Academic Governance

Launceston born Neale Henry Edwards founded Neale Edwards Pty Ltd when he was just 26 years old.  The company commenced business in 1931 in Hobart, specializing in the export of skins and hides, and at its peak had branches throughout the State. Over that time Neale Edwards Pty Ltd developed broad interests in the agricultural sector by investing in wool scouring, fellmongering, meatworks, forestry companies, stock and station agents and in the Tasmanian agribusiness, Roberts Ltd.

The Neale Edwards family has generously determined to endow a scholarship at the University of Tasmania to support students to study in the agricultural sciences and forestry, and to encourage their interest and involvement in Tasmanian rural industries.

The Academic Senate of the University has agreed to the establishment of an endowed scholarship.  These are the rules:

Rules

1. An amount of $300,000 donated over three years by the family company Neale Edwards Pty Ltd to the University of Tasmania Foundation, together with any future donations and accrued interest, forms the endowment of a scholarship to be called the “Neale Edwards Scholarship in Agricultural Science & Forestry”. 
2. • The amounts referred to in Rule 1 will, for the purposes of these rules, be referred to as ‘the fund’; 
   • The income generated by the fund will be used to provide a scholarship for an eligible undergraduate or honours student in the School of Agricultural Science or the School of Plant Science;  
   • Any amount provided under Rule 2(b) above will be matched by the University of Tasmania Foundation from its General Scholarships Trust to meet the value of the scholarships offered annually through the program. 
3. The Scholarship will be awarded by a selection committee comprising: 
   • The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, or nominee; 
   • The Chair of the University of Tasmania Foundation, or nominee; 
   • Neale John Edwards or a nominee of the Edwards family (while he and his family wish to be involved); 
   • After the end of the involvement of Mr Edwards and his family, a person nominated by the Vice-Chancellor.
4. The selection committee will set the detailed selection and performance criteria with regard to the intention of the Edwards family in making the endowment.
5. The award is tenable for the remaining duration of the student’s course of study, subject to the student: 
   • continuing in full-time study at an undergraduate or honours level in a course in either agricultural science or forestry, or in part-time study approved by the selection committee; 
   • continuing to make satisfactory progress in the opinion of the selection committee; 
   • demonstrating an interest in the rural industry through their study options; 
   • not receiving another scholarship of significant value through the University of Tasmania. 
6. The Scholarships Management Committee will set the annual value of the scholarship from time to time, with regard to the income from the endowment.
7. The Scholarships Management Committee will determine all other matters concerning the scholarship, including advertising, application procedures and the method and time of payment.

Made by Academic Senate on 15 June 2007