With the support of the Qld Government, grower-based organisations and peak industry bodies, more than $100,000 of scholarship funding has been made available to students interested in studying with Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges in 2017. The three scholarship recipients below have used previous funding to further their careers in their chosen fields of interest.
Wade Forster
Winton’s Wade Forster was awarded a scholarship to study at Longreach Pastoral College in 2016.
He had been attending boarding school in Townsville for five years, and was eager to return to the rural lifestyle on offer closer to home after he completed his secondary education.
“I plan to stay in the rural industry as I enjoy it, and it’s my family’s culture,” Mr Forster said.
“I chose to go to the Longreach Pastoral College to further my knowledge, especially in regards to the horse industry,” he said.
“The scholarship has enabled me to attend college. When I applied, our family properties were in severe drought and it was a difficult time for us financially.
“The scholarship has been a huge assistance to my family. I used it to pay my residential fees at college.”
Jordan Linsket
Rules Beach local Jordan Linsket, was awarded a Glencore scholarship for his studies at Emerald Agricultural College in 2016.
Mr Linsket is keen to enter the cropping sector and said he feels his studies will help put him on the right track.
“I think all of my study is good, but I particularly like cropping and operating machinery,” he said.
“I am thankful to Glencore for the scholarship as I have learnt a lot and feel I will achieve better results in life having attended college.”
Chloe Thomson
Chloe Thomson, Jimboomba, was awarded a scholarship to undertake the Northern Beef Industries Program at Longreach Pastoral College in 2016.
She studied agriculture and horticulture during high school, and during those years she took every opportunity to visit the property of a family friend at Roma.
“I hope when I get older that will be the sort of lifestyle I will be living,” Ms Thomson said.
“After I graduate from college my career aspirations are to work on a cattle station being a jillaroo, then ultimately I want to become a livestock agent,” she said.
“I was grateful to receive a scholarship as it helped me pay for my course at college.”