Scott Sargood Memorial Scholarship
In 2019 Southern Queensland lost one of its greatest agricultural and environmental advocates. Scott Sargood's family and friends rallied and in 2020 The Scott Sargood Memorial Prize was established through UniSQ to pay tribute to 'The Mulga Man', his knowledge of the land and generosity of spirit. Now a scholarship it is awarded annually and commemorates Scott's life and dedication to the environment by supporting students studying Environmental Studies (REN1201) at UniSQ.
Project News
2021 Scott Sargood Memorial Prize awarded to Genavieve Jurd and Mark Bray
The memory of Scott Sargood and his impact on the region's agricultural communities is inspiring future generations of environmentl scientsts.
In order to continue his legacy, the Univesity of Southern Queensland and Southern Queensland Landscapes came together to create the Scott Sargood Memorial Prize, following his death in a mustering accident near his Charleville property in 2019.
The prize is awarded to the University's top performing environmental students in honor of 'The Mulga Man's' commitment to Queensland's mulga lands and his passion for quality science to support different bioregions around the state.
'The Mulga Man' - Scott Sargood
Scott Sargood was known across the Eastern Seaboard as the voice of reason amidst the inadequacies of vegetation management laws introduced in 2018. He fought for land managers to be able to sustainably manage mulga regrowth and use the mulga as livestock fodder.
A self-made man with a can-do attitude who carved a reputation while shearing and buffel picking ultimately purchasing three properties in the Charleville district and further developing them during one of Queensland's worst droughts.
A champion polocrosse player and well-known horseman; Scott is survived by his wife Adma and children Mitch and Bonnie.
What are the Rangelands?
Rangelands are those areas of Australia where the rainfall is too low and unreliable and the soils too poor to support regular cropping. They cover about 80% of Australia and include savannas, woodlands, shrublands, grasslands and wetlands.
The Rangelands are also important to the Australian economy generating annual revenue through mining in excess of $12 billion, tourism great than $2 billion and $2.4 billion through pastoralism and agriculture combined.
The Rangelands are home to many of Australia's First Nations and are culturally very important to Aboriginal people.
We are committed to further developing recipients of the Scott Sargood Memorial Scholarship through Croxdale Station - a 4,500 hectare property located 15-kilometres from Charleville dedicated to learning and development of the Rangelands.
Environmental Studies (REN1201)
UniSQ's Environmental Studies unit (REN1201) provides a general induction and overview of the emergence of environmental issues at a global scale. The course focuses on ecological principles for thinking about the environment, the links between society and environment and the concept of sustainability.
Issues examined from a global perspective include land and water resource utilisation, mining and fishing, energy production and use, atmospheric pollution, urban systems and water management.
The role of politics and economics in the move towards environmental sustainability will also be examaned.
