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Rural Science graduates return to celebrate 'McClymont vision'

September 26, 2006

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About 150 graduates returned to The University of New England last weekend to celebrate the foundation - 50 years ago - of the University's world-renowned Rural Science degree program, and the vision of its founder, Bill McClymont.

Coming from throughout Australia and abroad, they represented one-tenth of all the people - more than 1,500 of them - who have gained a Bachelor of Rural Science degree from UNE. Through those graduates, the "McClymont vision" has made a positive impact on farm-based industries in Australia, the Asia Pacific region, and beyond.

Titled "Celebrating the McClymont Vision", the reunion events included a full-day forum on Friday with the theme "Rural Science in the context of Australian agricultural education". In opening the forum, Professor Peter Flood, UNE's Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), explained how Professor McClymont's integrated approach to agriculture and animal husbandry - his holistic view of the soil-plant-animal complex - had "put UNE at the forefront of agriculture both nationally and internationally".

During the forum, Professor McClymont's daughter Vicki Poulter presented the Head of the School of Rural Science and Agriculture, Associate Professor Geoff Hinch, with a framed outline - sketched by her father - of rural science education based on holistic principles. "His vision and his legacy are more important today than ever," Ms Poulter said.

The participants in the celebration included agricultural researchers, administrators and extension officers as well as primary producers. Dr Geoffrey Fox, who graduated Bachelor of Rural Science in 1965 and PhD (also from UNE) in 1969, held several important positions in the World Bank, including that of Director, Rural Development and Natural Resource Management, for the East Asia and Pacific Region. Dr Fox, who is Principal Rural Development Adviser for the Australian Agency for International Development (and an Adjunct Professor at UNE), was guest speaker at the reunion dinner on Saturday evening. He said his study of Rural Science at UNE had given him not only an "exciting, world-wide career", but also an "analytical framework" that he used every day.

Among the primary producers were Darvall Hickson and his son John from a family property at Boomi near Moree. They are both UNE Rural Science graduates (1962 and 1992 respectively), and say the "McClymont vision" informs much of what they do. "It helps us look outside the square," said John Hickson, who manages the livestock side of the property, and who has moved to more sustainable grazing systems.

After the celebrations, Dr Hinch said it had been "a very enjoyable weekend". "And the forum has provided us with a springboard for planning the next decade of teaching in Rural Science and Agriculture," he added.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Professors James Rowe (left) and Geoffrey Fox at the Rural Science reunion.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at September 26, 2006 02:29 PM