The John Riley Memorial Travel Award is proudly sponsored and supported by the Queensland Pig Consultancy Group.
Background
The QPCG was formed in 1993 and since that time has taken a leading role in the transfer of knowledge and new technologies to the group’s members and, in turn, their clients in the pig industry in Queensland and beyond.
It has 70 members drawn from the public, private and commercial sectors.
Their expertise covers a wide range of interests including nutrition, veterinary science, genetics and business management.
John Riley was a passionate supporter of the pork industry.
His influence, knowledge and guidance were appreciated by those who knew and worked with him.
John began his involvement with the sector in the United Kingdom in 1960 and continued that association from 1993 in Australia.
John worked closely with family businesses in Queensland and interstate and strongly encouraged the adoption of business principles to ensure industry longevity.
He was a strong believer in travel to broaden the mind, increase knowledge and for personal growth and development.
Sadly, John Riley passed away on his eighty-fourth birthday in 2023.
In recognition of John’s commitment to the Australian pork industry, the John Riley Memorial Travel Award has been established.
The award will be offered every two years commencing in 2024.
John Riley
Purpose of the award
The John Riley Memorial Travel Award has been designed to assist a member of a family pork business to travel overseas and investigate a topic or issue they are passionate about and that is of benefit to their business and the wider industry.
This award is not limited to any one specific topic, however the purpose of the trip must be innovative, benefit the business and have application to the wider pork sector.
Applicants can design their own trip to explore international best practice and innovation that can be applied in Australia.
Air travel, in-country transportation, registration fees, accommodation and meals are applicable costs that will be covered by the award.
The award can be used to wholly fund the travel or can be combined with other funds to enable the learning experience to be achieved.
Amount of the award
The total award is valued up to $10,000.
Application guidelines
The application must meet all the following criteria:
- The application must be from an individual, not a group
- The applicant must have at least two years’ experience on-farm and the application must be supported by the applicant’s employer
- The topic to be researched must be related to some aspect of the Australian pork industry, including but not limited to production, environmental management, waste management, biosecurity, welfare and such
- The application must detail how the funding will be used – indicative costs for travel, accommodation and such – and indicate how the investment will benefit the business and industry
- The applicant must only use the funds provided for reimbursement of actual travel expenses – this award must not be used to reimburse wages or gratuities
- The applicant must be willing to provide their time to present their findings to at least one producer meeting and a QPCG meeting
- The successful applicant must complete the approved travel and meeting presentations within 12 months of the award being announced, unless approved by the committee
- Within three months of completion of the travel, the applicant must submit a brief report listing findings and results of travel to the QPCG committee
- The applicants must make themselves available to give a presentation to the committee to support their application, if the committee deems this necessary
- The application must be supported by two industry related referees
- For the application form and further information, contact Sara Willis at sara.willis@daf.qld.gov.au or 0423 027 053.
Closing date
Applications will close at 5pm on Friday March 8, 2024.
Completed applications are to be emailed to Sara Willis.
No late applications will be accepted.
The successful applicant will be announced within two weeks of the closing date.
The QPCG committee’s decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into.
