One of Darwin’s pioneer residents is taking a creative approach to sponsoring two university scholarships that reflect his lifelong passion for the arts.
The Edgar Dunis Arts Scholarships will assist two students complete their visual arts degrees on the Darwin and Alice Springs campuses of Charles Darwin University (CDU).
Mr Dunis’ sponsorship is in the form of a portfolio of bank shares, from which the two $5000 scholarships will be drawn each year.
He has previously sponsored CDU by donating industrial land in Darwin which is now rented out.
The Latavia-born engineer came to Darwin after the war, working as an electrical engineer for the Government.
Now aged 86, he has had a long connection with Charles Darwin University, completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1986.
He has been a member of the CDU Foundation since 2000 and an Alumnus since its inception in 2001.
His introduction to the visual arts was the result of a stint as a life model for arts students.
He became passionate about sculpture and despite failing sight continues to create sculptures from driftwood and other found materials at his home in Fannie Bay.
Another related interest has been the making of canoes, which he paddled from Katherine to the Daly River police station on many occasions.
Further information on the Dunis visual arts scholarships is available from CDU’s Scholarship Office on 8946 6442 or e-mail scholarships@cdu.edu.au.