Ryder scholarship a worthy tribute

Almost a year after Albany couple Arjen and Yvonne Ryder were killed aboard ill-fated Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, UWA is in the final stages of establishing a scholarship to honour Mr Ryder's career.

Mr and Mrs Ryder were among 27 Australians who died when the plane was shot down over Ukraine last July.

The couple, who had lived in Albany for 25 years, were on their way home from a European holiday as part of Mr Ryder's long service leave.

Mr Ryder, 54, was a Department of Agriculture and Food WA senior technical officer and a prominent figure in the agriculture industry after dedicating more than 30 years to projects across the State.

His family, the department and UWA set up a memorial scholarship fund in September to recognise his expertise in soil biology and reducing salinity.

A UWA spokesman said an undergraduate scholarship worth $5000 a year for three years would be awarded to an Albany student studying at UWA's Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management in coming months.

It will support a student in their second and third year of studies and possibly a year of honours.

"Work is underway with the scholarship office to draw up the conditions and eligibility criteria and we hope to announce the recipient in due course," the spokesman said.

Mr Ryder's sister Rachel de Ruiter said she was pleased the bursary was progressing.

"I am really happy to hear the scholarship fund is coming together to provide practical support to someone who may be struggling financially," she said.

"It is great to hear it will help those interested in working in that area to continue the work he was so passionate about."

Work is underway with the scholarship office to draw up the conditions and eligibility criteria and we hope to announce the recipient in due course. UWA spokesman