Narrabri’s Campeys donate $400,000 ag research injection

Ron and Gloria Campey have donated $400,000 to the University of Sydney, a gift that will go towards scholarships for grains research students.

Mr Campey sees the benefit of helping young people to have a start in the right direction.

"Over the years I have given a few young people a start in business; if young kids don't get a start it can be very hard," Mr Campey said.

And despite retirement, Mr Campey's own legacy of farming is set to live on.

His farm, "L'lara", has also been sold to the University and will be used for research purposes and the property is to be renamed "Campey Farm".

It is next to the University's IA Watson Research Centre.

The property will feature small scale and large-scale research plots and cattle grazing systems.

"The university has leased the bottom 500ha during the past five years. This area is similar to (the research) farm and is able to be irrigated from their existing water supply - this in itself is a huge bonus and is only 100 metres from their boundary."

Mr Campey (pictured with his wife Gloria) purchased the property in 1977.

Prior to that he operated his own farm machinery business in town employing about 30 people.

"The beauty of the farm is that it is right next door to their property, it is a good-sized farm and beautifully set up," he said.

The property consists of about 1850ha.

"It is vital we keep researching and keep developing new strains of plants," Mr Campey said.