Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) is proud to celebrate the remarkable journey of 2025–2026 RAAus and Airservices Scholarship recipient, Marion Sellers, whose determination, passion, and commitment to aviation have transformed a $2,500 scholarship into a series of life-changing opportunities.
Marion, now 16, first applied for an RAAus scholarship in 2024 at just 13 years of age. At the time, she had logged only three flying hours and was unsuccessful in her application. Rather than being discouraged, Marion used the experience as motivation. Over the following year, she increased her flight hours to 12, funding the majority of her training herself through after-school and weekend work at her local supermarket in the Riverina region of New South Wales.
When Marion learned she had been selected as a recipient of the 2025–2026 RAAus and Airservices Scholarship, the news was unforgettable.
“She was ecstatic beyond words can describe,” said her mother. “She opened the letter in our kitchen on our small farm in the Riverina and couldn’t believe it.”
The scholarship provided more than financial support—it gave Marion confidence, momentum, and validation that her aviation ambitions were achievable.
Determined to make the most of every opportunity, Marion committed herself fully to flight training with Airwings Flight Centre Narrandera under the guidance of instructors Craig Day and Chief Flying Instructor Bob Woodward. Early mornings
became routine, with Marion often arriving at the airfield by 6am and taking to the skies before most of her classmates had even started their day.
“Some mornings she had already completed circuits, touch-and-goes, forced landings and engine failures before her school friends had even woken up,” her mother recalled.
As her flying experience grew in the Jabiru J230, so did her willingness to embrace new challenges. Marion attended both four-day and ten-day Camden Air League camps, where she gained experience flying larger Piper and Cessna aircraft and operating in a more complex aviation environment.
Moving from the familiar surroundings of Narrandera to a controlled aerodrome with air traffic control introduced a new level of challenge—and a memorable lesson in radio communications.
After accidentally issuing herself a landing clearance over the radio, Marion earned the good-natured nickname “Captain Clearance” from her fellow students and air traffic controllers, a story that remains one of her favourite aviation memories.
The confidence gained through these experiences extended well beyond the cockpit. Marion later attended Space Camp USA in Alabama, where she was awarded the prestigious “Right Stuff” Award, recognising her leadership and teamwork. The award was voted on by camp staff, aerospace professionals, and fellow participants.
In another significant milestone, Marion was awarded a highly competitive scholarship to attend Wenona School in North Sydney for Years 11 and 12.
“Her commitment to flying and the recognition she received through the RAAus Aviation Scholarship undoubtedly played a significant role in her selection,” said her mother. “The opportunity was completely life-changing for our family.”
Today, Marion has accumulated 35 flight hours and is approaching her first solo flight. While the scholarship funds have now been fully utilised, their impact continues to be felt in every aspect of her aviation journey.
For Marion and her family, the value of the scholarship extends far beyond its financial contribution.
“It is very important for RAAus and the scholarship committee to understand what this scholarship has meant to her,” her mother said. “The life-changing milestones she has achieved, the people she has met, and the recognition she has received over the past 12 months are significantly attributed to her selection for the scholarship.”
“The confidence and commitment she gained through that leg-up from RAAus has opened doors we never imagined possible.”
As Marion continues her Year 11 studies and looks toward a future in aviation and aerodynamics, her story stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when passion, hard work, and opportunity come together.
“RAAus made it possible,” her mother said. “Marion and I will forever be grateful for the opportunities this scholarship has afforded her and so many other young people.”
At RAAus, stories like Marion’s are exactly why our scholarship program exists—to help aspiring aviators turn ambition into achievement and to ensure the next generation of aviation leaders can pursue their dreams.
