Vet student receives scholarship support for rural ambitions
Press release
28 September 2009
Sarah Bolton can't wait to move back to the country and start a career working with the cattle and horses she grew up with.
The second year Vet Science student at the University of Melbourne has her heart set on returning to country Victoria to work in a large animal veterinary practice. Having grown up in dairy and beef country, it's a lifestyle and career choice that has come naturally to her.
In acknowledgment of her passion for rural Victoria and her academic achievements, Sarah this month became one of six young Victorian tertiary students to be awarded a 2009 Rural Finance scholarship.
The Rural Finance scholarships, each worth $6,000 per annum for the duration of the student's course, are awarded to students showing a commitment to the growth of Victorian agriculture and rural communities. Recipients can be studying agriculture or related fields such as veterinary science, business, natural resource management and international trade.
Sarah hails from Boolarra in south Gippsland, where her family run a small scale beef enterprise. Having grown up surrounded by cattle and horses, a career in veterinary science was an obvious choice, says Sarah.
"Being outside and working on farms is ideal for me. Working with cattle and horses has always been my life – it's just what I love and what comes naturally to me."
Sarah hopes to eventually use her interest in farm animal medicine and her veterinary knowledge to give something back to the industry.
"I'd like to conduct some research in this area as well," she says. "Being exposed to so much research and development in the Faculty of Veterinary Science really does make you want to be a part of it all."
The scholarship will take some of the financial strain out of full time study for Sarah, and also enable her to travel a little further afield than Gippsland farms for her veterinary placements. This summer she plans to travel to Darwin for a placement on a crocodile farm and zoo.
She will also have more time to commit to the studies that she loves.
"I really enjoy everything we are taught, and love being able to apply my knowledge at home on the farm. We're surrounded by so many people in the Faculty who are right at the top of their fields and have so much knowledge to offer. It's a very privileged position to be in."
For further information please contact Hinalei Johnston, Marketing Manager, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Tel: 8344 7844 or email: h.johnston@unimelb.edu.au