2016 Winners – Haylee Gooding and Reuben Welke


2016 ACAS Coca Cola Scholarship winners Haylee Gooding and Reuben Welke, with WA Governor the Hon Kerry Sanderson

Two university students will find the financial aspect of university life slightly easier following monetary awards presented to them by the Royal Agricultural Society of WA.

Annually, RASWA assists young people studying agricultural subjects by contributing to their tertiary costs through the Australian Council of Agricultural Societies, Coco-Cola Regional Scholarships program. Each of this year’s winners receives $5000 which they will use toward their studies.

Haylee Gooding
Haylee is in her third year of a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Agricultural Science and Botany at the University of Western Australia. She is a former student of St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School.

Having grown up on the family farm in the Ord irrigation scheme, Haylee’s passion for agriculture was sealed. Despite juggling work as a dental assistant and student and as a volunteer at the Shenton Dog’s Refuge, Haylee still ensures she spends time on the farm helping during busy harvest periods.

As a firm advocate for sustainability, Haylee argued against the rezoning of land and the significant biosecurity risks that could be posed for agriculture in the East-Kimberley region.

“I spent a considerable amount of time assisting with research and the writing of council applications to advocate against the rezoning decision to protect this valuable land. Standing against our local council was quite a challenge, however, I believe it was a necessary step in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector of Kununurra.

“Winning the scholarship would allow me to continue my studies in the field of agriculture, beginning with an Honours degree in agriculture. I aim to do postgraduate study as I believe it is important for Australian agriculture to evolve and adopt new technologies,” said Haylee.

Reuben Welke
Reuben is completing his fourth year of study at Murdoch University – Bachelor of Science -Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. He is a former Perth Modern student.

This young man considers his close association with the agricultural industry through his family’s sheep, cropping and beef enterprises to be a privilege. Having first gained a Bachelor of Aquatic Science (Coastal Zone Management) at Curtin University of Technology, Reuben decided to pursue a career within veterinary medicine and enrolled at UWA.

A member of RASWA, Reuben has been involved with the IGA Perth Royal Show since 2013 in the area of exhibiting stud beef cattle, commercial hoof and hook steers and heifers. An associate judge of the carcass evaluation section of the competitions in 2015, Reuben, at the request of RASWA, is back this year as a cattle steward and judge.

Having represented Murdoch University as a team member at the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Association, Reuben returns this year to coach the 2016 Murdoch team.

“The ICMJ competition program has provided the foundations on which I have built my passion for the Australian red meat industry,” said Reuben.

“Through competing on the meat judging team, which has allowed me to travel interstate as well as internationally, I have had the opportunity to experience many different aspects of the red meat industry first hand as well as to appreciate what role the Australian agricultural industry plays on a national and international level.

“I feel that there has not been a better time for Australian agricultural graduates to become an integral part of building the country’s agricultural industry, in order to become apart of the greater global salutation for ensure food security.”