From left, Norman Lethbridge Award chairman Mark Lucas, Reiland Angus, Matilda Odell, Mikayla Connor, Grace Collins (winner), Head of Science Pymble Ladies College, Kylie Cooley, Angus NSW chairman Matthew Macri, Skyfall Angus, Holly Jarvis and (front) Alex Compton and Victoria Webb.
Pymble Ladies College graduate Grace Collins has received the prestigious 2022 Norman Lethbridge Award presented by Angus New South Wales.
Grace is studying for a Bachelor of Agriculture degree at the University of New England, Armidale, and will be pursuing a Masters of Teaching.
This will allow Grace to teach agriculture at high school level whilst she will be spreading the message of the importance of Australian agriculture.
Presentations to the winners were made during the Angus judging at the 2023 Sydney Royal Easter Show on Saturday, April 8.
Now in its 21st 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.
“My passion for agriculture started at the age of 14 when I chose the ag elective subject offered at school. Since then, I completed the HSC course gaining a Band 6 in agriculture,” Grace said.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Norman Lethbridge Award committee for this incredible opportunity. I feel extremely privileged to have received this award.”
Originally from Turramurra, Grace had been nominated by Pymble Ladies College for the award.
Runner-up in the Norman Lethbridge Award and winner of the Wendy and Des Stubbs Encouragement Award was Matilda Odell, nominated by Marian Catholic College, Kenthurst.
The other runners-up were Alex Compton, nominated by Oakhill College, Castle Hill; Victoria Webb nominated by Scots All Saints College, Bathurst; Mikayla Connor, winner of the Gary Roberts Encouragement Award and nominated by Bede Polding College, South Windsor; and Holly Jarvis nominated by the Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, Glenmore Park.
The 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.
Micquella Grima, the winner of the 2020 Norman Lethbridge Award and a graduate of the Caroline Chisolm Catholic College, was appointed to the committee last year.
The Norman Lethbridge Award is open to students and cadets over 16 years and under 25 years of age studying agriculture, livestock auctioneering or stock and station work.
The applicant must reside within 200km of Sydney.
The same committee formed at the inception of the Award in 2002, comprising Christine Erby, Mark Lucas, Simon Hennings and Richard Buck, have interviewed applicants and adjudicated for the past 20 years.