Winter Edition – No: 47 2015
CREATIVE YET REALISTIC. BUT AGAINST THE LAW??? AT THE VERY LEAST IT GETS PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT AG!!!
President: Justin Connors Manilla Central School Wilga Avenue Manilla NSW 2346 02 6785 1185 www.nswaat.org.au [email protected] ABN Number: 81 639 285 642
Secretary: Carl Chirgwin Griffith High School Coolah St, Griffith NSW 2680 02 6962 1711 [email protected]. au President‘s Report 2 Membership List 4 Treasurer: Graham Quintal NSWAAT Winter Muster 9 16 Finlay Ave Beecroft NSW 2119 National Conference 11 0422 061 477 Competitions, Events and Information 14 [email protected] Updates 19 Technology & Communication: Ag Articles 20 Ian Baird Young NSW Upcoming Ag Events 30 02 6382 7950 [email protected] Ag Resources 31 Internet Sensations 42 Ben Bowman Scone High School Smart Phone Apps 45 [email protected] Schools in the News 46 Georgina Price Primary Industries Education Foundation Snippets 48 Forbes High School [email protected] Around the Traps 50
BAAT Editor: Erin O’Neill Lake Cargelligo Central School [email protected]
Robbie Ashurst Crestwood High School [email protected]
Email List Manager: Jashim Uddin Broken Hill High School [email protected]
SAAG Reps: Graeme Harris (Farrer) [email protected]
Rob Henderson (Tomaree High) [email protected]
EDMODO Phil Armour (Yass High) [email protected]
Archivists: Tony Butler (Tumut High) [email protected]
Phil Hurst (Hawkesbury) [email protected]
Nigel Cox (Singleton) 1
2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au
Previously in our BGM at Ballina 2015 as a collective group we voted to amend our constitution and become unincorporated. Since this decision, we have been advised via the Professional Teachers Council and Fair Trading NSW, to not go through with this and cancel our application to no longer be incorporated for various insurance reasons. Ivan Gant has led the way with this process, outlining for NSWAAT to meet future incorporation obligations we need to sequentially complete the following: · Revise our constitution from the existing 1996 model on file with Fair Trading to include statements like online meetings are held to pass motions. · Send an email to all members with the new constitution attached outlining that we are holding a special meeting online, via Skype to: · Pass a resolution to adopt the new constitution. This will enable the association to hold online AGMs in years where there is no conference. · Pass a resolution rescinding the motion to cancel incorporation.
You will receive an email in the near future explaining how and when we are planning to host our first online meeting for all financial members to begin this formal process of amending our constitution.
On another note, Carl and I have been working closely with Michelle Fifield from DPI, looking into some exciting prospects of further building our relationship with NSW DPI. This will involve opening up possible opportunities for DPI to run exclusive training sessions at their various facilities, linking specific training sessions to NSW board of studies syllabus and VET outcomes. One of the ideas floated was that of running ―VET workshops‖ whereby a region of schools would be invited to attend a 2 or 3 day workshop, utilising DPI‘s resources and trainers. Various VET competencies could be practiced and then assessed (via that student‘s teacher) over the couple of days. This will be especially useful to those schools who have limited resources available, not to mention the excellent networking opportunities to see and learn from other trainers, honing one‘s skills even more. Once again, I will be forwarding out further information via email regarding Michelle‘s plans.
I have also been working on creating a small group to hold a biannual ―green teachers conference‖. This will be available for first and second year out teachers who are beginning their career as Ag teachers. This will be run on the off year (away from our biannual conference). Ideally this will be a registered course, utilising some more experienced teachers and professionals to provide tuition and advice on current
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au practices. My thoughts were to base this 3 or 4 day workshop in Tamworth early term 2 2016. The location will change depending on executive and available trainers. Skills and info to include; · Animals in schools · Chemicals (providing participants with appropriate training and chemcert certification) · Provision of various resources, info on schools budgets and ideas on running school farms · And last but not least, lots of networking.
This little ―green teachers conference‖ will be much like the Primary Industries training alot of us have completed and enjoyed with a very hands on approach focusing on skills and networking.
Finally an update on the NSWAAT Sydney conference 2017. The Sydney organising committee have hosted various meetings this year, to discuss locations, resources and activities. This all appears to be progressing smoothly. The executive of the NSWAAT are eagerly awaiting the Sydney committee‘s proposals on these plans whereby we can approve and start to publish in preparation of 2017 while also providing BOSTES enough time to make it a registered course.
Yours in Agriculture,
Justin Connors
INTERESTING??? AND WE CERTAINLY DON‘T HAVE OUR AG CLASSES EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK. MIGHT EXPLAIN SOME THINGS!
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June 2015
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Title First Name Surname School
1 Teacher of Agriculture Dapto High School
2 Teacher of Agriculture Moss Vale High School
3 Teacher of Agriculture Mudgee High School
4 Teacher of Agriculture Pennant Hills High School
5 Teacher of Agriculture Wingham High School
6 Teacher of Agriculture Woodenbong Central School
7 Teacher of Agriculture Wee Waa High School
8 Teacher of Agriculture Kingswood High School
9 Ms Susan ADAM Northern Beaches Christian School
10 Mr Bryon ADAMSON Corowa High School
11 Mrs Cassie ANDERSON St Paul's College
12 Mr Philip ARMOUR Yass High School
12 Ms Robbie ASHHURST Crestwood High School
13 Ms Megan ATKINSON Elderslie High School
14 Ms Sunrae BAILLIE Great Lakes College, Forster Campus
15 Mr David BAKER Macarthur Anglican College
16 Mrs Dianna BEALE Tumut High School
17 Mrs Susan BEHAN Denison College-Kelso High Campus
18 Miss Louise BIANCHI Prairiewood High School
19 Miss Erin BLAKE Hursltone Agricultural High School
20 Mr David BLOWES Molong Central School
22 Mr Ben BOWMAN Scone High School
23 Mr Graham BRAMLEY St Paul's College
24 Mr Eddie BUCKINGHAM Mullumbimby High School
25 Ms Jennifer CAINES Mount Annan Christian College
26 Mr Scott CALLAGHAN Mount Austin High
27 Mr Carl CHIRGWIN Griffith High School
28 Ms Tamara COLE Model Farms High School
29 Ms Stephanie COLGAN Red Bend Catholic College
30 Mr Justin CONNORS Manilla Central School
31 Mrs Elena DAGHER Bossley Park High School
32 Mrs Anita DE LA MOTTE Bomaderry High School
33 Miss Erin DENNIS Lake Cargelligo Central School
34 Miss Alice DORMAN Trangie Central School
35 Mrs Susan EARL Red Bend Catholic College
36 Mr Cameron ELLISON McAuley Catholic School Tumut
37 Mr Guy FAHEY Albury High School
38 Mrs Sarah FOSTER Dubbo Senior College Campus
39 Mr David GILLARD Wagga Wagga High School
40 Mr Milton GOWER Macarthur Anglican School
41 Mr Richard GRANT James Ruse Agricultural High School
42 Mrs Claire HARDY Menai High School
43 Mr Graeme HARRIS Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
44 Mrs Leonie HARRIS Frensham
45 Mrs Lois HARRISON Merriwa Central School
46 Mr Bill HASZARD Retired
47 Mr John HAWKINS Wingham High School
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48 Mr Colin HAWTHORN Red Bend Catholic College
49 Mr David HENRY Karabar Distance Education Centre
50 Mr Michael HOLLAND Scone Grammer School
51 Mr Ben HOLMES Alstonville High School
52 Mrs Kristina HOTSON Camden High School
53 Mr Peter HUMPHRIES Deniliquin High School
54 Mr Grant JACKSON Gosford High School
55 Mr Charlie JAMES Singleton High School
56 Ms Jacquie JOHNSON Pre-Service Trainee Teacher
57 Mrs Karen JOHNSTON Hursltone Agricultural High School
58 Mr Jarrod KELLY Kyogle High School
Ms Kerry Kete
59 Mrs Prue KESBY St Mary's College
60 Mr John KILLEEN Bossley Park High School
61 Mr Shayne LAWRENCE Dungog High School
62 Mr John LEHMAN Yolla District High School
63 Miss Renae LIDGARD Molong Central School
64 Mr Scott MACKENZIE GRC Penshurst Campus
65 Mr Steve MAGINNITY Alstonville High School
66 Miss Hayley MAHONEY Picton High School
67 Miss Melissa MARSHALL Moruya High School
68 Ms Diana MARTIN Murwillumbah High School
69 Mr Greg McALPIN Hurlstone Agriculture High School
70 Mr James McDONALD Yass High School
71 Mrs Leigh McLEAN Portland Central School
72 Mr Allan McMILLAN Wagga Wagga High School
73 Mrs Maree McNEIL Shoal Haven High School
74 Mr Mick MELINO St Johns College
75 Mr Luciano MESITI Colo High School
Mr Timothy MINEHAN Young High School
76 Ms Elizabeth MUDFORD St Francis de Sales Regional College
77 Mr David MULLER St John Evangelist Catholic High School
78 Mrs Rochelle MUTTON MacKillop College
79 Mrs Bronwyn NIELSEN Calrossy Anglican School
80 Mr Steven NOAKES Kadina High School
81 Mr Graham QUADE Tullamore Central School
82 Mr Graham QUINTAL Treasurer NSWAAT
83 Mr Renato RAMSAY Sydney Distance Education High School
84 Mr David RANDALL Richmond High School
85 Ms Tiffany ROBERTSON Coonamble High School
86 Mr Warwick ROLFE Hunter River High School
87 Mrs Katie ROWE Gulargambone Central School
88 Mr Peter RYAN Nowra High School
89 Mr David SAUNDERS Orana/Coffs Harbour
90 Mr Warwick SHAW Woodenbong Central School
91 Miss Nicole SIMMONS Warialda High School
92 Mr Paul SMITH Cowra High School
93 Mr Jade SMITH Dunedoo Central School
94 Mr Geoff SMITH Oakhill College
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95 Mrs Deb SNAITH Macintyre High School
96 Mr Stuart STOUT Leeton High School
97 Mr Leigh THATCHER Pittwater High School
98 Mrs Katie TWOMEY James Ruse Agricultural High School
99 Ms Caroline UNTERRHEINER Tumbarumba High School
100 Miss Skye VAN DEN BERGE Marion College
101 Mr Ron VICTOR Morisset High School
102 Ms Jane WALKER Chatham High School
103 Mrs Nikia WATERS Hillston Central School
104 Mr. Gary WEBB Finley High School
105 Miss Nicolet WESTERHOF Elizabeth Macarthur High School
106 Mr Mark WHITFELD All Saints College Bathurst
107 Mrs Melissa WILLCOCKS Ashford Central School
108 Mr Maurice WOODMAN Murray High School
109 Mrs Jennifer WOODWARD Byron Bay High School
110 Mr Luke WOODWARD Richmond River High School
111 Mrs Jan YOUNG Murrumburrah High School
Life Members
Ian BAIRD Tony BARNETT Don BARTHOLOMEW Lisle BROWN Tony BUTLER Peter CRICK Rod FRANCIS Ivan GANT Bob GUEST Graeme HARRIS Phil HURST Peter JONES John LEE Robyn O'LEARY Gail ROBERTS Norm ROBINSON Trevor SEWELL Jenni WILKINS
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Associate Membership
Sally BANNERMAN SACEC Arthur KELLY NSW BOSTES NSW RAS Sydney Olympic Park Cameron ARCHER Tocal College (NSW) Ben STOCKWIN PIEF (ACT) Jade HAUSER UNE (NSW)
Affiliate Membership – (NAAE)
Alysia KEPERT Agriculture Curriculum Consultant (WA) Andrew COSBY Elisabeth Murdoch College (VIC) Andrew JOKANTAS Nhill College (VIC)
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Membership of the Association
^ Membership fees to the NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers are now due:
If you are: not financial or a new graduate or TREASURER your membership status has lapsed
Graham Quintal & you require Resources. 16 Finlay Ave Beecroft NSW 2119 Aggie contacts. [email protected] Information/subsidies of Agriculture Teachers conferences. Assistance in your professional duties.
…t then you need to join the Association to assist in maintaining:
COMPLETE THE - the Association’s strength & support across the “APPLICATION FOR state, MEMBERSHIP ” - the place of your subject in the school curriculum, FORM ON THE NEXT - networking throughout the state, PAGE - delivery of a BAAT, once a term via email, & (Bulletin Association of Agriculture Teachers) SEND TO THE - your say in Agriculture & PI teaching issues, ASSOCIATION’S - access to professional readings. TREASURER WITH YOUR PAYMENT.
NSWAAT WEBSITE
www.nswaat.org.au Please visit the website and catch up on what has been happening. There are lots of photos from the Biennial Conference and many resource links to assist your teaching of Agriculture and Primary Industries.
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ABN: 81 639 285 642
TITLE NAME SCHOOL POSTAL ADDRESS
Postcode EMAIL PHONE FAX MOBILE DATE
MEMBERSHIP School Individual Payment Method
Email this Membership form to: [email protected]
Post cheque to: OR Pay via Direct Deposit: Graham Quintal Account Name: NSW Association of Agriculture Teachers 16 Finlay Ave BSB: 082 939 BEECROFT Account Number: 639 757 522 NSW 2119 Reference: Your Initial, Surname and "Memb".
MEMBERSHIP FEES: $60 / annum
MEMBERSHIP REQUESTED No of Years
PAYMENT $
* Membership is based on a calendar year.
Office Use Only
Date Received Receipt # Receipt Sent
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au National Association of Agricultural Educators Biennial conference, Western Australia, January 2016
“Excellence and Innovation in Agricultural Education”
SUNDAY JAN 10 MONDAY JAN 11 TUESDAY JAN WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 12 JAN 13 JAN 14 JAN 15 10am pick up Perth Conference opening Travelling day 9am CBD Harvey to NAAE BGM farewell Morning speakers Denmark and Travel to Harvey via Opportunitie transfer Mandurah visiting s for Choice of 2 to points of interest Australian routes. Albany/ along the way Agriculture Combination Combination Perth The Route 1: of of Thrombolites Agricultural “Steak and eggs presentation presentation at Lake Education tour” s, panel s, panel Clifton, landscape in discussions discussions Pinjarra WA (Travelling and field and field heritage sites Panel through Boyup trips related trips related discussion: Brook, Kojonup to to Attracting and Mt Barker agriculture agriculture students to viewing organic and and our industry beef agricultural agricultural production, free education education range eggs, Afternoon tours rolled oats, Arrive WACOA Harvey Choice of field tours indigenous food Great to local Harvey crops) Southern Check-in to businesses showcase- accommodation Route 2: choice of 2 “Fruit and veg tours: tour” (Travelling Tour 1: Tour of WACOA through Valley of the Harvey campus Bridgetown, Giants Manjimup and Treetop walk Mt Barker Tour of viewing WACOA Tour 2: trufferie, apple Denmark Albany and avocado campus Anzac Centre farm, and and Albany Planfarm Port presentation) Evening Dinner at WACOA Dinner at Dinner: Conference Welcome BBQ Harvey and evening WACOA Ocean Beach dinner and entertainment Denmark and surf club entertainme evening nt at entertainment Southern End winery
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au Competitions, Events and Information
Norman Lethbridge Award 2015
The Norman Lethbridge award is an award that was established to help encourage youth that live within city limits andhave a passion for agriculture, but may not have the same opportunities to follow this passion as their bush counterparts.
This award is open to students and cadets between the ages of 16 and 25, who are studying agriculture or a similar subject, involved in the grazing industry and reside within 200 kilometres of Sydney.
This is the 13th year of the Norman Lethbridge award, named in memory of the NSW State Committee past secretary and well known stock and station agent - Norman Lethbridge who served the NSW State Committee from 1983 until 1994.
Announced earlier in the year, the Norman Lethbridge Award was officially presented to this years winner, Amy Schembri, Kurrajong, during the judging of the Angus at Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Amy was nominated by Caroline Chisholm College, Glenmore Park.
Second prize was awarded to Samantha Woodcock, Moss Vale, nominated by Chevalier College, Bowral
Third prize was awarded to Nicholas Byrne-Quinn, Castle Hill nominated by Oakhill College, Castle Hill
While the Runners Up were: Elizabeth Farrugia, Rouse Hill, nominated by Marian College, Kenthurst Mitchell Clarke, West Pennant Hills, nominated by The Kings School, Parramatta Zachary Jobson, Frenchs Forest, nominated by St. Augustines College, Brookvale Jacob Johnson, Castle Hill, nominated by Oakhill College, Castle Hill
This prestigious award was once again, sponsored by “Booroomooka Angus” Stud, Bingara. Established in 1926, Booroomooka Angus is owned and operated by the Murno family.
To get involved, go to the following website: http://www.angusaustralia.com.au/enews-a-media/193-2015-news/1870-norman-lethbridge- presentation.html
My name is Melinda Barton, I work for RuralBiz Training in Dubbo. Hopefully you will remember corresponding with my predecessor, Robyn Diamond, in regards to our online careers expo back in 2013 (email chain below to job your memory!). We are running another session on Tuesday 4th August and were hoping to enlist your assistance once more with spreading the word for us. All information is available on our website and people can register an expression of interest. As with the last one, a recording will be made of the session and sent to those who register to receive it. http://www.ruralbiztraining.com.au/ag-careers
Any suggestions you have as to other places I could spread the word on this would be great.
Many thanks Melinda Barton 14
2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au OVERVIEW OF THE “ACTIONS FOR NSW AGRICULTURE” INITIATIVE
www.australianfutures.org A MULTI-SECTOR, NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN INITIATIVE HOSTED BY
THE AUSTRALIAN FUTURES PROJECT Our Objective The objective of the Australian Futures Project is to build Australia‟s capacity to make decisions for a flourishing shared future in the 2020s and „30s. We are about making long-termism easier in Australia. Our vision is an Australia with: Broad Leadership: A wide range of Australians engage in a mature and respectful debate about the society they want Australia to become and the key steps we need to take to get there given our current situation and the global trends that are likely to shape the future Active Contribution: Citizens and organisations at all levels of society and across all sectors and disciplines contribute to a flourishing shared future and take accountability for the future Australia they are creating by their action and inaction, rather than relying on or blaming others 21st Century Competence: Australians and Australian institutions at all levels have the necessary relationships, knowledge, skills, and experience to enable inspired leadership, informed decisions, and cross-sector action in a complex and fast-changing world Functioning Relationships: There are functioning relationships: between government, citizens, experts, media, and business; between politicians and bureaucrats; and between levels of government
How We Work We are about making long-termism easier in Australia. We engage broadly and work collaboratively. We are multi-sector, non-profit, and non-partisan. We work in two ways. Social Labs: supporting groups working on complex societal issues to build their own capacity prosperous future improve outcomes for Australian children
Incubator Initiatives: finding, testing, and building improvements to Australia‟s decision-making system -Sector Leadership Program for Emerging Leaders in the public service, business, academia, and the community sector dership Program for Parliamentarians
Who We Are We are a multi-sector, non-profit, and non-partisan initiative. We engage broadly and work collaboratively. We have a lean team with strong governance. The overall project is guided by an Advisory Board, while each of our major initiatives is guided by a voluntary steering committee. We magnify our insight, reach, and impact by drawing on contributions from our partners and an extensive network of leaders and thinkers across Australia and overseas. The Australian Futures Project is funded largely through philanthropic sources. Major supporters include La Trobe
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au University, the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation and the Gourlay Charitable Trust. A full list of supporters is available on our website. Please visit www.australianfutures.org for more information. www.australianfutures.org A MULTI- SECTOR, NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN INITIATIVE HOSTED BY
ACTIONS FOR NSW AGRICULTURE – CARL CHIRGWIN, OUR REPRESENTATIVE – CONGRATULATIONS!!! www.australianfutures.org A MULTI-SECTOR, NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN INITIATIVE HOSTED BY
CONFIRMED PARTICIPANTS
To ensure diversity, participants were enrolled through a mix of targeted invitation and (more than half) through a public call for applications. We were overwhelmed with the positive response, with three times as many applicants as places available. After much deliberation and careful selection, we are pleased to announce we have our team! Each participant is taking part in their personal capacity, not as a representative of their organisation. Steering Committee members are also included and are marked with an asterix (*). Confirmed participants are: resource management (f.a.r.m.)
Landcare organisation
lia
n, Deputy Director General, Agriculture NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries
nt and Outlook, ABARES
-Downs, Executive Director, Embark Australia Ltd
Agriculture Teachers Secretary
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search
Sturt University
rdan, CEO of Regional Development Australia (Mid North Coast)
Land Services (LLS)
st Local Land Services (LLS)
-Prinicpal, Woodpark Poll Merino stud, ‘Eurolie’, Hay
rector, Youth Food Movement Australia www.australianfutures.org 2
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Updates
Change in the approval of a particular activity Recently the Schools Animal Care and Ethics Committee (SACEC) have made a change to the animal welfare guidelines relating to sheep. They have decided that while the administration of subcutaneous injections is a category 3 activity, the exception to this will be the administration of the Gudair vaccine for the control of Ovine Johne’s Disease.
Students must not administer this vaccine. This vaccine must be administered by a person competent in its use. If it is not administered correctly there is a high risk of human and/or animal injury. The administration of all other vaccines will remain a category 3 activity and hence be able to be carried out by students.
This update has been made on the Animals in schools website>sheep>health (http://nswschoolanimals.com/sheep/sheep-health/)
Two new resources The first is Plants in agriculture ( http://www.learning.schools.nsw.edu.au/plants/) . This resource has been created using funding from the Rural and Remote Blueprint with the goal assisting Stage 6 Agriculture students.
The resource includes videos that were filmed at the Sydney University Plant Breeding Institute at both Cobbitty and Narrabri and features Angus Stewart and academics. There are activities with suggested answers, photos and some fact sheets.
The second is a series of videos titled, Keeping poultry in schools (https://www.youtube.com/user/LearningNSWDEC/playlists) . These nine videos have been produced through a partnership between the NSW Department of Education and Communities and the Poultry Cooperative Research Centre, using experts from the CRC and Galston High School.
They were initially produced to help the growing number of primary schools that are keeping poultry and to demonstrate some of the guidelines relating to animal welfare in schools but I hope they will also be valuable for Years 7 – 10 students studying Agriculture.
They are housed on the LearningNSWDEC along with other video series as well as being embedded in the Animals in schools Poultry notes, and are accessible to the public.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any doubts about your responsibilities for the care and use of animals in schools. I am more than happy to clarify any of the commonly held misconceptions that seem to be prolific about what you can and can’t do with animals in schools.
Sally Bannerman Animal Welfare in Schools Advisor Secondary Curriculum Learning and Leadership Directorate NSW Department of Education and Communities
Level 3, 1 Oxford St Darlinghurst NSW 2010 Tel: 9244 5520 Mob: 0417 473 280 [email protected] www.schools.nsw.edu.au/animalsinschools 19
2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au Advocates for Agriculture at the Easter Show- April 2015
We believe that the issue of low numbers of youth in agriculture can only be solved by working with young people to make their voices heard. To help address the important issue of youth in food and agriculture UWS has, once again, run it's Youth Agvocate Forum (YAF). YAF is a year 10 camp that puts 18 selected Agvocates together and asks them to picture the agricultural future they want to see and challenges them to make this a reality. Today's blog comes from two of our amazing Agvocates, Erin Eisenhuth and Madeline Tindale from Marian College.
From the 26-28 of March Madeline Tindale and I participated in the 2015 Youth Agvocate Forum. The Youth Agvocate forum was run by the University of Western Sydney (UWS) and supported by the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS). We spent time at both the University of Western Sydney and the Royal Easter Show.
Throughout our time we worked on tackling the controversial problems surrounding why adolescents are not motivated to get involved in Agriculture. The participants were a variety of Agriculture students from across NSW. We were placed in groups of three to create a pitch in the form of a video that would be presented to the RAS. Our pitch was based on the creation of an idea that would bust the negative myths associated with agriculture and help motivate adolescents to become involved in the industry.
During the camp we worked together with assistance of James Arvanitakis (Humanities Lecturer, Head of the Academy at UWS), Ben Egan (Cotton Farmer, NSW Farmers Dubbo branch chair and Young Farming Champion) and Therese Mcgillon (Project Manager for the Renewal of Agriculture Project at UWS) to produce innovative ideas that would encourage the involvement of adolescents in agriculture.
We had the opportunity to participate in a Google Hang out that was live streamed to YouTube. Throughout the Google hang out we listened to Damien Balzer (Youth Food Movement Greater Western Sydney co-chair and UWS Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security student), Francis Arias (UWS Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security student on exchange to Montana State University studying Sustainable Livestock Production), Hannah DelCurto (Lecturer, Montana State University studying Sustainable Livestock Production) and Camille Colman (Member Service Advisor & Young Farmers Coordinator | NSW Farmers) who shared their experience and knowledge on the topic. We also had the opportunity to pitch 'live' our ideas in front of them and receive great feedback and constructive criticism. View the full Google Hangout (opens in new window) .
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We participate in ice cream tasting and a behind the scenes tour of the district exhibits. Over the 3 days we created new friendships with like-minded Agricultural students as well as UWS' Agriculture Engagement Officers, Chris and April who enthusiastically ran the camp and made it into such a great experience.
I also just wanted to say a big thank you to both Chris and April for the amazing experience that they both provided us with. I had a fantastic time,I learnt so much and made some great friends. So thank you so much for the great opportunity.
All of the Agvocate's final videos pitches can be viewed from the following UWS Agriculture YouTube (opens in new window) channel.
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Agriculture on the curriculum
These resources will ensure all school kids can gain an understanding of our primary producers
Students from Bondi Public School in NSW are involved in a food and waste program which teaches them about growing, harvesting, cooking and recycling their own garden and chicken coop.
NEW school resources will boost student learning in agriculture, says Education Minister Christopher Pyne.
School students of all ages will now be able to learn more about Australia‘s important agricultural sector through the Australian government‘s $2 million Agriculture in Education initiative.
Mr Pyne launched the first set of online teaching and learning resources created under the initiative at Stradbroke School in Adelaide, South Australia, on Monday.
―These informative videos and resources will ensure all school kids – whether they are from the city or the bush – can gain an understanding of our primary producers throughout their school years,‖ Mr Pyne said.
The materials showcase the diversity and economic importance of food and fibre production in Australia, and are aligned to Australian Curriculum learning areas, including science and geography.
Topics covered by the materials include: designing and making a financial plan for a market garden, food security, and sustainable production practices in food and fibre.
More than 75 high quality digital learning resources aligned to the Australian Curriculum are now freely available to schools online.
―This government believes all students should be given an opportunity to learn about the Australian agriculture sector,‖ Mr Pyne said.
―It‘s important that all kids know where their food comes from and how their clothes are made.‖
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New South Wales Young Farmers launch Sydney branch with radical message
Photo: Young people involved in science and agriculture studies talk with Anna Rose from Earth Hour at a launch a new branch of the NSW Young Farmers. (David Claughton)
About 50 young people gathered in a Parramatta Hotel in Sydney this week to launch the new branch of a farming group.
It is the Sydney branch of New South Wales Young Farmers.
The meeting featured some unusual speakers and a fairly radical message from Anna Rose, of Earth Hour and Costa Georgiadis, ABC Gardening Australia host.
"You are more powerful than you think," Mr Rose told the crowd of mainly science and agriculture students.
Photo: Costa Georgiadis (ABC Gardening Australia host) talks passionately at a NSW Young Farmers meeting in Sydney with students agriculture and science. (David Claughton)
Ms Rose was at a similar meeting nine years ago, which she said, led to the creation of Earth Hour.
"We had a group of about this size and we thought 'who knows what we'll achieve?'," she said.
"We're young but we're full of ideas and if we come together maybe we can make something big happen."
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au Earth Hour now has 120, 000 young people involved and hundreds of groups working with young people to find solutions to climate change.
Costa spoke about the importance of changing the language around farming and finding images to redefine what a young farmer is.
"We need images to change the vocabulary and change the dialogue, and sharp witted stuff that puts farming where it should be; as the most important staple in everyone's life," he told the crowd.
"It's all about growing young farmers."
Alexandra Ijadica is the founding director of the Youth Food Movement. We're young but we're full of ideas and if we come together maybe we can make something big happen." Anna Rose, Earth Hour
"I think it's fantastic that the real story of agriculture if finally being told," she said.
"You hear in the news that we're suffering a drought and we need a bit of a hand, but there's so many fantastic stories about being a producer, whether you're an urban farmer or a broadacre farmer, that are happening every day, but rarely the [coverage] that they should get."
Jo Newton is a post graduate student of genetics and vice chair of the new branch of NSW Young Farmers.
"It's more than just what happens at the farm gate," he said.
"NSW Farmers is the peak industry body for agriculture and farming, [but] there's an entire industry and supply chain involved in agriculture.
"We've got groups like the Youth Food Movement, agribusiness professionals here in Sydney that are a part of that supply chain and we think it's important that they have the opportunity to network to engage with other young people that live in metro areas, but also to get out there and engage with our regional and rural base too."
Demand for organics is outstripping supply, so a gathering of young farmers is probably a good place to encourage interest in the sector.
Peter Hastie is with the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia.
"We see the importance of creating that link between production and processing and consumption."
NSW Farmers CEO Matt Brand said: "We encourage all young people who have an interest in agriculture to tap into our diverse network and gain a greater understanding of the innovation taking place in our industry."
"Our plan is for the whole supply chain to be involved and interact with our Sydney branch which we hope will become a hub for where the city meets agriculture."
Field Days
10-11 Jul 2015 MUDGEE SMALL FARM FIELD ph 02 63723899 DAYS [email protected] P O Box 12 www.arec.com.au Mudgee 2850
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au High school Closing the Gap through agriculture.
Photo: Coonamble High School students, Brooke Elsley, Adrian Davis and Bradley King, with agriculture teacher Adam Macrae and the school's cattleyards. (Alex Blucher) Map: Coonamble 2829
Over the last decade Coonamble High School in rural New South Wales, has being making a big push to 'close the gap' with their agriculture course.
The school of just over 200 students has seen a dramatic increase in the number of students studying agriculture.
Photo: Coonamble High School students, Brooke Elsley, Adrian Davis and Bradley King, with the ribbons that they've won at agricultural shows (Alex Blucher)
More than half the school's students now study agriculture, and the majority of those learning about farming and animal husbandry are Aboriginal.
Last year every Year 12 student went into a job, to university, or further training.
A big part of that success has been the creation of The Bovine Appreciation Club by agriculture and primary industries teacher, Adam Macrae, also known as 'Macca.'
"We grow our own feed, we source cattle and breed our own cattle from surrounding areas and beyond, prepare them for the showing or put them or put them through the butcher shop," Mr Macrae says.
As part of The Bovine Appreciation Club the students travel to some of the most prestigious agricultural shows, including the Sydney Royal Easter Show and the Royal Queensland Show, or Ekka.
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au Adam Macrae says that the secret in getting students to come to school is in being an attractive option for their time.
"We have to be very honest with what we're competing with. In a country town like this if we can have boys finishing year 12, as well as having a swag of skills in the agricultural industry, it makes them very employable Coonamble Clontarf Academy Director, Luke Ballard
"We're competing with not coming to school, getting up to all that mischief that the kids that aren't engaged in school will carry on with, so we have to be an attractive market option for their time," Mr Macrae says.
The Clontarf Foundation's Coonamble branch, called the Coonamble Clontarf Academy, has worked closely with Adam Macrae to get more Aboriginal students into studying agriculture.
The Clontarf Foundation is a national organisations which focus on improving the education, self-esteem, life skills and employment prospects for Indigenous male students.
The organisation is one of only five out 150 Indigenous programs that didn't get a big funding cut in the Federal Budget, which saw $534 million slashed from the sector.
Year 11 student Adrian Davis, who's 17, is one of 63 students who are part of the Coonamble Clontarf Academy and is an important member of the Bovine Appreciation Club.
"I like leading the cattle, driving tractors, feeding them and taking them to steer shows...we win ribbons," Adrian says.
Photo: Coonamble High School students, Brooke Elsley, Adrian Davis and Bradley King, with agriculture teacher Adam Macrae and the school's cattleyards. (Alex Blucher)
Also the head teacher of learning innovation at Coonamble High says Adrian is a good guy to have around.
"Adrian is an absolute natural with cattle, he's a big robust chap, he's very gifted, very brave, he's also got a wonderful stock sense and any steer that's big and ugly and mucking up, Adrian usually gets it and invariably he usually comes out on top," Mr Macrae says.
Australian Bureau of statistics figures show that 55 per cent of Indigenous high school students in Australia finished school last year, compared to over 83 per cent non-Indigenous.
Coonamble Clontarf Academy director Luke Ballard says that they are working hard with the school to do their bit to close that gap.
"Our main goal is to engage the boys in education, improving their attendance and their engagement in school, hopefully getting them through to year 12 and into meaningful employment,"
"We want to have things at the school that they want to be a part of, so with the Ag stuff, more trips away and more things that the boys are really interested in the better.
"They really took to it and loved working with the animals.
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au "In a country town like this, if we can have boys finishing year 12, as well as having a swag of skills in the agricultural industry up their sleeve, it makes them very employable," Mr Ballard says.
Photo: The Coonamble High Clontarf Academy team in their club house 'The Nest,' from left Year 11 student Adrian Davis, Clontarf team members Vili Sorilo, Adam Cohen and director Luke Ballard. (Alex Blucher)
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au Stock skills in danger of being lost as opportunities to learn disappear
Lucky man: Sheep classer Chris Bowman of Hay in NSW has worked with some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry. Source: News Corp Australia
CHRIS Bowman counts himself a lucky man to be born when he was.
As a professional sheep classer, he has built his trade on stock skills honed working alongside some of the legends of the Merino game since picking up a job at Uardry in the NSW Riverina when he was 17.
In his early 20s, he ranged from Queensland to NSW, working on Burenda at Augathella, then Egelabra stud and Eenaweena station at Warren, before returning to Uardry in 1989 as stud - manager.
―I am very fortunate to have worked with some of the best stud breeders and stud masters in Australia,‖ he said.
―People like Hugh Lidiard, Bill Bailey, Tom Lilburn and more recently Forbes Murdoch — all brilliant sheep men.
―Over that time I‘ve been able to develop stock skills and learn the skills of stud sheep selection from those stud masters.‖
Mr Bowman said changing times meant fewer opportunities for young people to learn the trade and he is concerned traditional skills will be lost as more technology comes into play.
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au ―Most properties these days are running with minimum labour and getting contractors in to help, which means the sort of experience I had just isn‘t as available as it used to be,‖ he said.
―People who haven‘t been lucky enough to come up in the system I have can get all the research and information but they don‘t have the hands-on experience you build up over time.‖
Mr Bowman said it didn‘t matter how much data was available, nothing could replace being able to walk along a race and class a sheep for type and the basic survival attributes of structure and constitution.
―There will still be young people coming through who will develop those skills but they won‘t be in the same numbers we‘ve seen before because the opportunities just aren‘t there,‖ he said.
―In a decade, there is going to be a huge void of people who have the skills to run these big sheep operations.
―My advice to young people is if you get the opportunity to work on a property that still offers that sort of experience, jump at it.‖
Merriwa Central School with their ribbon. Students left to right, April Eipper, Matthew Porter, Craig Walker and Hanna Byfield.
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2015 Autumn Bulletin No 46 www.nswaat.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE “A new and defined pathway for students from Tocal has been established with the University of New England. The Bachelor of Agrifood Systems was introduced a couple of years ago by the University and much work has been done to fully embed units from the Vocational Education and Training sector into the study program. As a result there is a seamless passage from studies at Tocal to UNE.
Tocal now delivers the Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications online so students can study wherever and whenever they choose and then articulate directly into the Bachelor of Agrifood Systems. They can also choose to enrol at both institutions and complete the Tocal College and UNE courses in an integrated study program.
We are finding students are commencing at Tocal in Certificate III for one year and then doing Certificate IV in the second year. Those who are keen commence the Diploma in their second year combined with their Certificate IV studies and many are finishing the year with both a Cert IV and a Diploma. After completing the Advanced Diploma units needed they are virtually halfway to a university degree”. Dr Cameron Archer, Tocal College Principal said.
This is a wonderful step forward and opens up studies at university for Tocal students. We have found that 15-20% of our graduates continue their studies onto university either directly after leaving Tocal or after some years of industry experience. In the past we have negotiated credits with universities and this has worked reasonably well. The UNE pathway is much clearer and more defined and has potential to make the transition from Tocal to university much, much easier”. Dr Archer said.
Further details of these courses can be found on the Tocal website www.tocal.com.au
For further information contact Dr Cameron Archer AM Principal Tocal College 0427 202948 [email protected]
Upcoming Agricultural Events Shows
AUGUST 2015