Industry mourns MH17 colleague
The Great Southern agricultural industry is still reeling from the news a senior researcher who dedicated more than 30 years to alleviating salinity across the region was among the seven West Australians who died on ill-fated flight MH17 last week.
Arjen Ryder, 54, would have marked 32 years working for the Department of Agriculture and Food WA in September, and was due to return to work this week after a holiday with wife Yvonne, 53.
Mr Ryder was to be honoured with a 30-year service award in recognition of his efforts, which focused on rehabilitating saline land across the region with perennial pasture.
During his career, Mr Ryder helped rehabilitate thousands of hectares of land with DAFWA.
The Albany resident was well-known and respected as a specialist in the field of hydrology and perennial plants.
DAFWA director-general Rob Delane said Mr Ryder was a highly valued employee who people would sorely miss.
"Based at Albany, Mr Ryder was a highly regarded senior technical officer in the area of soil, land and water resources, contributing many years of valued service with the department," he said.
"We will miss a great friend and colleague. Our thoughts are with the Ryder family and our many colleagues who worked closely with him."
Mr Ryder started with the department in September 1982 after studying agricultural science at Muresk Institute of Agriculture in Northam from 1978-1980.
He co-authored several research papers about salinity and groundwater resources, and carried out trials on the effect of nitrogen and lime on pasture systems in a bid to rehabilitate farming land.
South Coast Natural Resource Management chief executive Carl Beck said Mr Ryder's work was respected across the Great Southern agricultural region.
"Mr Ryder was a valued colleague whose work over many years made a considerable contribution to sustainable agriculture and conservation in the region, especially his work with perennial species," he said.
