Scholarships | Australian Banana Growers

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Mort Johnston Professional Development Scholarship

The Mort Johnston Professional Development Scholarship has been established by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council to honour the memory of a man whose vision, determination, optimism and goodwill were an example to all.

The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to individuals seeking to further their professional development in ways that will ultimately benefit the Australian banana industry.

Eligible students receive $5000 in their third year of study of agricultural or related science degree program at the University of Queensland. It also provides those recipients with vacation employment at one or more banana businesses.

This provides an opportunity for enthusiastic and high achieving students to consider a career in the exciting and dynamic Australian banana industry and provide them with a solid foundation for an industry network.

The student will be required to finance their travel, accommodation and living expenses while on work experience, but ABGC will assist the student in arranging the work experience and the grower or other employer will pay that student for work performed.

The scholarship is to be awarded to the applicant showing greatest merit as demonstrated by-

(a) academic achievement in courses undertaken during the first five semesters of the relevant program;
(b) personal qualities, including leadership potential;
(c) strength of interest that the applicant demonstrates in completing at least one period of vacation employment at a banana business; and
(d) demonstrated interest and capacity to make a worthwhile contribution to the development of the Australian banana industry.

The new scholarship arrangement started in 2016, and will then be annual.

You can read about the current Mort Johnson scholar, Nicola Mackay, in this Australian Bananas magazine article.

Previous Mort Johnston Scholarship Recipients

2018 – Nicola Mackay
2016 – Helen Garate
2013 – Liam Riedy
“Investigation into the use and efficacy of biological fungicides in the Australian Banana Industry”
2012 – Naomi King
“Taiwan and China Banana Study Tour”
2011 – Matthew Whittle
“Investigating the application of Short Sea Shipping”
2009 – Mee Hua Wong
“Identifying Banana Freckle Disease Pathogens”
2009 – Kevan Jones
“Investigating the use of silicon as a soil amendment in banana growing to enhance tolerance to fusarium wilt (and other diseases)”
2009 – Jane Milburn
“Develop a new narrative for Australian Agriculture“
2008 – Fiona Giblin
“On-Farm Biosecuity Project“