UNSW alumnus and past scholarship recipient Ken Haylan has always lived with purpose – now he’s leaving a lasting gift to help others do the same.
UNSW Commerce alumnus Ken Haylan is quiet and patient, shaped by decades working on his farm in the Central Tablelands of NSW. When it’s time to move his cattle from one paddock to another, he doesn’t herd them, he leads them.
“I’m not very gung-ho,” he said. “I just go down and tell them where they need to go, and they follow me through the gate.”
Now in his 80s, Ken continues to work on his farm, where he follows the principles of regenerative agriculture. It’s a thoughtful and sustainable approach to farming that restores degraded soil and brings overgrazed paddocks back to life.
This calm measured approach to life and work has been a constant throughout Ken’s life – from his time at UNSW in the 1950s and ’60s to his international corporate career and eventual return to the land.
From Sydney to the world stage
Ken grew up on a small farm holding in outer Sydney. His parents weren’t in a position to fund his aspirations of studying commerce at university but a scholarship from CSR Limited made that dream possible, along with a nudge from his high school economics teacher.
“He said a practical course would be a good fit for me,” Ken said.
Ken took the advice and enrolled in a commerce degree at UNSW in 1959. Life as a full-time worker and part-time scholarship student was tough. Three days each week, Ken took a 7am train into the city for a full day’s work, followed by lectures at UNSW until 9pm.
Things got a little easier two years into his degree when Ken’s strong academic results prompted CSR to support him in becoming a full-time student. He moved into Basser College, joined the House Committee and the Commerce Society, signed up for the debating team and was elected to the Student Council.
“I really took to the University life, although not so much in the sporting area. I sort of failed under-21 rugby,” he said.
After graduating, Ken pursued a career with an American consumer products firm, working in Malaysia, and later joined a global investment firm in London. After returning to Australia, he was director of two investment banks and served as General Manager of a large pastoral and agricultural business. Then, almost 30 years ago, he began a new life as a cattle farmer.
A gift that reflects a life well lived
Ken has remained closely connected to UNSW, serving as President of the UNSW Alumni Association. In the late 1980s he played a key role in the launch of the UNSW Foundation, a body created to raise philanthropic support for students, research and teaching.
“I was attracted to the idea of providing support for students who might not otherwise get a tertiary education. There was a clear need,” he said.
Around this time, he decided to leave a gift in his Will. His bequest is directed to scholarships that address financial disadvantage.
“Sometimes an opportunity is all it takes,” Ken said. “Having a scholarship made a difference for me. I’d like to think I can do the same for someone else – even in a small way.”
What would he say to someone thinking of leaving a gift in their Will?
“I would say, ‘There is no direct benefit to you, except the satisfaction that, someday, somebody else will benefit from what you have chosen to do.’
“Each gift on its own may feel small, but when countless people choose to give, the collective impact becomes truly extraordinary.”
You can create lasting opportunities for future generations by including UNSW in your Will. For more information, contact Janet Hall at giftsinwills@unsw.edu.au or +61 478 492 032.
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