A nursery owner in the Baw Baw region was one of 14 agriculture scholarship recipients awarded by the state government to inspire innovative projects and learning opportunities.
Minister for Agriculture, Ros Spence, announced the new recipients for this year’s Upskill and Invest Young Farmers Scholarships, which awarded vying farmers $5000 to explore new learning opportunities and another $5000 for on-farm equipment technology upgrades, or further professional development.
One of the recipients was Chris Dunne, a nursery owner in the Baw Baw region. Chris will use his scholarship to transform his nursery into a hub of quality advanced trees. He plans to update the nursery’s irrigation systems to utilise water saving and sustainable methods.
Mr Dunne will also invest his scholarship funds in a Certificate IV in Horticulture. His course will cover soil quality, pest control, irrigation, propagation, and revegetation.
He plans to use his scholarship to create healthy pastures for cattle and grow quality trees, so that his nursery remains environmentally sustainable.
Those in Gippsland football circles might know Mr Dunne as a former Leongatha and Drouin forward. He won premierships with the Parrots in 2017 and 2018.
Since 2015, the state government has awarded 117 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers scholarships to students that demonstrated drive and innovation.
Ms Spence also acknowledged the new Young Farmers Advisory Council members and the role they play in supporting young people in agriculture, providing advice on issues that affect them, and acting as ambassadors for the industry.
The government established the council in 2015 to offer strategic guidance on practical actions and opportunities that attract and retain young people in agriculture.
The council also makes recommendations on agricultural projects and decisions involving climate change, skills and training.
Clay Gowers, a grain grower from Carwarp, will lead as council chair, while Amabel Grinter, a dairy farmer from Tongala, will be deputy chair.
For more information on the young farmer programs visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/youngfarmersscholarships
