Other Mid North Coast recipients were Jaslyn Tuckwell (Bunyah), Kayla Simpson (Forster) and Kathleen Cutajar (Pembrooke).

The RASF Rural Scholarships recognise individual students striving to make a positive impact on the future of rural and regional NSW, through University, TAFE or other accredited VET courses.

This year’s Rural Scholarship payments of $6000 for full-time and $3000 for part-time students support students from rural areas with their academic studies.

Lachlan is currently completing his Certificate IV in Agriculture at Tocal College. Having grown up on a small farm outside Wingham, Lachlan is passionate about the sheep industry, sheep dog training and poultry.

Lachlan fuels this passion by being involved in local shows, showing sheep and poultry.

Ultimately Lachlan hopes to breed sheep for wool and meat production using sustainable methods of farming. 

RAS Foundation manager, Cecilia Logan says history shows scholarship funding reaps benefits not only for the students but their rural communities as well.

“While a desire to be a part of the future of rural NSW may already be there, the RASF Rural Scholarships assist in making that dream happen,” Ms Logan says.

“Many of these students have identified the unique needs of their local communities and are working towards giving back once they complete their studies. That may be through health, education, technology, agriculture or anything in between.”   

This year the RAS Foundation awarded 53 scholarships totalling $306,000 and has distributed $1.98 million across more than 400 scholarships in eight years of the program.

Applications for the 2019 RASF’s Rural Scholarships will open July 1 and close August 31.