Finley High School’s agriculture students have taken out a number of prestigious awards at the Melbourne Royal Show, further solidifying their status as a leader within agricultural education.

The students from Finley did not come home empty-handed, in fact, they swept the pool for awards in the beef categories.

Among the highlights of the show was winning the Borthwick Trophy, awarded to the winning team that gained the highest aggregate score from both the live and carcase judging.

It is considered one of Australia’s premier carcase awards.

The Borthwick Trophy win indicated a strong overall performance from the school in the different categories they did enter.

Other prizes included first place in the hoof component of the competition, the Bott-Burston Trophy for the most successful school or college exhibitor across both the led and carcase judging, the Marcus Oldham College Trophy for the highest scoring school or college exhibit based on carcase judging results and the Melbourne Polytechnic Trophy for the highest scoring exhibit bred by a school or college based on carcase judging results and finally.

Finley High School is lucky to have Gary Webb and Robyn O’Leary providing guidance to the show team students.

Both staff members are long-serving teachers in agriculture, and both are inducted members of the Melbourne Royal Show’s Beef Cattle Hall of Fame.

Mr Webb’s induction was made this year.

Having such esteemed, knowledgeable and well-respected staff members in the field is sure to aid any student in their journey with agriculture.

Speaking with Mr Webb about the results from the weekend, he touched on the element of surprise he had from the results.

“There really wasn’t much we didn’t win, it was unbelievable, it was a really busy program this year,” he said.

“This is the third year in a row where we have seen improvement from the year previous.”

This year the improvement proved to be just enough to get the Finley High entrants over the line for their wins.

Mr Webb also touched on the work that culminated in the school taking out the awards at the Melbourne Royal Show.

“All three cows nominated for the Borthwick Trophy, which the school won, were born and raised at Finley High School. The bull that they come from is on site at the school,” he said.

The mountain of work the two staff members and the collective of students has gotten through is to be admired, from the beginning of the journey from a bull, to the birth, then raising the calves and finally, maintaining a routine with the cattle.

“Students have spent anywhere between six and close to 12 months with these cows.

“The process has already begun for next year, getting things in place and order for the next Melbourne Show and do it all again.”

The school’s performance at the Melbourne Royal Show could be their best to date, particularly as far as awards go.

It will be particularly pleasing for the students and staff members who gave up time in their holidays to be able to be involved in the Melbourne Royal Show.

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Thursday, 22nd May 2025

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