helping them complete undergraduate degrees in the faculties of Science and Engineering or Business and Law at either Curtin’s Bentley or Kalgoorlie campuses.