Australia: Outstanding young rural achievers with diverse goals for the future are this year’s winners of the NSW Farmers’ Association Tertiary Scholarship Awards.
The eight winners all share a passion for rural and regional NSW and the opportunities it provides. They each received $5000 at the Association’s Annual Conference.
NSW Farmers’ Association President Charles Armstrong says the judging panel is confident that the future of rural NSW is in good hands, following the high calibre of entrants.
“All the winners plan to use their talents and skills back in the bush and many of them are currently doing so already, showing their level of keenness and ambition,” Mr Armstrong said.
Applicants are asked to demonstrate a commitment to agriculture and rural communities; all round abilities, including leadership qualities and communication skills; and how their current studies will benefit rural life in the future.
The Scholarships are jointly funded by the Association and the Goobang Group – a group of farmers from Central West NSW who suffered losses in a bushfire at Goobang in 2001.
Goobang Scholarship winners include Tom Gorman from Queenbeyan, a Bachelor of Farm Business Management student at Marcus Oldham College Geelong; Josh Peffer of Molong, a Bachelor of Agricultural Science students at Charles Sturt University; Melissa Sullivan of Orange, a Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science student at Charles Sturt University; and Ellen Storrier of Hillston a Graduate Diploma of Education student at the University of New England, Armidale.
Tom Webb from Wodonga, a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) student at Charles Sturt University was awarded the John White Memorial Scholarship, in honour of former long-serving Association Chief Executive John White; while Jason Hunt of Moree, a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Commerce student at the Australian National University was awarded the EL O’Brien Scholarship, in honour of Walgett woolgrower EL O’Brien.
Other scholarship recipients are Tracey Johnston of Weethalle, a fourth year Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) student at Charles Sturt University and Jessica Wythes of Wagga Wagga, Bachelor of Education student at Charles Sturt University.
Source: http://www.nswfarmers.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/65783/150.10nr.pdf
