Trevor Drayton was born in 1955, a fifth generation winemaker and a member of one Australia’s pioneering wine families. The Draytons planted their first vines in the Hunter Valley in 1853 and Trevor carried on the tradition with distinction, widely recognised as an icon in the industry. His brilliant career was tragically cut short in 2008 when he lost his life in an industrial accident during harvest.
In 2009 a group of friends and associates decided that Trevor’s memory should be honoured by the industry to which he had contributed so much. They established a scholarship programme open to the next generation aspiring to a career in the wine and hospitality industry. The scholarships would be tailored to each individuals needs and aimed to help them further their careers and achieve the same level of excellence as Trevor.

The Trevor Drayton Scholarship committee held its first fundraising luncheon on the 1st anniversary of Trevor’s death. The first scholarship was awarded the following year as part of what has now become an important annual fundraising event attended by members of the industry.

The Scholarship committee currently has funds available to assist individuals working or training in wine and hospitality to further their studies, and is inviting applications from those involved in the wine, hotel and restaurant industries, including TAFE Students studying related courses.