University of Newcastle

Rotary District 9670 Margaret Illukol Trust Health Scholarship

Award value: $5000 annually

Level of study: Undergraduate / VET

Nationality: Australian and New Zealand

Closing date: 08 February 2026

Margaret Illukol was born in 1955 in Karimojong, a remote region in the north east of Uganda, where she was attacked by a hyena in 1963 and left with significant disfiguration. Margaret was treated over many years at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda before being assisted to come to Newcastle by Rotary District 967 in 1974. Newcastle Rotarian, Dr William Walker coordinated major reconstructive surgery for Margaret at Royal Newcastle Hospital. Rotary Clubs and individual Rotarians in the District funded her medical care, education and social integration. Margaret attended high school at St Joseph?s College, Lochinvar and then undertook studies in nursing at Gosford District Hospital, graduating in general nursing in 1983. She commenced work as a registered nurse at Royal Newcastle Hospital in 1984 and later at John Hunter Hospital and the Newcastle Mater Hospital. Margaret graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Newcastle in 1996. Margaret retained strong associations with Rotary and the families that supported her in Newcastle. Margaret died in 2015 and left her estate to the Rotary International District 9670 Inc to establish a Trust to be used for charitable purposes in the community within Rotary International District 9670 Inc boundaries. Rotary International District 9670 Inc has decided to honour Margaret?s life by establishing equity scholarships with the University of Newcastle for students enrolled in human health studies.