General News
13 February, 2026
Backed by community, bound by friendship
THEY met the way many enduring friendships do in small regional schools: quietly, with a gentle nudge from a teacher who noticed two kids drifting on the margins. It was Year five. Seth Manns and Caleb Cassar were asked to sit together. Neither remembers the exact conversation that followed, only that it stuck. From there came shared classes, shared lunch tables, and the long companionship of high school years that were not always easy. Now, nearly a decade later, the two best mates are again stepping into the unknown side by side. They have left home, moved into a shared house in Melbourne, and are preparing to begin university with the support of scholarships from Youthrive Victoria, an organisation that backs young people who have faced significant hardship and shown resilience, leadership and potential.
For both, the moment when they found out they had successfully applied for the Chris and Marli Tilley Scholarship is still settling in.
“There was a lot of waiting,” Seth said, “A lot of nerves. When I found out, it felt like something unclenched. I didn’t realise how much pressure I’d been carrying until it was gone.”
Caleb remembers bracing himself for disappointment.
“I honestly didn’t think I’d get it,” he said, “When the call came, I was shocked. Then I thought, ‘That probably means Seth didn’t get it,’ and that was hard.
“And then he did get it, that was the best part.”
The scholarship — supported by locals Dr Andrew and Mrs Sue Cunningham — makes the boy’s dreams of tertiary education a reality.
The dual award was a first for Youthrive Victoria, and a reflection of the journeys both young men have taken.
Seth has lived with profound hearing impairment since childhood and now relies on cochlear implants. Alongside that, he has navigated family instability and trauma, and more recently has been diagnosed with complex PTSD and ADHD. He will begin a Bachelor of Nursing this year, driven by a desire to become the kind of support he once needed himself.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in medical settings,” he said, “You notice who really listens, that makes a difference.
“I want to be that person for someone else.”
Caleb’s path has been shaped by a turbulent family life, financial pressure and the loss of close relatives. Through school and community involvement, he earned a reputation as someone who showed up and took responsibility. He will begin studying science, with plans to major in physics.
“I didn’t always have control over what was happening around me,” he said, “But I learned early on that effort was something I could control.”
Both credit their regional upbringing for helping them reach this point.
“In a small town, people see you,” Seth said, “Teachers don’t just teach. They check in.”
Youthrive Victoria’s scholarship program is built on a “locals supporting locals” model, providing not only financial assistance but mentoring and connection as students transition from regional communities to city campuses.
For Seth and Caleb, that backing carries real weight.
“It’s not just money,” Seth said, “It’s trust someone saying they believe in you.”
Soon, the classrooms where they grew up will be replaced by lecture theatres and labs. Familiar faces will give way to the anonymity of the city. But the foundation remains.
Two mates. One shared history. And now, the chance to build something lasting, together.
Read More: Stawell