Charlie Young is following in his father’s footsteps in his journey from Kojonup in Western Australia to study at Lincoln.
The 20–year-old is the recipient of the Simon Gubbins Scholarship, established in 2012 in memory of Simon Gubbins who studied at Lincoln University and went on to demonstrate significant leadership qualities in many agricultural organisations in Australia.
The scholarship is awarded to support an Australian student who wishes to study Agriculture at Lincoln University.
Charlie is studying a Bachelor of Agriculture (Commerce) degree: father Joe made the same journey 30 years ago. He said his father knew Simon, and went to his farm a few times.
Charlie is on farm visits already as part of his course, and said farming methods were a bit different from home.
“There’s a lot more water here.”
He has had a “couple of gap years” after school, working initially and then travelling around Europe and Canada before committing to full-time study.
He thought studying at Lincoln, especially the practical basis of the course would be more beneficial than in Australia, where he said there was more time spent in the classroom.
“It’s a different perspective. It’s good to see the way the Kiwis do it.”
He is looking forward to the work experience components of his courses – one of which is working on a dairy farm, which he has never been on, but will be able to compare the difference in sheep farming, when he spends time on a New Zealand version, as his family run sheep on their 2000 acres at home.
He is enjoying his time living on campus in the Halls, with “heaps of different people” and has made “awesome friends” and there is always something happening on campus. It reminds him of boarding school at Hale in Perth where he spent his high school years.
He has plans to buy a car and see some of the country, as well as tramping and mountain biking, and is already involved in sport at Lincoln, becoming part of a rowing crew, which will be competing in the North Island next month.
“No AFL though, might have to start up a New Zealand League.”