QUEENSLAND farm group AgForce will launch a new bursary in honour of Bollon grazier, the late Gus McGown, at an AgForce conference dinner in Toowoomba Thursday night.
Mr McGown battled tirelessly for landholders when the then Beattie and Bligh governments imposed increasingly draconian laws on Queensland agriculture from the late-1990s in a long running industry wrecking-campaign aimed at capturing the urban green vote.
Agforce will award the $5000 bursury to an eligible university student from the southern inland region involved in studies relating to agriculture.
Mr McGown, who became a well-known and respected face in departmental offices on George Street because of his tenacious approach to addressing flawed policy, died 12 months ago. His name became synonymous with weeds, trees, vegetation management and land tenure.
AgForce cattle president Bim Struss said AgForce was very keen to recognise the important role Gus played in tackling bad land management laws.
"Gus did such a good job for such a long time on behalf of landholders," Mr Struss said.
"He knew everyone that we needed to be in contact with and had a depth of knowledge of issues that was just so impressive.
"We see the bursary as a very fitting way of honouring the memory of one of rural Queensland's great contributors."
The award has been financed by the Maranoa Graziers Association Trust.
More information is available online.