Mr Lachlan Curr grew up on the family farm in Trundle, NSW. He began his higher education journey in 2020, the year COVID-19 began, studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management in the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences.

“This meant the first year of my degree was restricted to studying online at home on the farm, which presented its own new challenges, as I now had to learn new time management strategies to balance both my work on the farm and my studies,” Lachlan said.

“To help with this, I decided to study three subjects a session instead of the usual four.

“I returned to Wagga Wagga in 2021 and after a successful two years, I decided to take my studies online again and go travelling.

“This was challenging but also very rewarding, allowing me to gain new insights into the agricultural industry in places such as Canada and the United States of America.”

More than 1,600 students will graduate from six Charles Sturt campuses in April and May and Lachlan was among 550 graduates in Wagga Wagga when he graduated in the Faculty of Science and Health Friday 11 April.

He thanked the Wagga Wagga RSL Sub-Branch for the scholarship he received in 2020.

“I appreciated this scholarship so much and I thank the Wagga Wagga RSL Sub-Branch for awarding me the 2020 scholarship to help me continue learning at Charles Sturt University,” Lachlan said.

“The scholarship enabled me to buy textbooks for my classes, which greatly assisted me with online learning while I eagerly awaited my return to campus.

“It also contributed to my accommodation fees, meal plan and other university supplies and thus greatly helped to reduce the pressure on me to be able to live away from home.

“Studying took up a large part of my time, so having the means to support myself through this was very important to me.”

Wagga Wagga RSL Sub-Branch scholarship spokesperson Mr Rod Cooper said the Sub-Branch is very honoured to have supported Lachlan Curr through the scholarship program, enabling him, in part, to pursue his agricultural studies.

“Lachlan’s gratitude for this opportunity is truly humbling and meeting his family on the scholarship award day was a touching reminder of the impact our support can have on individuals and families,” Mr Cooper said. “We look forward to Lachlan making his mark in Australian agriculture.”

Lachlan, whose mother graduated in nursing from Charles Sturt University in Bathurst in 1998, said he chose to study the Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management as he grew up on a farm in regional Australia surrounded by agriculture.

“It has always been a major part of my life and I am excited to continue with that trend as it feels good to be graduating knowing that a new part of my life is beginning,” he said.

“The key benefits I have taken from studying this course largely relate to my new appreciation for the agricultural business sector and a desire to continue a career within it.”

Lachlan has recently been living and working in Canada and returned to Australia for his graduation.

“I’ve been working in different roles, mostly in the agricultural industry, and most recently in an internship position with Cargill Canada, scouting crops for farmers in Northern Alberta,” he said.

“After completing my internship with Cargill in Canada, I hope to continue a career with the company in Australia.”

The Wagga Wagga RSL Sub-Branch Scholarship originated in 2019 and has been awarded annually since. The purpose of this scholarship is to assist returned service personnel, or their family members, to undertake university study to embark upon a new career.

Two $5,000 Wagga Wagga RSL Sub-Branch Scholarships are awarded annually to a first-year student who is studying any course on the Charles Sturt Wagga Wagga campus and 10 have been awarded since the scholarship was established.