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Over a year after the sudden death of Heath Ledger and amidst Oscar buzz for his stunning portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight, some in Australia are creating inspiration from tragedy, through the Heath Ledger Scholarship. The Scholarship was awarded yesterday to Oliver Ackland, of Sydney, Australia.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the scholarship "is open to Australian citizens with 'initiative and exceptional talent' and an 'ability to convert ambitions to reality'… It will help fund the actor's tilt at a Hollywood career and open up doors to agents, managers, casting agents and other movie industry leaders in Los Angeles." Heath Ledger's father expressed his excitement to the Herald that "a talented Australian actor will gain valuable assistance to support their personal goals and an opportunity for recognition in the very tough US film industry."

Ackland, the lucky recipient of the scholarship, talked about his connection to and respect for Heath Ledger: "We were a similar age. He was someone I looked up to. He was someone who was doing it – and doing it his own way. He definitely inspired me."

By CGG Reporter, Shamsa Mangalji