Sam Birrell (Nicholls, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a great thing for Australia's future when young people are interested in involving themselves in agriculture and rural industries, and AgriFutures Australia is supporting the next generation of rural and regional leaders across our nation. In this very building today, they're coming together. I particularly want to congratulate two outstanding young people from my electorate of Nicholls who have been recognised through AgriFutures' scholarship programs.

Jack McKay was awarded an AgriFutures Horizon Scholarship, which is a bursary to broaden his study. Jack grew up on a sheep farm in Broadford and attended Assumption College in Kilmore. He's now studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga, and he hopes to become an agronomist—a former profession of mine.

Mim Drinnan was awarded the AgriFutures Les Young Scholarship. Mim hails from Nagambie, which is the home of Black Caviar and is a major centre for the thoroughbred industry, where she works with Lindsay Park Racing. Mim is going to use this scholarship to travel to the UK and attend the National Stud bloodstock management course.

I commend Jack and Mim on their achievements, as well as all of the other recipients—people who are working in the agricultural and rural industries, making sure food and fibre production is in good hands for the future of Australia. Thank you to AgriFutures for fostering the future leaders in the agricultural industry.