This award was established in 1925 through the will of Lissie Rathbone who bequeathed one half of her residuary estate for such charitable, education or religious objects as the Trustees should select. It is administered via the Victoria University Foundation.

The prize is offered to the top student at 100 level in English and/or History who in that year has also held the Victoria Excellence Scholarship or any other scholarship offered at entry level based on academic merit.

The award will alternate between the English and History Programmes each year.

No award will be made in any year in which there is no candidate of sufficient merit. If in any year the prize is not awarded, the funds may be used in a subsequent year.

Recipients will be asked to write a letter of thanks, which will be forwarded appropriately.

This prize is awarded to the top student in English and/or History at 100 level who has been a recipient for that year of a Victoria Excellence Scholarship (or any other scholarship offered at entry level based on academic merit) and who - at the time of the award - is enrolled in English and/or History at 200 level.

The recipient must be enrolled in 200-level English and/or History before payment can be made.