The legacy of the late farmer Mr Percy Allan to financially assist young Australians to complete their agricultural studies will continue through Charles Sturt University (CSU), the country’s largest provider of agricultural education.

 

Since its establishment in 1981, the Percy Allan Foundation has offered more than 100 scholarships to students from the ACT and NSW undertaking full-time agricultural-related studies at several institutions including CSU at Orange and Wagga Wagga.

 

The Foundation’s trustees Mrs Rita Bromfield and Mr Lyndsay Bromfield from Ariah Park are retiring in 2009 and have elected to offer annual Percy Allan Foundation scholarships exclusively through CSU.

 

“It is a great honour for the Charles Sturt Foundation to administer these scholarships and ensure the enduring legacy of Percy Allan and his passion for agricultural education,” said CSU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Ian Goulter.

 

In a ceremony at CSU at Wagga Wagga on Monday, 10 August, the trustees of the Percy Allan Foundation will officially hand over management of their scholarships to the Charles Sturt Foundation.

 

Born in 1888, Mr Allan owned hotels in Sydney and ran a dairy farm and cattle stud at Richmond. He ran cattle and sheep properties near Mudgee and Willow Tree before moving to the ACT to buy two sheep and cattle properties there. In 1962 he sold them to buy a small orchard at Pialligo in the ACT. He died in 1979 aged 90 leaving a large part of his estate for public education in agriculture related areas.  

 

Retiring trustee of the Percy Allan Foundation, Mrs Rita Bromfield from Ariah Park, said “The decision to approach Charles Sturt University to become the trustee of the Foundation was made because of its commitment to agriculture by offering a number of agricultural-related courses, including veterinary science.

 

“The willingness of CSU to continue to award scholarships using the same scholarship rules and criteria was very important to the retiring trustees. We are confident that the Charles Sturt Foundation will continue to award scholarships to those who, without this financial support, may not have been able to achieve their goals in the agricultural industry. 

 

“As farmers within the Riverina, my husband and I are very aware of the complex issues facing the rural sector many of which have increased with prolonged drought.  We recognise the need to assist young people entering into the agricultural field to further their education whether they plan to return to the family farm or whether they intend to pursue an off-farm agricultural career or research.  

 

“It has been a privilege to be able to provide financial support to recipients of scholarships and to see them achieve fulfilment of their goals. Australian agriculture is the richer for the input of these highly motivated achievers,” said Mrs Bromfield.

 

Through its scholarship scheme, the Charles Sturt Foundation has assisted more than 1,600 students to complete their studies since it was set up in 1984.