By Mikayla van Loon
The life and legacy of Wandin’s ‘gentleman winemaker’ Wally Zuk is being carried on in the next generation of viticulture enthusiasts as they take a step towards university studies.
Inaugural Wally Zuk Award recipient at Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Selby Borg-Mcilroy was officially presented with the scholarship on Friday 1 April by Judy Zuk.
“My husband had four degrees. The last one was wine science from Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. He was always very interested in education but I think his dream was to get a vineyard and I went along with it and it turned out to be a wonderful experience for both of us,” Ms Zuk said.
“So I think this is wonderful because it’s going to promote viticulture in the Yarra Valley.”
Part of the criteria for graduating students to receive the $1500 scholarship was they needed to undertake a university degree in agriculture.
Originally from Healesville, Mr Borg-Mcilroy started his degree earlier this year in agriculture sciences at the University of Melbourne that integrates scientific, environmental, economic, and social considerations in all aspects of agriculture.
“Studying agriculture here [at MLMC] I found that I really liked it and enjoyed it and wanted to do something outside. I don’t want to be stuck in an office and agriculture is pretty perfect for that,” he said.
“I was definitely not expecting it, especially to be the first person to receive this is quite an honour.”
With a passion for winemaking, agriculture economics and biodynamics, Mr Borg-Mcilroy said his VCE studies at MLMC really prepared him for the practical skills needed for his university studies.
Agriculture teacher Tim Thompson said for himself, seeing Mr Zuk’s memory continued on in this way was quite close to him having started his own career on the family’s vineyard Five Oaks.
“It’s, for me personally, a significant award because I feel a great deal of personal indebtedness to Wally and Judy, and also to the industry around the Yarra Valley for supporting the programs at the school to engage youth with them again,” he said.
“It also means that students who don’t quite fit in with your standard studies have a place to be and become excited about going to school.”
Mr Thompson said agriculture also offers a number of job and career opportunities for students that they may not be aware of and he was so pleased to see the success of his former student in the field.
Deputy principal of learning and teaching Anita Kay-Taylor said while agriculture and horticulture studies at MLMC have a long history, it has taken a new form with the introduction of the award.
“This award raises and elevates this particular area of our curriculum… and the necessity is not simply because there’s someone out there who’s wanting to sponsor, there’s a future and sustainability in it,” she said.
“So for ag-hor to be leading in that area, curriculum wise and pathway wise, that’s really something where we’re very thankful for and proud of that Tim’s made that pathway possible for [students].”
Winemaking for Mr Zuk was a dream he turned into a business having first completed a PhD in nuclear physics, as well as working to reduce radioisotopes in medicine for over a decade.
“Wine was his way of embracing his passion and he studied it for fun,” Mr Thompson said.
“It was a fun occupation but as a business it was very real…We both loved it because of the people we met and the fun we had,” Ms Zuk said.
When Mr Zuk died in September last year, Ms Zuk asked that friends and family donate to a charity of their choice rather than send flowers.
The result was the scholarship set up in her husband’s name with funds for at least 10 years.
As a family with international recognition in the wine industry and with connections with many Yarra Valley but also interstate wineries, Ms Zuk said the opportunities for the scholarship recipient don’t just come from the prize money but from the relationships that can be forged.
