Young men and women from Barcaldine, Dajarra, Blackall, the Sunshine Coast and Dalby are among the recipients of scholarships awarded to students enrolling in agricultural courses through Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges this year.
They include Cloe Gribble from Barcaldine, who plans to study horsemanship and station skills at the Emerald Agricultural College, Dakotah Davis from the Sunshine Coast, who will also be studying at Emerald, doing rural industry practices and sustainable agriskills, and Dalby’s Hamish Hutchings, who will put his scholarship towards the second year of a Pathways to Agricultural Careers and Education (PACE) program at Emerald.
Patrick Warn from Dajarra will be undertaking the northern beef industries program at the Longreach Pastoral College, while Blackall’s Blake Arnold will undertake a PACE program at Longreach.
Over $100 000 in scholarships have been awarded altogether, to 22 students from across Queensland and New South Wales, who were presented with bursaries ranging from $1000 to $10,000 to help them work towards their career goals.
“Our students have been generously supported by the Queensland department of agriculture and fisheries, grower-based organisations such as the Central Highlands Cotton Growers and Irrigators Association, peak industry bodies including Meat and Livestock Australia and Cotton Australia, and mining companies Glencore and Ensham Resources,” explained QATC CEO, Mark Tobin.
From a diverse field of submissions, the scholarship winners were selected on the basis of an evident passion for agriculture and a dedication to pursuing careers in regional Australia.
The recipients expressed interest in putting their scholarships towards a range of programs – from the two-year PACE program for senior high school students, through to horsemanship or livestock focused certificate qualifications, and the three year CQUniversity Bachelor of Agriculture delivered in partnership with QATC.
“We are pleased to see the varying array of interests held by these young students. Some are opting for an across-the-board approach to their training, eager to experience as much as possible before honing in on a specific agricultural interest,” Mr Tobin said.
PATRICK WARN
Meat and Livestock Australia scholarship recipient Patrick Warn, Cloncurry, is passionate about all aspects of rural life and convinced the judging panel that by choosing him for a scholarship, it would “be money well spent as you [are] investing in the future of a young man from the bush who intends to follow in his ancestor’s footsteps and build a successful career in the beef industry in Australia”.
He opted for the Northern Beef Industries Program based at the Longreach Pastoral College, as he feels it will be an excellent platform to kickstart his career.
Patrick is grateful for some financial assistance to work towards his career.
“This scholarship will help me fulfil my dream of working on the land. My goal after completing this program is to gain employment on a large cattle station in northern Australia and work my way up the ladder into leadership and management roles,” said Patrick.
DAKOTAH DAVIS
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries scholarship recipient Dakotah Davis, Mt Delaney, wants to concentrate on agricultural practices needed to sustain future growth with limited resources, and chose the Rural Industry Practices and Sustainable Agriskills program at based at the Emerald Agricultural College.
“I know there is a future in Australian agriculture, and it is the only lifestyle I have ever known or wanted. I want to provide solutions to the young farming community rather than the idea that the only success they can have is to leave the industry.”
Dakotah is thankful for the financial assistance that will help her get to college.
“This scholarship will allow me to relocate from the Sunshine Coast to live on campus at Emerald. Without assistance it would be near impossible to make such a large move and support myself,” she explained.
HAMISH HUTCHINGS
CHCG&IA and Cotton Australia scholarship recipient Hamish Hutchings, Dalby, aims to own and manage a successful farming enterprise in the cotton industry. His interest in an agricultural career stems from helping out with the family’s rural enterprises while growing up.
“I have worked on the family farm and in the contracting business as much as possible while still at school. This is where my passion for agriculture, particularly producing crops, began,” said Hamish.
Hamish completed Year 11 of the PACE program at Emerald last year, and is grateful for the financial assistance that will allow him to continue his senior studies in 2017.
CLOE GRIBBLE
Glencore Agricultural Scholarship recipient Cloe Gribble, Barcaldine, decided that the 2017 Horsemanship and Station Skills program based at Emerald Agricultural College was right for her.
“I have a keen interest in horses. I’ve competed in shows, campdrafts, gymkhanas, barrel racing, and horse camps, and am eager to broaden my experience even further. This course will provide qualifications to achieve my future goals,” she said.
Cloe is appreciative of the financial assistance while she pursues her dream.
“This scholarship means I can direct my focus on my studies rather than worry about how I fund them,” she said.
BLAKE ARNOLD
Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries scholarship recipient Blake Arnold, Blackall, liked the idea of a practical education for his senior schooling, so he selected the PACE program.
“I am the type of person who learns from watching and doing. I believe I am quick to learn this way. I feel that the PACE program would be suited to me because it offers maths and English, which I will need for the future, as well as the thing that I am most interested in, which is agriculture.
“I am looking forward to learning a variety of things, working with horses and cattle and also learning about cropping.
“This scholarship will be a great help while I complete my schooling,” he said.
