The Adrian Turton Memorial Scholarship aims to help DIAA members further their professional development. The scholarship supports the cost of travel and/or study for one DIAA member each year. This may include short-term or full-time study courses. The proposed course of study must be relevant to and return a benefit for the Australian dairy industry.
Applications close on 30 September each year, for travel in the following year.
In 2021, we needed to do things a little differently But rather than cancel the scholarship, we offered a $5,000 scholarship for domestic studies.
Who can apply
This scholarship is available to all financial members of the Dairy Industry Association of Australia who have been members for two or more years.
How to apply
To apply for the scholarship, please write a letter of application that addresses the following criteria:
- Proposed travel and/or study itinerary (events, places and people you intend to visit and/or training study course you intend to undertake using scholarship funds)
- The benefit and relevance of the travel and/or course of study to your career development
- The benefit of the travel/course of study to the Australian dairy food manufacturing industry at large
- Proposal for reporting or communicating information/knowledge gained from the scholarship to the wider dairy industry
- Your current involvement in DIAA
- Your CV and full contact details
Your application will not be considered without written permission from your employer, where relevant, to undertake the professional development proposed in the letter of application, as well as their full permission to report on the travel and/or studies funded by the scholarship to the wider Australian dairy industry.
Selection process
The scholarship winner is chosen by the DIAA Scholarship Selection Panel. At the discretion of the Selection Panel, if the criteria or requirements are not fully met by any applicants in a given year, the DIAA may withhold the scholarship until the following year.
Scholarship conditions
The scholarship winner must submit a fully costed project budget before undertaking their proposed travels and/or course of study. Upon the completion of their proposed travel and/or course of study, the scholarship winner will be required to complete the following requirements prior to having their travel/study expenses reimbursed:
- Communicate their travel and/or study outcomes to the wider dairy processing industry at the discretion of the DIAA, including but not limited to a report for Australian Dairy Foods magazine, social media and presentations at DIAA events (for example, DIAA Regional Branch conference or regional meeting in the applicant’s home State, as well as the DIAA Victorian Regional Branch Conference; the applicant must be available to travel further afield for presentations at the discretion and expense of the DIAA)
- Complete all communication requirements regarding the outcome of the study in a timely manner as specified by the DIAA
- Submit all receipts verifying expenditure to the DIAA
The scholarship winner must remain a financial DIAA member during their scholarship-funded travels and for at least one year afterwards
Past winners
Past scholarship winners have come from all sectors of the industry and used their scholarship funds to research topics ranging from processing technology, product innovation and dairy science
| Year | Recipient | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tim Gadischke, Coal River Farm & Pure Cheese | Dutch and Danish cheese production and niche marketing (on hold due to Covid restrictions) |
| 2018 | Jennifer Kaldy, Bulla Dairy Foods | Penn State Ice Cream Short Course, ice-cream benchmarking and the Vermont Cheese Trail |
| 2017 | Norman Repacholi, Dairy Australia | Dairy farmer and processor relationship best practice |
| 2016 | Jolanta Ganczarczyk, SA Dairy Authority | Raw milk: consumer choice or pathogen cocktail? |
| 2013 | Paul Wilson, Nimbin Valley Dairy | The art and science of affinage |
| 2012 | Dave Tarlinton, Norco | Ice-cream trends and innovation from the US |
| 2011 | Justine McCarthy, Lion Dairy & Drinks | Hands-on cheesemaking in France |
| 2010 | Gina Dal Santo, TAFE SA | Cheese judging and Italian cheese |