Award Criteria and Application Form
Entries for the Matthew George Young Stockman Award have now closed for 2024.
The criteria for the award and the application form can be found below.
Award Criteria 2024.
MATTHEW GEORGE
Matthew was like a sponge when it came to genetics. He would study every stud sale catalogue, American and Canadian Angus Journals and kept them as a ready reference.
When Matthew went to a Stud cattle sale he would already have chosen the cattle he would like to purchase. He wasn’t successful in purchasing all the cattle he liked because the ones he had selected usually went for the highest prices.
Matthew’s dream was to travel to Canada on a working holiday. He wanted to stay at some of the Stud ranches where they welcomed the help and in exchange gave you a first-hand experience on how their operation worked. Matthew really wanted to see the Angus genetics in Canada as he believed this was where his own Angus Stud would benefit the most. His quest was to find the magic genetics that would elevate his Stud Stock to be the breeding stock that other cattle breeders wanted to place in their breeding herds.
Following Matthew’s death, the Angus cattle family of Australia rallied together, along with local business from Beaufort and Ballarat area in Victoria, to form The Matthew George Young Stockman Award in his memory.
In September 2008, a Dinner and Auction was held following the Angus Judging Day at the Royal Melbourne Show (one of Matthew’s favourite arenas). It was an euphoric night, with donations ranging from elite Angus semen, embryos and heifers, travel vouchers, tanks, 4WD motorbike sprayers, farm clothing and bus hire to a cruise down the Yarra River, as well as many other items being put up for auction.
The Chiller family hosted the Dinner and Auction at the Treacy Function Centre in Parkville, Padthaway Estate provided the wines, and many of Matthew’s school friends donated their time to wait tables and serve drinks. For many of Matthew’s family and friends and his Angus cattle family, it was a night everyone thought might be sad, but instead, the atmosphere in the room was electric and helped play a part in the grieving process for many who were there that night. The auction raised close to $90,000 for the establishment of the “Matthew George Young Stockman Award.”
With the help of The Ballarat Foundation, the Matthew George Young Stockman Award Sub-Fund was established. The Ballarat Foundation manages the applications and distribution of funds to the successful applicants, following recommendations from the Award Judging Panel.
The Award
Live your dream
This annual Award is offered nationally in July with the winner being announced at the Royal Melbourne Show. The Award provides an opportunity for young breeders, aged 18 to 25 years, to undertake a study tour of beef cattle breeding programs, developments and practices. As well, they act as young ambassadors for the beef cattle industry in Australia.
“Our humble and heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in establishing this Award. Your generosity is enabling the future generation of young Australian Cattle Breeders to broaden their global knowledge of the Beef Cattle Industry. We can all share with pride and joy the transformation of the Award Winners on their return.
They have greater self-confidence and knowledge of the cattle industry as well as a network of newfound friends and industry leaders in other countries with whom they can share their passion for cattle breeding over a lifetime. Their journeys have been amazing.”
Lorraine George