by Nick Rowe
Ripplebrook farmer Christopher Dunne was recently presented with a $10,000 scholarship from the State Government as part of the "2023 Upskill and Invest Young Farmers" scholarship awards at Parliament House.
The award was one of only 14 presented across the state from more than 200 applicants. Farmers were judged on a number of criteria culminating in an extensive interview with the Department of Agriculture. $5000 of the award is allocated to invest on the farm with the remaining $5000 to go to further education for award recipients.
Chris manages "Urban Tree Growers" on the family farm on Westernport Rd in Ripplebrook, where he lives with his wife Beth - who also works in the business - and their two children. Urban Tree Growers grows and prepares both in ground and potted trees for retail customers and wholesale clients such as councils and developers.

The farm grows a variety of ornamental feature trees for gardens, stre