A scholarship will be offered during the financial year, 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, to the value of $2000. The objective of this award is to encourage a partnership between an individual researcher and a rugby league community to assist and enhance the operations of the latter. Topics could include an oral history project, a photographic exhibition, the development of a website and the creation of resources and documentation.

Scholarship application

The closing date for a scholarship application is Monday 9 June 2025. Applicants should make use of a Wes Smythe Application form on the Tom Brock website.

Outcomes

The holder of the Wes Smythe Award will be expected to provide a report of the activities to be submitted to the ASSH Bulletin and the Tom Brock website. In any publication which draws on Scholarship material, the Scholarship holder should acknowledge the support on the TBBC for this research.

Operation of the award

Applicants will be notified of outcome of the scholarship by early July 2025 and the details of the successful application will be posted on the Tom Brock website. The successful applicant will be paid $1000 at the time of this announcement. The holder of the Wes Smythe Award will be required to submit a final report on Scholarship outcomes by 1 July 2026. The final payment of $1000 to the Scholar will be made after the Scholarship Committee has accepted this report.