Gardiner Foundation supports tertiary dairy students

Gardiner Dairy Foundation is offering seven tertiary scholarships to students starting full-time study in 2022.

Each scholarship offers $10,000 a year for up to three years of a scholar's chosen university or TAFE course.

The tertiary scholarships are named in recognition of services to the dairy industry by Niel Black, Shirley Harlock, Jakob Malmo, Bill Pyle and Doug Weir.

Gardiner chief executive Clive Noble said the scholarships were aimed at students who want to pursue a career that will directly benefit the dairy industry or dairy communities.

"These scholarships invest in the education and training of young people from dairy communities who have the potential to contribute to a vibrant dairy industry and to dairy communities in the future," Dr Noble said.

"We encourage students to return to dairy regions with their tertiary qualifications to share their new skills.

"The scholarships help to overcome the financial disadvantage faced by rural students living away from home to study."

Hannah Thorson was awarded the Bill Pyle Tertiary Scholarship, which supported her in obtaining a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at La Trobe University in 2020.

"It's a very generous scholarship, so it was good to study without stressing about money," Hannah said.

"It was also a great help for my parents. Without it, they would have had to help a lot more, so they have been very grateful as well."

Related reading: Gardiner Foundation-funded program pays off

Veterinary graduate Mitchell Dodds received the Jakob Malmo Gardiner Foundation Tertiary Scholarship in 2014 and is now a practising vet at West Gippsland Vet Care in Warragul.

"From a financial point of view, the Gardiner Dairy Foundation Tertiary Scholarship enabled me to really focus on my degree," Mitchell said.

"It's difficult to work while studying veterinary medicine when you have 50 contact hours a week in the first two years of study."

Tertiary Scholarship applications are now open.

Related reading: Planning for a long-term future in dairying

To be eligible, students must start their first year of full-time tertiary study in 2022 and due to study commitments need to relocate from home.

To be successful, applicants will need to demonstrate intended future contributions to the dairy industry and communities as well as describe their community involvement and academic achievements to date.

Applications must be submitted by 5pm on November 19, 2021.