From Narrogin to Oxford University, Michael Gentle awarded 2025 Australia-at-Large Rhodes Scholarship
A graduate raised in a small Wheatbelt town will soon begin his Masters degree at the prestigious University of Oxford thanks to an internationally renowned scholarship.
Michael Gentle was one of nine Australians to receive the Australia-at-Large Rhodes Scholarship 2025 to study at the university.
Raised on a hobby farm in Wandering, Mr Gentle said he had big aspirations as a child, which flourished when he moved to Narrogin Senior High School.
While representing NSHS at Youth parliament in 2018, Mr Gentle heard about the Australian Rhodes Scholarship.
His interest in politics led him to move to John Curtin College of the Arts for years 11 and 12 as NSHS did not offer the subject but soon changed course to English.
The 21-year-old remained in Fremantle and attended the University of Western Australia in 2021.
He then transferred to Melbourne University to complete his Bachelor of Arts in 2022.
Next year, he will study a Master of Studies in History of Art and Visual Culture and a Master of Studies in World Literature in English at Oxford University.
Mr Gentle said his family was ecstatic.
“My mum, dad, and siblings were all very excited and supportive,” he said.
“Mum is the most humble, kind, intelligent person I’ve ever met in my life — she can poke through and see exactly what you need to see which is a helpful sentiment to have when applying for these things because they feel very systematic.”
Camera IconAustralia-at-Large Rhodes Scholarship recipients Jason Lu, chair of the Australian-at-Large panel Justice Michelle Gordon AC, Michael Gentle, and Corey Blyth. Credit: David Fanner David Fanner
The student submitted his application two days before the August 12 closing date and was interviewed at Government House in Melbourne in late August before being announced as the Victorian Rhodes Scholarship runner-up.
Despite falling short in the State division, Mr Gentle went against 15 candidates for the Australian scholarship at the Government House in Canberra where he attended his final interview on October 29.
The Justice of the High Court informed him of his success the following day.
Mr Gentle said it was an emotional whirlwind.
“I was just in shock I didn’t believe it — very overwhelmed but filled with joy,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted to do things like this but never thought it would be possible from a financial or conceptual point of view.
“The lady said something very beautiful to me, ‘all the way from Narrogin, now you’re off to Oxford’, which felt affirming because all that hard work was worth it.”
Mr Gentle said he was inspired by the support he had in Narrogin growing up to pursue these enterprises.
“I feel very grateful for the educational experience I had at Narrogin and the wonderful care the teachers and the community had for one another was always really important,” he said.
“I had a conversation with Joan Armstrong who said ‘one day you’ll look back and all the poignant people in your life ring clear and true’ and that’s definitely happened.
“I had a wonderful English teacher in Year Seven, he was incredible and showed me my love of English and literature.
“My year 10 English teacher Ms Lavan encouraged me to pursue whatever I needed to do to bring joy.
“I’ve always believed in studying what brings you joy, there’s a narrative of studying something to get a job which I’ve never believed in.”
Camera IconDenise Lavan. Credit: Katanning Senior High School
Former NSHS English teacher Denise Lavan said she was in awe.
“I thought he’d always do big things, he had huge ambition and was prepared to put in the hard yards,” she said.
“I’m touched he remembered and that I had an impact on him.
“To think someone from Narrogin has achieved such an incredible thing — Narrogin can put you on the map and give you the skills, it’s a one-up for public education.”
The young art historian and curator plans to spend the next three to four years at Oxford dedicating his research to colonial Australian landscape portraiture and contemporary First Nations practice in literature and art.
Camera IconAustralia-at-Large Rhodes Scholarship interview panel, Government House secretaries, and the three Australia-at-Large Rhodes Scholarship recipients. Credit: David Fanner
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