These scholarships help alleviate financial pressure to facilitate a greater focus on university study. It also enables students to move away from home and study at a time when this may not have been otherwise possible, particularly during drought years and other times of hardship.
The Greg Graham Memorial Scholarship for 2020 is awarded to George Payne of Coleambally. George is in his second year of a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of Melbourne. George demonstrated a good understanding of the rice industry and its issues and is passionate about giving back to his community At the end of his studies George has a 2 year contract with Coleambally Irrigation and aspires to work in the rice industry. George says the $10,000 award will go towards his studies whilst he is living away from home.
The Peter Connor Book Award of $3000 is awarded to Nicholas O’Connor of Deniliquin. Nick is starting his second year of a Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management at Charles Sturt University's Wagga Wagga Campus. Nick is interested in agronomy and rice research, and expressed an interest in returning to Deniliquin after his studies.
In 2018
the eligibility criteria of the Greg Graham Memorial Scholarship was expanded
to include the rice growers who are non-RGA members to ensure more applicants
and greater goodwill is created for the whole rice industry from such a
scholarship.
The RGA wish all of the recipients the best of luck with their continuing studies.
Read more about the Greg Graham Memorial Scholarship (GGMS) and Peter Connor Book award.