Awards & Scholarships
Agricultural Awards and Scholarships
For over 90 years Urrbrae students have benefited from partnerships with agricultural businesses and industry groups which have fostered significant sponsorship for our school including the funding of the following major agricultural awards and scholarships that recognise students who have excelled in the study of agriculture whilst at Urrbrae, including:
AGRICULTURE AWARDS
AJ and PA McBride Agriculture Awards
AJ and PA McBride Agriculture Awards are sponsored by AJ and PA McBride Pastoral, a major SA Agribusiness who celebrated their 100th year of operation in 2020, McBride’s own and operate numerous properties in SA and interstate. The McBride Board over the last decade has generously provided annual sponsorship that fund the awards to officially recognise enthusiastic and highly successful Agriculture students. In 2022 McBride’s increased the combined value of the AJ and PA McBride Agricultural Awards from $5,000 to $10,000 allowing additional students to be recognised for their efforts associated with agricultural pursuits. Five students from each senior school year level receive a McBride Agriculture Award, these students have achieved outstanding results in their Agricultural studies and have been actively involved in at least one Agricultural Club or agricultural work experience. In addition, one student from each year senior level receives a McBride Excellence in Agricultural Award recognising exemplary achievement in the selection criteria.
Urrbrae greatly appreciates the generous donation of $20,000 by AJ and PA McBride’s for the redevelopment of the stock yard facilities at Urrbrae. This major project was completed in January 2024. McBride’s have also recently supplied Urrbrae with a new high-tech wool press to support our shearing and wool handling school programs. These outstanding contributions will directly benefit the many students who take part in our agriculture programs well into the future. Thank you to the AJ and PA McBride Board and all the major award sponsors;
The Peter Waite Old Scholars Award
The Peter Waite Old Scholars Award is sponsored by the Urrbrae Old Scholars Association through the generosity of Peninsula Farming owned and operated by Old Scholar and President of the Association Jamie Smith. This award recognises a Year 12 Agriculture student who has made a significant all-round contribution to the Urrbrae community including participation in a range of community activities, successful academic achievement and personal attributes that Urrbrae strives to instil in all students. Jamie Smith has generously donated the funding of $1,000 for this award which is greatly appreciated by our Urrbrae community.
AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIPS
Mortlock Scholarships
The Mortlock Scholarships are a real point of difference unique to Urrbrae and a significant part of our school’s history. Urrbrae is very fortunate to have the Mortlock Scholarships available to our students which are funded through a significant bequest made by Mr John Andrew Tennant Mortlock who was born at Mintaro (near Clare) in 1884. Mr Mortlock inherited the Martindale Estate at Mintaro from his parents in 1915 and over the years he became the owner of many other farming properties across South Australia.
In 1950 Mr Mortlock passed away and, through his will, he bequeathed £10,000 to establish the ‘Mortlock Agricultural Scholarships’ at Urrbrae Agricultural High School to recognise and encourage agricultural academic excellence. The interest earned from the Mortlock fund each year is then provided to Urrbrae to allocate scholarships to high achieving students.
The first Mortlock Scholarships were awarded in 1952 to a total of only 6 students and today over 70 students from Years 7 – 12 and recent Urrbrae graduates (Old Scholars) who choose to continue an Agricultural or related degree at university receive a Tertiary Mortlock Scholarship in recognition of their academic achievement.
Over the years, the Mortlock Scholarships have assisted hundreds of Urrbrae students to achieve their academic and professional goals. The scholarships have provided opportunities for students to pursue higher education, engage in research and development, and gain practical experience in the field of agriculture.
What makes the Mortlock Scholarships unique is the focus on fostering leadership and innovation in the agricultural sector. Recipients of the scholarships are encouraged to think creatively and to explore new ideas that can help to advance the field of agriculture and contribute to the well-being of society.
As we look to the future, it is clear that the Mortlock Scholarships will continue to play a vital role in supporting the next generation of leaders in agriculture and to embrace the opportunity to make a difference in the world through their passion for agriculture.
The Mortlock Scholarships are a testament to the power of philanthropy and the importance of agricultural education which more than ever will play a vital role in Australian tertiary education and the economy. It is a legacy that we should all be proud of, and one that we should continue to support and celebrate for generations to come.
The Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Show Society Education Foundation Scholarship.
The Show Foundation generously provides a major scholarship to a recent Urrbrae graduate to support the student with their tertiary study in Agriculture, Horticulture or allied areas.
The Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society Education Foundation Scholarship is awarded to the student from the previous academic year who achieved the highest ATAR score and then commenced an Agricultural, Horticultural or allied tertiary program. The scholarship is awarded as a single year scholarship, valued at $2,000.
Thank you to all the sponsoring organisations for their generous ongoing support of the awards and scholarships offered to students at Urrbrae Agricultural High School.