The estate of the late Anthony Cowley, a well known Campbelltown accountant, has made a $1.25 million bequest to Western Sydney University (WSU).
It’s the largest gift in a will ever left to the university in its 35-year history.
This significant bequest represents an enduring legacy for the Cowley family that will provide meaningful support for research and future generations of students at WSU.
This bequest will help establish endowed scholarships, ensuring perpetual support for students studying accounting and medicine.
These include two undergraduate scholarships titled Anthony Cowley and Margaret June Cowley Scholarships in Accounting, and a PhD scholarship titled Anthony Cowley and Margaret June Cowley PhD Scholarship in Medicine.
Mr Cowley was a retired tax agent who operated his own accounting practice, passing away at the age of 96 in 2023.
He was married to his wife Margaret for nearly 66 years; she passed away 10 years earlier.
Mr Cowley spent his later years in Gilead, and was aware of WSU’s Campbelltown campus serving South Western Sydney.
He was committed to supporting education in the region, with his generosity warmly received by the university.
Mr Cowley’s son, Paul, said he was honoured to carry out his father’s wishes that will set future students up for success.
“He was a simple man. He worked hard all his life to provide for his family and he was in a position at the end of his life to extend that beyond his family,” Paul Crowley said.
“We are deeply grateful for this remarkable bequest,’’ said WSU chancellor, Professor Jennifer Westacott.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor George Williams, echoed her comments.
“We are sincerely thankful for the opportunity to expand access to education to even more students across the region,” he said.