Westpac/AgForce Bursary gives Ag Student a Boost
A new joint initiative between Westpac and AgForce will give a regional Queensland student a helping hand in the final year of her Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree specialising in Rural Technology at The University of Queensland's Gatton Campus.
Leesa Muller from Rolleston, has won the bursary valued at $5000 which is available to final year University of Queensland students studying the specific disciplines related to rural Queensland.
Leesa has lived on her family's cattle property for her whole life and recognises the benefits of living on the land. She has been involved in the management of the property since a young age and feels that this has provided her with invaluable experience.
Westpac's Agribusiness Advisor Ian Buck said the bursary aimed to create stronger rural communities through fostering increased youth participation in agriculture and increasing the involvement of young people within those peak industry bodies such as AgForce.
AgForce chief executive officer Michael O'Neill said the high calibre of all the bursary applicants this year had made it extremely difficult for the assessment panel to choose a recipient.
"But the number and high standard of applicants was encouraging because it signals an interest by young people in agriculture as a career and that augers well for the future of Australian agriculture," he said.
Leesa said the youth of Australia needed to be given opportunities in agriculture at a young age to foster interest in agricultural industries and incorporate new ideas into management.
"Receiving this bursary allows me to concentrate on completing my studies to the best of my ability and places me in a position ready for employment in agriculture in 2002," she said.
"I believe that my tertiary education has given me further agricultural insight, knowledge and skills to enable me to make a useful contribution to my family's agricultural business as well as the rural community.
Westpac and AgForce strongly believe young people are the key to their ongoing success and are pleased to provide University of Queensland students with a $5000 bursary that will further their career in rural industry.
