REMEMBERING the work of a treasured staff member while also looking to the future has again been shown through a unique scholarship.
SunRice’s Jan Cathcart Scholarship recipient for 2017 was announced on Wednesday, with Sarah Cudmore from Griffith this year’s beneficiary.
Mrs Cathcart worked with the company for 43 years and the scholarship was started in 2014 to not just honour her memory, but t was designed to support women who demonstrate a passion for the rice industry.
Miss Cudmore’s family has a long association with both SunRice and the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia. She grew up on a mixed farming property at Benerembah and was honoured to be this year’s recipient of the scholarship.
Miss Cudmore is currently undertaking a Bachelor of International Studies and is majoring in global sustainable development at the University of Wollongong. She is hoping to complete a second major in Mandarin and will be spending the next five months in China on exchange.
“I was pretty surprised and chuffed (to receive the scholarship),” she said.
“I understand what a great honour it is to receive this. Not only will I have my academics from my degree and my interests in China and Mandarin, but I’ll also be coming from an agricultural perspective.”
Ms Cudmore will receive $10,000 for each year of her university studies, for up to three years.
“I do have an interest in rice and I’m looking forward to finding out more about the industry,” she said.
To be eligible for the scholarship, an applicants’ tertiary study had to be aligned to professional positions for which there is growing demand across regional Australia. These included agricultural science, engineering, finance or business.
SunRice chairman Laurie Arthur was thrilled the scholarship continued to honour the memory of Mrs Cathcart.
“Sarah has really impeccable credentials and she’s a worthy winner,” he said.
“We’ve been following the progress of our earlier recipients and they’ve done some great things for the company.
“It’s a great initiative to really get the potential of our women in the bush that are really contributing to this company. In the past they have often drifted to Melbourne or Sydney and we lose them.
“The proof of the pudding is they are already starting to contribute to the company and to the region. It’s a wonderful thing.”
