So when she was faced with deciding what she wanted to do after school, she said it was an easy choice.

“Sport was always something I looked forward to on the weekend,” Jaylee said.

“I just loved sport growing up, and although I wasn’t very good at it myself, I knew all the rules and background.

“I was watching and talking about sport all the time, then it clicked; I may as well make it a career and get paid for it.”

Jaylee was supported by the Hastings Education Fund (HEF) to complete a sports media degree at Canberra University, and the financial and emotional support became even more important when Jaylee’s dad passed away, just three weeks before she was due to move to Canberra.

“That was such a hard time in my life because I was already scared about the move,” she said.

“It was a nine-hour drive from my home and I was starting from scratch – making new friends, learning to get around a new city, getting homesick.

“It made a huge difference knowing I had the support from my local community.”

HEF is a local affiliate of the Country Education Foundation (CEF), which has supported more than 4000 rural and regional students for over 25 years, and HEF chair Jim O’Brien said the fund works to look after local students.

“HEF raises the funds for grants given to local students like Jaylee with support from businesses, organisations and individuals in the local community,” Mr O’Brien said.

“We also organise an annual charity golf day, generously hosted by the Port Macquarie Golf Club and Port Macquarie Golf Veterans.”

This year, it will be held on Sunday, May 27, from 11 am with individuals and teams of four encouraged to register as soon as possible at the Port Macquarie Golf Club, for just $20 a person.

“We also have a great raffle and prizes for the golfers, again generously donated by local and Sydney businesses,” he said.

Come along and help an organisation that supports our young people in gaining an education.