Matthew Macri, Angus NSW chairman, Norman Lethbridge Award winner Kate Bartolo, Bargo, and Copeland Lethbridge, representing the Lethbridge family.
Young aspiring rural industry leader Kate Bartolo has received the prestigious 2023 Norman Lethbridge Award presented by the NSW State Committee of Angus Australia.
Kate was nominated by Chevalier College, Burradoo, NSW, and was presented with the award on March 24 during the Angus judging at the 2024 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Now in its 22nd year, the Norman Lethbridge Award honours the late Norman Lethbridge, a Sydney region stock agent and past secretary of the New South Wales State Committee of Angus Australia.
The first runner-up in the award was Olivia Baird, Colo High School, second runner-up Audrey Cocks, Caroline Chisolm College, and the third runner-up Erin Banks, Bede Polding College.
Annabelle Lewinski, Hurlstone Agricultural High School, and Thomas Batson, Marian Catholic College, received the Wendy and Des Stubbs Encouragement Awards.
Amelia Sternback, St Catherine’s College, received the Ray White Albury and Holbrook Encouragement Award.
The Norman Lethbridge Award was created by the NSW State Committee of Angus Australia in 2002 in memory of the late Norman Lethbridge, a stock and station agent and state Angus committee secretary from 1983 to 1994.
The Award is for a young person under 25 years studying agriculture or livestock auctioneering within 200km of Sydney. It encompasses a scholarship to the Tocal Beef Assessment school and an opportunity to share in a total prize pool of over $5000 to support further educational pursuits or activities in the field of agriculture.
The Norman Lethbridge Award has consistently been sponsored by the Munro family, Booroomooka Angus Stud, Bingara; Mrs Christine Erby OAM and Jon Erby AM, Forres Angus, Dungog; the family of the late Norman Lethbridge, Wendy and Des Stubbs, Albion Park and Gary Roberts, Potts Point.
Winner Kate Bartolo is in Year 12 at Chevalier College and has a deep passion for the agricultural industry. She intends to further her studies in the industry with a double degree in agricultural science and agri-business.
The 16-year-old also works at marketing fresh flowers at farmers markets for Jonima Flowers, has picked and packed fruit and vegetables for Pheasants Nest Produce, and is a farm hand in the vegetable and poultry sections of her family’s business Bargo Valley Produce. Bargo Valley supplies hydroponic lettuce to local and national supermarkets and grows out turkeys under contract.
She is also a keen cattle handler, showing and preparing cattle for the Sydney Royal Easter Show since 2019, monitoring and recording cattle behaviour at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, and working in the calf and calving shed at Leppington Pastoral Dairy.
“My teacher nominated me as an all-rounder for the award – I am very dedicated to the agricultural industry and with my experience and knowledge, I thought it would be a great award to participate in,” Kate said.
“The Tocal Beef Assessment course will be a good experience for me to take part of while learn new skills to further embrace during my future endeavours, while the Angus membership will enable me to gain contacts for future work placement and learn more about the industry.
“The Award will also help me with early entry to either Charles Sturt University or University of New England.”
Kate is excited to become a youth member of Angus Australia.
Two past winners of the Award have been finalists in the RAS Rural Achiever Awards.
Ashley Norval was working as Australian Pork Limited’s manager of technology adoption and industry capability when she was announced as a finalist in 2017 while Grace Collins, winner of the 2022 Norman Lethbridge Award, is a finalist in 2024.
Grace, 21, is in her fourth year of studying for a Bachelor of Agriculture degree at the University of New England, Armidale, and will be pursuing a Master of Teaching. She said the Norman Lethbridge Award has opened many opportunities in the cattle industry.
The RAS Rural Achiever Award allows future agricultural leaders to further develop their skills and grow their personal and professional network. The Award is designed to reward young rural advocates for their hard work, passion and contributions to rural NSW, while also providing a platform for professional development and enhanced leadership skills.
“The interview was similar to the Norman Lethbridge Award where we discussed current agricultural topics, what I have contributed to youth and my career aspirations. I’m really passionate about teaching and helping youth,” Grace said.
“The whole interview process for the Norman Lethbridge Award was such a good experience and allowed me to discuss matters related to the agricultural industry in a formal setting.
“It forced me to think about what I had achieved in the industry, study, volunteer work and what I hoped to achieve into the future, and what the award would allow me to pursue.
“The award gave me the opportunity to afford entry fees and to various other youth programs and study expenses throughout the year.”
The Norman Lethbridge Award gave Grace the opportunity to attend the Tocal Beef Assessment Course in December – a course she has high praise for.
When it comes to applying for the Norman Lethbridge Award, Grace urged applicants to relax and be themselves.
“If you are confident in who you are, that will shine through. Don’t doubt your achievements because they definitely mean something in this industry.”