Urbanites vie for coveted beef industry award

Six young urban people keen to devote their lives to agriculture are vying for the coveted 2017 Norman Lethbridge Award.

For the first time in the award’s history, four scholarships to the Beef Assessment School at Tocal College will be presented to the winner, two runner-ups and recipient of the encouragement award.

This is the seventeenth year of the award honouring the late Norman Lethbridge, a highly regarded stock and station agent, and past secretary of the NSW State Committee of Angus Australia.

Facilitated by the NSW State Committee, the award is open to young people aged over 16 and under 25 years, residing within 200km of Sydney and studying agriculture or an agricultural subject, livestock auctioneering or stock and station agency.

The 2017 winner will receive a cash prize, complimentary junior membership to Angus Australia, the Norman Lethbridge trophy, a scholarship to the three-day Beef Assessment School at Tocal and a Certificate of Achievement.

Six finalists were interviewed by a judging panel on February 16, with the winner to be announced during the Angus judging on March 25 at the 2018 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

The Munro family, Booroomooka Angus stud, Bingara, have donated $2000 to the award, along with $2000 from the Erby family’s Forres Angus, Dungog, and $500 from philanthropist Gary Roberts, Potts Point.

Sub-committee members, Christine Erby, Mark Lucas, Simon Hennings and Richard Buck, have adjudicated over the award since its inception in 2002.

NSW State committee secretary Richard Buck said the award had attracted more than 200 applicants over the 16 years.

Mr Buck said many past winners had gone on to successfully establish careers in the beef and dairy industries, and agricultural research.

“Norman Lethbridge was well liked, would do anything for anyone and worked in the County of Cumberland,’’ he said.

“He was a great mentor to young people and taught rural commodities and stock and station agency courses part-time at TAFE colleges throughout the Sydney area.

“Norman served as secretary on the state committee from 1983 to 1994.

“A man of great integrity and old-fashioned charm, Norman was highly respected by his peers and clients alike for his knowledge of the land and its people, his loyalty to his profession and his honesty.’’

Schools and businesses who have nominated winning applicants include Caroline Chisolm College, Colo High School, Elders Goulburn, Gosford High School, Knox Grammar, Lisarow High School, Marian College, Northholm Grammar, Picton High School, Richmond High School, Richmond TAFE, The Scots School, St Catherine’s Catholic College and Tocal Agricultural College.

Mr Buck said the inaugural winner in 2002, Rachael Parkes, from Richmond High School, now runs the largest dairy farm in Queensland with her husband Ged Mullins.

Stuart Moeck, the 2003 winner, graduated from Richmond TAFE to establish Valley Creek Simmental at Bowral and Schofield.

The following year, the award was won by Gosford High School graduate Ashley Norval, who now works as Australian Pork Limited’s technology adoption and industry capability/research and innovation manager.

Andrea Lawrence, the 2010 winner, has gone on to pursue a career in pest insect research.

Mr Buck said the award winners were great communicators and demonstrated natural leadership qualities.

“The sub-committee members take a great deal of personal satisfaction out of interviewing the finalists, and following the careers of the winners,’’ he said.

“We question the finalists on climate change, the livestock and agricultural industries, their academic and sporting achievements, and personal goals.’’