In 2002, Herefords Australia received a significant legacy from the estate of the late Mrs CM (Madge) Hocking to provide an ongoing annual scholarship bursary for Australian citizens undertaking studies that will benefit the Australian Hereford industry.
The legacy was invested and yields around $5000 a year to fund the bursary.
Mrs Hocking, along with her husband ‘Hock’, who worked with Dalgety New Zealand Loan at Geelong, began breeding Herefords on the family farm, Oakdene, near the seaside resort of Ocean Grove, in the early 1960s. Oakdene is now the home of an award winning winery and up-market restaurant and function centre of the same name. Another part of the property has been subdivided for a large residential development known as Oakdene Estate.
The late Mrs Hocking was devoted to her Hereford cattle and the betterment of the breed. Never satisfied, Mrs Hocking worked tirelessly to improve her herd buying bulls from studs such as South Boorook, Ardno, Midgeon and Golf Hill.
In 1975 she purchased the first of many Hereford bulls at the then huge Sydney Royal sales.
The Oakdene Herefords had an outstanding reputation regularly topping Melbourne’s Newmarket saleyards. Recognised as having a good eye for cattle, she was always keen to pass her knowledge on to the next generation.
The CM Hocking Scholarship embodies her love of Herefords and her keen interest in young people.
The bequest was her way of saying ‘Thank You’ to the Hereford breed.
Applications for the 2024 CM Hocking Scholarship will open 1 July 2024
The CM Hocking Memorial Scholarship:
Herefords Australia invites applications for the 2024 CM Hocking Memorial Scholarship from 1 July 2024. Applications will be considered from Australian citizens who are undertaking a course of study that will be applied to the breeding and management of Hereford cattle and/or will be of benefit to the Australian Hereford breed.
The scholarship entails a once off payment of up to $5000 which is to go towards the successful applicant’s study expenses.
Applications are to include the following:
- Resume containing:
- Personal details including name of course and place of study
- Education and employment history (if applicable)
- Contact details of two (2) referees
- Document addressing the following questions:
- Briefly outline two challenges that the Hereford breed currently faces and discuss ways that Herefords Australia, breeders, and other stakeholders can address these challenges. (max. 350 words)
- Discuss two opportunities and two challenges for the wider Australian beef industry in 2024. (max. 350 words)
- We often hear the supply chain described as “from paddock to plate”. However, the consumer is king, which leads us to understanding market demand more as plate to paddock – consumers are first and foremost.
Outline your understanding of food consumers and what that means for food production and the beef supply chain in Australia. (max. 350 words)
- A short video (max 3-minutes) of yourself. Tell us about you, your background and experience, why you have applied for the scholarship, and what you hope to get out of the opportunity. (Please provide video as a link e.g. YouTube, Dropbox, Sharefile etc, do not attach video file directly to email.)
Applicants may be required for interview which is normally conducted by telephone/Zoom.
Applications close at 5pm on 30 September 2024 and must be emailed to info@herefordsaustralia.com.au