Each year Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga presents its Executive Dean’s awards for academic excellence.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is a great opportunity to recognise some outstanding CSU students in the faculty of science.
In that faculty, the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences presents the annual Robert Cay Memorial Award. This award goes to one of the highest performing students studying for the bachelor of agricultural science degree.
The award represents a wonderful connection between the university and the local beef farming community.
Many local beef producers will remember Rob Cay.
Rob was a cattle producer who ran a mixed farming operation at Corowa, near the Murray River. He managed the family farm, producing Angus cattle, broad-acre cropping and wool production.
Rob was a thought provoking, lateral thinker, known for his tenacious approach to seeking information. He chased new technology, and applied it to fit his farming system.
He was a founding member of the Albury Wodonga Beef Improvement Association, a producer organisation whose charter was to extend technical information to beef producers.
He served a term as branch president, and was a committee member for twelve years until his death in 1998.
Rob was also on the national executive of the Beef Improvement Association of Australia, where he held the position of vice president for three years.
Rob encouraged young people in the industry, and was always keen to direct some funding towards the advancement of their knowledge and technical base.
In this district there were three strong but distinct branches – Wagga, Albury Wodonga and Tumbarumba. Many readers will have fond memories of on-farm activities discussing beef production.
In 1999 the Albury Wodonga branch approached CSU to set up the Robert Cay Memorial Award. The university jumped at the chance to forge that bond between their institution and the community where they teach.
Each year the university picks the award recipient.
The 2015 recipient was Brooke Kaveney, an outstanding student with a ‘love of learning’.
This year was the 15th time the award has been presented. At each ceremony Susie Cay has been present to meet the winning student and present the prize.
It really is a fantastic thing, representing many parts of the community, remembering Rob Cay, and rewarding students for their hard work and excellence.
