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Two law students from the University of Wollongong have received bursaries in memory of a former student who died tragically of epilepsy.

The St George Sutherland Law Society established the Cameron O’Brien Memorial Bursary in 2013, in memory of Cameron O’Brien, a commerce/law student from the Sutherland Shire who tragically passed away in 2012 during his fourth year of study. Cameron was the son of His Honour Judge Chris O’Brien, a past-President and life member of the regional law society.

The annual award recognises a fourth-year law student from the St George and Sutherland area attending the University of Wollongong (UOW).

This year, the $3,000 bursary was awarded to Law/Commerce student Jacob Moussa (photo above, centre) for his community involvement and impressive charity work – including with the Red Cross, For the Girls of Granada and the World’s Greatest Shave. Moussa suffers from a neuromuscular condition and, despite this adversity, has achieved outstanding academic records with a high distinction and several distinctions and credits to his name.

The law society also awarded a Highly Commended bursary in the sum of $1,500 to Arts/Law student Jenna Lennon (photo left), for her outstanding community involvement and academic achievements. Lennon plays representative softball for Sutherland Shire and has represented NSW at a national level, as well as volunteering as a local softball coach. She also finds time to also work at a local law firm as well as at a before- and after-school care centre.

By coincidence, Moussa and Lennon are good friends who have known each other since preschool, attending primary school, high school and now university together – a connection the judges did not realise until the awards were presented.

The awards were presented by Judge O’Brien (photo right) at the St George Sutherland Law Society’s Annual General Meeting, held in October in Gymea. President of the Law Society of NSW Richard Harvey and newly appointed CEO Sonja Stewart attended as guest speakers on the night.