Rotary Ag scholarship on offer

THE Rotary Club of Bendigo is accepting applications from students in the region for a scholarship to study agriculture at an Australian university.

Worth $4000, submissions are being accepted until Friday, 10 February with the successful applicant receiving $2000 a year for two years.

Rotary Club of Bendigo’s Bob Edgar said the scholarship was funded with money raised at an agricultural show and aims to give a local student a head start in the industry.

“The club works at the Sheep and Wool show here every year in July,” he said. “We do the occupational health and safety for that, and we put the money towards the scholarship.”

Four endowments have been awarded in past with students choosing to study at La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus or travel to study as far away as Muresk Agricultural College in Western Australia.

Mr Edgar said there is plenty of work out there for those interested in the ever-evolving agriculture and horticulture sectors, with more specialty fields becoming available.

“There are five jobs for every one graduate in agriculture at the moment and you get paid pretty well,” he said.

“The whole agricultural industry has changed, it’s not just family farms there are a lot of corporate ones now.

“They are looking for specialists in various areas and advice from consultants, they will get agronomists out to check the farms.”

Mr Edgar said the number of submissions for the scholarship are down this year, so Rotary Bendigo has extended the range of eligible applicants.

“We try to focus on Bendigo schools but this year we have extended it a little bit, due to floods and not having a great lot of applicants thus far,” he said.

“We are accepting application from places as far up as Rochester, Echuca and Swan Hill.

“The opportunity is there for anyone who wants to put their hand up.”

For further information and to apply head to rotarybendigo.org.au.