The scholarship was established by past students of North Sydney Technical High School which closed in 1969, four years after Doonside Technology High School was founded. After closure of the school, a thriving alumni association – The Old Lions – was established and through the next 50 years The Old Lions held an Annual Alumni Dinner and produced an alumni newsletter.
On the 50th Anniversary of the closure of North Sydney Tech., it was decided to wind up The Old Lions (no one was getting younger) and at the final luncheon, attended by some 300 Old Lions, the decision was made to create a scholarship fund from the funds raised by the Old Lions.