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Future agronomist wins the 2005 Greenham Tasmania $10,000 scholarship

2005-04-26

Future agronomist wins the 2005 Greenham Tasmania $10,000 scholarship



A 19–year old future agronomist Jane Sykes, of Ringarooma in north–eastern Tasmania has won the 2005 Greenham Tasmania Scholarship of $10,000 for continuing education in the dairy and beef industries.

The annual $10,000 scholarship was instigated by Greenham Tasmania Pty Ltd two years ago to help young people prepare for a future in the Australian dairy or beef industries. Applications were assessed by a panel of independent judges, including Member for Murchison Tony Fletcher; Smithton High School principal Judy Lutwyche; DairyTas executive officer Mark Smith and Roger Tyshing, Manager of the Tresca Community Centre.

Described as hard–working, tenacious and goal–setting, Jane impressed the judging panel with her commitment to her studies and a willingness to contribute to the future support of the farming industry.

Jane, who believes that, with the right knowledge and applied sciences, “every farm can achieve”, started her studies at the University of Tasmania (Hobart) this year. She is keen to complete the four–year course to achieve a Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences majoring in either agronomy or animal nutrition.

“I love farm work,” Jane said. “Farming has been in our family, on my father’s side, for two or three generations in the North–east of Tasmania. I have lived all my life on the family farm a 430 head Jersey milking herd – and I have been working on the farm since I was six or seven years old.”

“While I really enjoy farm work, a few years ago I started looking at other ways to be involved in the industry,” Jane said. “I found that when I went to high school I had a growing interest and a bit of talent in science.”

“I am quite interested in animal health and nutrition and had thought of being a vet for a while but later, perhaps because of my farm background, I decided that agricultural science would be the ideal combination of farm work and the science that I really liked.

“So it wasn’t until I was about 16 or 17 that I considered going to University. It was then that I discovered the Agricultural Science course and I set myself a goal to get the subjects and marks to go to Uni.

“I’m not sure yet whether to choose agronomy or nutrition as the final path but I’m leaning towards agronomy.

“I think there is a shortage of agronomists in Tasmania, so I can imagine if I chose that as a study path I would find plenty of work,” Jane said.

“The scholarship will be very welcome to offset my education expenses this year. Most of it will go towards course fees, books and accommodation. I have had to move to Hobart to attend university.



“If I can spare some money I would also like to set up my own Jersey stud this year, providing I am able to travel home at least once every three weeks.”



Jane is hoping that once her studies are completed and she has her Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree, she will eventually find permanent employment in Tasmania.



“I would like to be based in Tasmania for at least some time after graduating although I imagine I would go to the mainland for a short time. But basically, I am planning to stay and work in Tasmania.”



Greenham manger Peter Greenham said Jane Sykes was exactly the kind of person the scholarship was meant to benefit.



“The aim of the scholarship is to encourage and help young people who are willing to make a commitment to farm industries and the future of dairy and beef farming in Tasmania,” Peter said.



“Jane has a record of hard work and dedication to both her studies and her farm work but she has also shown to have a greater commitment to the farming industry with her choice of career path.



“She has a strong future–focus and understands that nutrition, agronomy and microbiology will be very important sciences to the industries. And her involvement in local community activities demonstrates an interest in building social capital in the places she chooses to live and work.”



Peter said the scholarship was also a way for the company to support the Tasmanian meat and dairy industries and the local community.



“It’s a way of giving something back to the many farming families who had been supporters of the company since our start–up in February 2001, he said.



“It is especially rewarding when we feel that we have helped such dedicated and committed future industry champions and Jane,” Peter said.



The Greenham Tasmania Scholarship is an expansion of a similar program introduced in Victoria by HW Greenham and Sons in 2000.



Jane’s family has been supplying culled dairy cows to Greenham Tasmania, via its buying centre at Ringarooma, for some time now. Applicants for the scholarship had to be suppliers to the Smithton based company.



Among criteria considered were personal and academic achievements, potential benefits and relevance to the Australian dairy and beef farming industry of the chosen study area or career path and how important the scholarship might be in helping the applicant to undertake the study and potentially realise their ambitions.



For more information about the Greenham Tasmania Scholarship please contact Denis Surmon or Emma Angus on (08) 8272 8699 or 0416 215756.