OCOSA MMAGAZINE There is a demand for women to step up, lean in and be part of conversations and the future of agriculture April 2016 A publication of Marcus Oldham College Old Students Association Volume 23 Issue 1 the wider population. The second Principal’s is the much higher proportion of the agricultural workforce without any post school qualification. Perspective Higher levels of education are estimated to be associated with significantly higher wages and associated productivity. A third trend is the increase in enrolment of female students into agricultural t is pleasing to see strong student enrolments at Marcus Oldham programs. This year, forty three per cent of Marcus Oldham’s enrolment again this year and I believe it is reflective of the optimism comprises female students. currently being felt in the agriculture sector. With the rise of the I Where Marcus Oldham graduates Chinese middle class, the demand for high quality and value-added have an advantage over university Australian food, such as red meats, infant formula milk, seafood, graduates is the practical skills wine and dairy products, will be strong into the future. they possess in addition to their tertiary qualification. Marcus has With regard to education, a main on the support of Australia’s always required that students driver of student interest and agricultural industries, either at the entering the Farm Management course selection in the future will production or the business end. and Agribusiness Programs have be driven by jobs. It is clear that Another common thread is that jobs a minimum of one year’s industry university enrolment and graduate are plentiful and graduates have no experience. Most students, how- pattern in Australia is out of balance problem finding them. ever, have completed two or more with the national interest, and with During 2015 I visited a number of years of employment prior to study. economic need. Taxpayers are The Farm Management Program is funding courses and enrolments universities and colleges in Canada, Scotland and Ireland that offer still structured, as it was originally that are unrelated to the industries established, with a practical that drive our national economy. agriculture and equine programs. Similar to Australia, employment year embedded in the course. A Agriculture is one of the better opportunities for students who recent survey of practical year employer’s views on the skill sets examples of this lack of balance. study these disciplines are strong. of our students was very positive. The production of food will Australia is not producing sufficient Having both a tertiary qualification continue to become increasingly numbers of agriculture graduates in business and solid practical skills important over the coming years. quickly enough to fill the need. will continue to lead our graduates As one academic I spoke to at a Agriculture and equine graduates into high levels of employment. walk out of college or university Canadian university stated, ‘There and into employment rapidly, such is no more noble undertaking for In 2015 the College compiled a five is the thirst for their skills. While a mankind than to be engaged in the year Strategic Plan and this year large number of graduates move production of food’. the institution is following through into production agriculture, another with a comprehensive Master Plan. significant group are employed in A third trend is the increase Key themes emanating from recent banking, finance and accounting in enrolment of female strategic planning days held at the and a further portion has found students into agricultural College highlighted and reinforced jobs in commodity trading. programs. the need for the institution to allow both the engagement with Other graduates are in Agriculture is experiencing a advanced communications, as management, marketing, consulting number of other trends. The well as integrated teaching and or their own business. The common first is the low proportion of the learning. These aims have led to the thread among these employment agriculture workforce with higher initial planning and development of destinations is they are all focussed education qualifications relative to a Learning Technologies Centre. Whether students prefer individual For You to Enjoy learning, quiet reading areas, or brainstorming ideas within a Principal’s Perspective......................... 2 Oliver Vidor ........................................ 16-17 group, they will find spaces within From the President’s Desk ................ 3 Field Days and Equine Events .......17 the Learning Technologies Centre Graduate of Excellence ....................... 3 The Centre........................................... 18-19 to match their learning needs. A Carly Marriott Brooks ...................... 4-6 Graduation ....................................... 20-24 project team has been selected Marcus Minds ............................................. 6 Reunion ...............................................25-26 and will commence work on the development of this state of the art Stuart Johnston ...................................7-8 Campus Columns .......................... 27-29 facility – for the benefit of students Rural Leadership ..................................... 8 Editor’s Memo ........................................ 29 now and into the future. Brett Pekin ........................................... 9-10 Foundation News ......................... 30-34 Dr Simon Livingstone Andrew Nicholls ................................11-12 Scholarship Program ......................... 35 Principal Marcus Oldham International .........12 The Network ....................................36-42 Stud Management Award UK Need to Contact Someone? .......... 43 China Tour ........................................... 13-15 2 MOCOSA April 2016 The MOCOSA Executive was very From the proud to have supported the recent Burrumbuttock NSW to Ilfracombe QLD Hay Run. The initiative to President’s Desk support this was proposed by Executive Member, Kate Sharkey DipAgrib 96. Kate and Janet Craigie-McConnell worked very hard to make sure our contribution made it safely to the organizing n the last MOCOSA edition I was very excited about the upcoming group. They also organized signage inaugural Marcus Oldham Race Night to be held in November at which was mounted to one of the northbound trucks recognizing the the Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne. I graduate contribution to the Hay Well folks, it was an absolutely engaging with our guests and went Run. My thanks to Kate and Janet. cracking night! We were hosted out of her way to spend time talking I can tell you that the Rec Hub is in one of the “Valley’s” private to many of the Equine students. being well used by our students, not function rooms with a sensational Truly inspirational. The dedicated only for social gatherings but the view of the track which looked followers of the punters club had a use of the gym and courts is a daily stunning under lights. The most enjoyable evening also! occurrence. It seems that a few past Melbourne city skyline provided a Thank you to the organizing students enjoy it too, having held magnificent backdrop for night- committee and to each of the race their reunions on campus and used time racing action. sponsors, of which the MOCOSA the Ivo Dean Centre and the new We dusted off John Deeks to was proudly one, who made ‘our Hub. I believe the recent reunion of “come on down” as our MC and he night’ such a resounding success. the 50 Year graduates thoroughly was fantastic. The highlight for all This night was for graduates as enjoyed the new facilities. was the impromptu interview with much as our College friends, so for Good luck with your projects. Michelle Payne, 2015 Melbourne those who were unable to attend, Cup winning jockey. Michelle, first please be sure not to miss this James P Bufton FM 94 lady Cup-winning rider, was most year’s event. MOCOSA President Graduate of Excellence Award Mr Andrew Slatter Farm Management 1994 Andrew started his career as a Institutional portfolio across the jackeroo in the Riverina district of region, his team of bankers looked New South Wales. Since then he after large corporates that grew, has gained 25 years’ experience stored, traded and processed soft in corporate agribusiness across commodities across Asia. Australia and throughout Asia, In this role Andrew visited some gathering expertise in global agri- fascinating parts of the world, from food supply-chain financing. massive aquaculture operations In addition to his Marcus Oldham in the Mekong Delta, soybean qualification, Andrew holds crushing facilities in India to huge Masters’ degrees in Agriculture dairy farms in China. (Economics) and Applied Finance Prior to this, he held senior from Sydney and Macquarie The Company owns and operates agribusiness positions within ANZ’s Universities respectively. a strategic balance of properties, Institutional Bank in Melbourne, feedlots and farms comprising From 1997 to 2002 he worked Sydney and Brisbane, and at 7 million hectares of land across for Elders Limited in their Risk Orchard Funds Management. Queensland and the Northern Management and International In January 2015 Andrew was Territory. It specialises in grass Trading divisions and was the appointed Chief Financial Officer fed beef, grain fed beef and Manager of Elders Japan from of the Australian Agricultural Wagyu beef production and runs its inception in 1997 to 2000 Company which necessitated Australia’s largest herd