Community & Business
22 September, 2024
Scholarships boost pathway to careers
Tablelanders student Sophie Jonsson and apprentice Toby Wright have each been awarded a $5000 scholarship to help them in their education and vocational pursuits.
The 2024 Kaban Education Scholarship winners were announced by Vocational Partnerships Group (VPG) which said the selection process assessed applicants on their aspirations, long-term goals, and how the scholarship would help them.
For Sophie, a lifelong Evylyn resident, her passion for agriculture is rooted in her experiences growing up on a family farm and why she is studying a dual Bachelors degree in Agricultural Science and Business.
“My inspiration to pursue a career in agriculture stems from a combination of personal experiences and influential family figures, primarily my dad,” Sophie said.
“Growing up in a rural setting, I witnessed the dedication and resilience of my dad, who worked tirelessly to plant and harvest the crops, never taking a day off.
“His passion for sustainable farming practices and commitment to continuing the family farming generation influenced me to move off the farm, get an education, and bring something back to the table,” she added.
Through her higher education achievements, Sophie aims to work locally in agricultural research, collaborating with farmers and communities to enhance food production and conventional farming methods.
Toby Wright, a Millstream local and an apprentice butcher at Bones Knob Butchery in Tolga, is pursuing a Certificate III in Meat Processing.
Toby’s decision to follow the butchery pathway was influenced by his grandfather.
“My pop inspired me to go down the butcher pathway as it is a career many of my family members have pursued,” he said. “He unfortunately passed away last year, so I have chosen to put 110% effort into making him proud.”
The scholarship will assist Toby with travel costs for commuting to work daily between Millstream and Tolga, as well as acquiring essential work equipment, uniforms and safety gear.
With a long-term goal of starting his own mobile butcher business in rural towns, Toby is keen to complete his apprenticeship and make the most of this support.
The scholarship program was funded under the 2023 Kaban Green Power Hub Community Benefit Fund and facilitated by VPG.
