CEF Success Story Inspires Critical New Partnership with AuctionsPlus

AuctionsPlus Market Operator Team Leader and Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEF) alumni, Millie George, has given back to the foundation that supported her through her studies, by inspiring a new partnership that will see CEF and AuctionsPlus work together to support regional and rural youth and communities.

Ms George has come a long way from growing up in her hometown of Nyngan, NSW, to now find herself working for AuctionsPlus in the “big smoke,” Sydney.

From her humble upbringing in Nyngan, Ms George applied for a CEF grant through her local CEF foundation, CEF Nyngan, to help her cover the costs of relocating all the way to Armidale, NSW, to study a Bachelor of Business at the University of New England (UNE), which she completed from 2019-2021.

She received a local grant of $1500 from CEF Nyngan, which was backed up by two scholarships through CEF’s national partnerships- $1000 from its partnership with the University of New England (UNE) Foundation, and $3000 from its partnership with Findex Community Fund.

This gave her an incredible $5500 to put towards her university studies, and cover costs such as travel, accommodation, and textbooks – expenses she would have needed to find a way to cover herself if not for CEF’s support.

She said the support she received from CEF was a lot more than just financial and was crucial in helping her complete her studies and eventually find employment at AuctionsPlus.

“My local CEF is so amazing, with the people already knowing me personally, the kindness, care and devotion they had whilst watching my journey is nothing short of amazing,” she said.

Ms George was employed by AuctionsPlus part-time during her final year of study. With her Dad having used them for livestock sales on their family farm, she decided to send in her resume and cover letter, and was offered a job.

“Within the week, I was interviewed and offered a job as a Market Operator. I started part-time from college as I finished my degree and then shortly after moved into a full-time role,” she said.

Given how much CEF helped her get to where she was, she said it was a no-brainer to recommend the organisation when she heard AuctionsPlus was looking for a charity to partner with.

“When we were discussing a partnership for AuctionsPlus, I thought the best business for us to invest in a partnership with would be CEF. As a leadership team we quickly decided CEF was well aligned with AuctionsPlus in that we are able to provide opportunities which benefits both our passions – regional Australia,” she said.

“Having myself as an alumni did help give us an insight to what CEF is and certainly did allow me to push for this to be put in motion, however it was definitely a group effort with my colleagues in the leadership team.”

“I definitely have a passion for regional education. I was so fortunate to receive CEF funding on two occasions.”