Scholarships awarded at Ag Fest
The annual Agfest event has provided the perfect setting for the celebration of excellence in the study of Agricultural Science.
The UTAS School of Agricultural Science and the Tasmanian Institute for Agricultural Research held a morning tea at Agfest today with the Minister of Primary Industries and Deputy Premier the Hon Bryan Green awarding scholarships in agriculture.
The event also thanked scholarship sponsors and celebrated scholarship recipients.
The 2011 Bert Campbell Memorial Scholarship in Agriculture was presented today to fourth-year student 21-year-old Sondra Leighton.
The Bert Campbell Memorial Scholarship is available to a student entering the final year of the degree – either year 3 of the Bachelor Agriculture (Business or Production) or year 4 of the Bachelor of Agricultural Science.
Bert Campbell was an innovative Tasmanian farmer who had a close affinity with the rural community and was a pioneer in harvesting, cereal production and the poppy industry.
Mr Campbell served as the Mayor of Latrobe for many years and was a founding member of the Agricultural Contractors of Tasmania. Members felt it appropriate that a scholarship be offered to support the development of young people in the Tasmanian agricultural sector as a fitting memorial to Mr Campbell.
The Robert Gatenby Memorial Trust Scholarship was presented to 25-year-old Sandra Bales who is in the second year of her Agricultural degree.
Robert Gatenby was an innovative Tasmanian farmer and horticulturalist before his early death in a light plane crash in 1992. Robert Gatenby’s estate, along with friends and associates, determined that a trust should be established to fund the development of talent in the Tasmanian agricultural sector.
Head of the UTAS School of Agricultural Science and Director of TIAR, Holger Meinke, extended his thanks to the scholarship providers.
“Their support is valuable to the School and our students and by extension the agricultural sector in Tasmania.
“These generous scholarships allow us to continue to nurture talented students and produce skilled graduates.”
Photo: 21-year-old Sondra Leighton was presented with the 2011 Bert Campbell Memorial Scholarship in Agriculture.