ROCA Award of Merit

The ROCA Award of Merit is bestowed annually on a ROCA member who has made a meritorious contribution in any field of activity relating to their studies during the Roseworthy Agricultural College era, Roseworthy CAE era or the Campus era of Adelaide University, and/or their contribution to the affairs of the Association.

Nominees are subjected to a great deal of scrutiny, assessment and profound insight.  Recipients of the ROCA Award of Merit are held in the highest regard by the ROCA organisation, its members and the general community.

Nominations

Nominations for the ROCA Award of Merit are now open. 

Nominators are to provide details of their nominee`s career since leaving Roseworthy, plus details of their
service to industry, the community and ROCA. As the background detail may take some time to collate,
ROCA urges nominators to start this important process as soon as possible.

Nominators and nominee must be current ROCA members.

>> Download Nomination form

Nominations should be sent by mail to:
Roseworthy Campus Association,
P.O. Box 503,
Kent Town SA 5071

or by e-mail to: roca.committee@gmail.com

Nominations must be received no later than 30th June each year.

The ROCA Award of Merit will be presented at ROCA's Annual Dinner. 

Rules

Rules governing the ROCA Award of Merit:

  1. ROCA shall annually award a medal to a member of the Association who is made a meritorious contribution to any field of activity relating to their studies during the College era or the Campus era of the Roseworthy Campus of Adelaide University, and/or their contribution to the affairs of the Association.
  2. Nominees for the Award must be a Member of the Association, and the nomination shall be signed by two members of the Association.
  3. Nominations must be made on the Standard Form.
  4. Nominations should include a resume detailing the nominee's career and, as appropriate, details of published papers, other qualifications, awards and honours and achievements. Nominations should also include details of the nominee’s broader service to industry, government, the community and to the Association. References from colleagues familiar with the nominee’s career and achievements should be included.
  5. A Selection Committee, comprising four members, plus the President of the Association, shall be appointed annually by the Association Committee. The four appointed members shall be broadly representative of the fields of activity of the courses delivered during the College era and the Campus era of the Roseworthy Campus of the University of Adelaide.
  6. Nominations must reach the Secretary of the Association by 30th June each year.
  7. On the recommendation of the Selection Committee, nominations not selected for the Award may be carried forward for consideration in the following year.
  8. The President of the Association, who shall have a casting vote only, shall be the Convener of the Selection Committee.
  9. Three members, one of whom must be the President of the Association, shall form a quorum.
  10. In the event of a member of the Association Committee or the Selection Committee being nominated for the Award, that member will stand down from all discussions and deliberations pertaining to the Award for that year.
  11. The Selection Committee shall select the recipient no later than four weeks prior to the date of the presentation of the Award.
  12. The members of the Association Committee and the Selection Committee are not to, in any circumstance, disclose the names of nominees for the Award.

>> Download ROCA Award of Merit Rules

Latest Recipient - 2025

Ian Bidstrup

Ian Leslie Bidstrup (RDA 1965) graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College with a Diploma in Agriculture.

After secondary education at Urrbrae Agricultural High School and graduation from Roseworthy Agricultural College, Ian Bidstrup returned to the College in 1968 and 1969 as Assistant Farm Manager.

He then took on farm management roles at Collinsville in Queensland and Mingenew in Western Australia.

In 1981 Ian Bidstrup was appointed Operations Manager of the University of Adelaide’s Martindale Holdings, an agricultural enterprise that grew from the initial Martindale property at Mintaro to include the Munduney property in the Mid North at Spalding, Moralana Station in the Flinders Ranges north of Hawker, Glenthorne farm south of Adelaide and the former Roseworthy Agricultural College, now Roseworthy Campus farm.

He was appointed General Manager of Martindale Holdings in 1992, a position he held until his retirement in 2011.  During Ian Bidstrup’s 30 years with Martindale Holdings, the properties evolved to encompass a cropping program of 5,058 hectares, running 25,000 sheep and 2,000 cattle.

He also utilised a new irrigation pipeline to the Mid North from the Murray to establish a shiraz, cabernet and riesling vineyard on the Martindale property.

In a career ranging from sub-tropical farming in North Queensland to managing the agricultural operations of one of the nation’s largest wheat and sheep operations in Western Australia, Ian Bidstrup has inspired new generations of practical farmers.

Ian Bidstrup - Award of Merit 2025
Ian Bidstrup

Award of Merit Recipients

TitleContentLink
2025 – Ian BidstrupDownload
2024 – Bardy McFarlaneDownload
2023 – Neil PontifexDownload
2022 – Graeme PopeDownload
2021 – Dr Louisa RoseDownload
2020 – Professor Wayne HeinDownload
2019 – Allan PiggottDownload
2018 – John Crosby AMDownload
2017 – Rev Brian PolkinghorneDownload
2016 – David Lewis OAMDownload
2015 – Richard FewsterDownload
2014 – Hon. Peter DunnDownload
2013 – Alan RichardsonDownload
2012 – Vic Patrick OAMDownload
2011 – Raymond Taylor †Download
2010 – Dr Ray Beckwith OAM †Download
2009 – Ian Hickinbotham OAM †Download
2008 – Philip Young AM †Download
2007 – Wilf Bowen OAM †Download
2006 – Brian WilsonDownload
2005 – Ronald Mertin AM †Download
2004 – John Vickery OAM †Download
2003 – Philip Laffer AMDownload
2002 – Dr Graham Mitchell AODownload
2001 – Brian Jefferies AM †Download
2000 – Grant Paech †Download
1999 – Don Moyle †Download
1998 – Ian Young †Download
1997 – James Pocock †Download
1996 – Robert Knappstein †Download
1995 – Grant Mayfield †Download
1994 – Brian Hannaford †Download
1993 – Bob Baker †Download
1992 – Rex Anderson †Download
1991 – Scott Dolling OAM †Download
1990 – Tony Summers †Download
1989 – Ray Norton †Download
1988 – Reg French †Download
1987 – Robin Steed †Download
1986 – Dr John Obst †Download
1985 – Hon Dr Bruce Eastick AM †Download
1984 – David Suter †Download
1983 – Ralph Hewett Jones †Download
1982 – Milton Spurling †Download
1981 – Andrew Michelmore †Download
1980 – Cliff Hooper †Download
1979 – Dr Mark Hutton †Download
1978 – Henry Day AO †Download
1977 – Des Habel †Download
1976 – Len Laffer †Download
1975 – Ken Pike †Download
1974 – Lex Walker AM †Download
1973 – Rex Kuchel †Download
1972 – Rex Krause †Download
1971 – Professor Rex Butterfield †Download
1970 – Ron Badman †Download
1969 – (John) Jack Reddin OAM †Download
1968 – Denis Muirhead †Download
1967 – Bob Herriot OBE †Download
1966 – Sir Allan Callaghan CMG †Download
1965 – Frank Pearson †Download
1964 – William Dawkins OBE †Download
1963 – Len Cook †Download
1962 – Dr David Riceman †Download
1961 – Roland Hill OBE †Download

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