So today I received confirmation that The Pinnacle Foundation were willing to partially fund my trip to Amsterdam!

There were some stipulations though….

1. A minimum of $500 and a maximum of $1000 on the basis that you attract 2 for 1 funding from other sponsorship sources.  In other words that even if you do not raise any sponsorship funds Pinnacle will give you $500 but cap its total support including 2 for 1 at $1000.
2. Conference attendance must be recommended by academic staff.
3. Conference attendance budget be updated and advised to us if a variance materially alters it.
4. You must be a conference contributor (have your paper accepted by conference organisers)
5. A report be written by you on how your attendance/participation has benefitted your studies. The Foundation reserves the right to publish this report wholly or partly.

All of these, I am happy to oblige by. As it was, I was planning on writing a report for Pinnacle, weather or not they grant me funding to go or not. They are have been supporting my education for the last year, and have awarded me a scholarship for 2012, so I am happy to provide them with as much evidence as possible that their faith in me is well founded.

So. Should my abstract be accepted, I will be receiving AUD$500, and Pinnacle will match any other sponsorship up to an additional $500.

I currently have $650 put away, and will be able save $50 a week from my Centrelink, plus what I can earn from my new job (at McDonalds. Just shows how much I want to go, that I am willing to work there!).

Should I need to, I can always sell my trumpet (valued at $1500).

My funding proposal budgeted for about AUD$3000, at least for the flights and conference. Once the conference is over, my time in Belgium will be pretty cheap. I will only need to pay for travel (which will be around 100€, if not less, as well as a couple of meals. I intend on staying with friends and ex host-families).

So. Between now and the beginning of July, I need to

–       Get my paper accepted.

–       Raise around $500 in sponsorship

–       Save at least $2000

–       Get a new passport (mine is about to expire. At least Holland doesn’t require a visa!)

–       Book flights and accommodation soon, so not to lose the cheap flights or backpackers I have found

–       Still get good grades at uni, while working at Maccas flipping burgers!!!

Amsterdam, here I come!!!