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It is less than 12 months since Ivan - a former St Bernard’s Primary School teacher - died, and Mr Ragg is working hard to ensure his memory lives on.

Mr Ragg is the driving force behind the Apex Ivan Bandur Scholarship Trust.

“We decided it was important to keep something going in Ivan’s honour,” Mr Ragg said.

“He loved his work, so we thought the Ivan Bandur Scholarship Trust was fitting.”

The purpose of the scholarship is to increase opportunities for local students who are studying to become teachers.

Applicants will have an opportunity to compete for a $2500, one-year, Diploma of Education scholarship at Wollongong University’s Batemans Bay campus.

Mr Ragg said this was the first year the 12-month curriculum had been offered at the Batemans Bay campus.

“Because so many people have to go away to study, we are hoping it will encourage someone to stay local,” he said.

In the long-term, Mr Ragg’s goal is to make the scholarship self-funding.

“If we can raise between $30,000 and $50,000, the interest will ensure the scholarship can keep running,” he said.

“It’s going well so far. We had a lot of people give money at the funeral. People have been very generous.”

Mr Ragg is running a raffle with first prize a KTM450 motorbike and second prize a 50cc minibike. Tickets cost $5 each and the winner will be drawn in July.

“We will probably need to organise some fundraiser nights down the track but we will wait and see how we go with the raffle,” he said.

“From the Batehaven IGA community chest we were given $1800. It’s just amazing how much people are prepared to give in honour of Ivan.”