Sarah's dream
Support Sarah's dream
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Founded in honour of aspiring pilot Sarah Liu, Sarah's Dream supports RMIT students with a passion for flying.
Helping pilots-in-training achieve their dreams and know no limits, Sarah's Dream was established in memory of the late Sarah Liu. It aims to carry on Sarah's dream of flying and share it with other aspiring pilots, so they can soar to new heights.
Supporting RMIT Flight training
Sarah during one of her flights
Each year, Sarah's Dream supports RMIT Flight Training through the following gifts:
The Sarah's Dream Scholarship, which awards $10,000 to an exemplary aviation student who has successfully completed the first year of flight training and requires financial support.
The Sarah's Dream Teaching Award, which awards $3,000 to an RMIT Flight Training staff member in recognition of their outstanding contribution to teaching.
Five Student Achievement Prizes of specialty headsets or pilot-related equipment and a Sarah's Dream Pilot's Logbook, awarded to the top performing students in the course.
The impact of Sarah's Dream
Varinder Sohi is the proud recipient of the Sarah's Dream Teaching Award. A Program Coordinator at RMIT Flight Training, Varinder was honoured to receive the award.
"The scholarship has changed my life, our student's experience...It's been a great support and for that I am deeply thankful."
Benjamin King is the proud recipient of the Sarah's Dream Scholarship. A born pilot, Benjamin hopes to become an RMIT Flight Training instructor, sharing his passion and knowledge with aviation enthusiasts.
"This scholarship came at a time where I was being tested to my limits. These past six months have been the hardest thing I've done in my life. Receiving this scholarship instilled in me the thought that I'm not alone in what I'm working towards and that somebody completely unrelated to me believes in me also. It was the greatest motivation I could ask for."
In memory of Sarah Liu
Sarah in her RMIT flight uniform
Sarah with her younger brother
Sarah had a passion for baking
From a young age, Sarah Liu wanted to be an 'extraordinary person'. Born with strong ambitions, brave dreams and a kind heart, Sarah was more than extraordinary to all who knew her.
Moving with her family from Hong Kong to Australia when she was seven years old, Sarah fell in love with her new home. She quickly settled into Melbourne life, excelling at school, making good friends and connecting with teachers.
When she wasn't studying, Sarah pursued many passions: baking, giving back and flying were three highlights. A prolific baker, Sarah delighted her fellow RMIT students and teachers with delicious cupcakes, muffins and cookies.
"Sarah loved to bake and had a certificate in baking. She made amazing creations that were just like professional cake bakers'," said Mrs Liu.
From giving out treats to giving back, Sarah always put others first. As a child, she volunteered to teach basketball. As a young woman, she donated blood regularly and proudly shared that she was a registered organ donor.
My daughter had a lot of love for people and for our society, Sarah used to say you can't be too selfish. There are many who need help.
- Mrs Liu, Sarah's mother
When she wasn't reaching new compassionate heights, Sarah was pursuing her ultimate dream of flying. A dedicated student, she was universally loved and respected by her peers and instructors in the RMIT Flight Training community.
"Sarah aspired to be a pilot from a very young age. At the age of 12 she wrote her goal to do 'everything that I can do to make me a pilot'. When Sarah was accepted into RMIT Flight Training, she almost didn't believe it. She asked her mum to take her to Point Cook so she could confirm that the offer was real! It was only then Sarah told her friends that her dream was coming true", said Mr Liu.
Sarah worked hard to make her dream of being a pilot for the Australian Defence Force a reality and the nine months she spent in the Flight Training program were some of her happiest.
She loved the feeling of flying and the perspective you have seeing things from above. Sarah also felt a sense of honour in being a pilot.
When Sarah tragically passed away, the Liu family established Sarah's Dream in her honour to help other aspiring pilots achieve their dreams.
"In many ways, I see this fund as the embodiment of my daughter. It will have her traits of being energetic, aspirational, and concerned with giving back to society. We also want to highlight the importance of safety and vigilance when flying, that even a small error can have the gravest of consequences. I want to help more people and encourage more people to be like Sarah and pursue their dreams. That would make me happy," said Mr Liu.
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