2005 Winter Bulletin No 26

2006 Conference

25th – 29th April 2006

Charles Sturt University

Wagga Wagga

5

What’s Hap’ning

in my

Paddock!

^ Agricultural ^ Deniliquin in the is the centre for High School the largest rice mill in the • Ian Thompson southern hemisphere. Head Teacher

^ Deniliquin also holds the worlds record for the biggest ute muster. ^ Finley High School ^ 4012 utes turned out for • Robyn O’Leary the muster in October 2004. ^ Sydney Branch of NSWAAT • John Killeen

Section 5 supported by: ^ Ag. Technology Workshop

2005 Winter Bulletin No 26

http://www.yancoag-h.school s.nsw.edu.au/school.htm Where Is Yanco Ag.?

^ Yanco Agricultural High School is a NSW

State Government high school situated near

Leeton in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.

What’s Special about Yanco Ag.?

^ As a high school Yanco stands out in that it is the only all-boarding government high school in NSW, it is coeducational, selective and affordable for students wishing to pursue their interests in Sydney Royal agriculture. ^ While Yanco is a selective high school, Y.A.H.S. admission is based not only on academic results, Uniqueness but factors such as a student’s isolation and interest in agriculture. ^ The school is committed to providing a caring ^ Y.A.H.S. is set on 280ha, which was residential community and promotes a variety of part of Sir Samuel McCaughey’s North cultural, sporting, leisure and academic pathways Yanco property. with an emphasis on agriculture across the ^ McCaughey is regarded as the father curriculum. of the modern irrigation systems in the ^ Students come from all over NSW and even Riverina. interstate to pursue their passion for agriculture. ^ It was his vision and initiative that led to the development of the Riverina as a highly productive agricultural area, with vast variety of primary production and value adding industries. ^ Yanco Agricultural High School continues with McCaughey’s initiatives with programs that allow students to develop their skills in various livestock and plant enterprises, and in doing so become self reliant, with a high level of self discipline and

Congratulations Yanco responsibility and respect for people, animals and their role in agriculture.

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Agriculture Resources

^ The school has wonderful facilities to support the students in their studies as well as its innovative programs. ^ Apart from the “Euloley” Murray Grey stud which has been in operation for 20 years. ^ Yanco has: • Holstein heifers, • Clydesdales Wodonga Show • along with the “McCaughey” White Suffolk sheep stud,

• a commercial piggery,

• free-range chickens producing eggs

for the school’s use,

• dryland and irrigated pasture, • teaching orchard and • vegetable gardens. • Some 30 students also have taken the opportunity to bring their horses to the school to partake in the Equine courses that the school delivers. • The school is also undertaking a 20 year trial with the CSIRO and • Forestry growing river red gums Reserve Champion Parader under irrigation. Yanco students…

^ Yanco’s core business is agriculture, and the subject is compulsory for all its 280 students from years 7 to 10. ^ Senior students are encouraged to study: 9 Agriculture and/or 9 Primary Industries for their HSC. Our Teaching Orchard

Ag Staff at Yanco…

^ Head Teacher Ian Thompson said that: “not only does the school have the wonderful resources of the school farm, but it also has a very dedicated staff who are devoted to high quality delivery o f agricultural programs to maximize student outcomes”. Thommo 5.2 2005 Winter Bulletin No 26

^ Belinda Weller has been in charge of the Holsteins Show Stock team this year allowing for a number of students who have their passion in dairy cattle to be realized.

^ Danual Stewart has been a new arrival to our staff this year and is keen to impart some of his expertise in the beef cattle area. ^ Many students have achieved great success in parading and judging competitions, while our cattle have been outstanding in many shows both on the hoof and on the hook.

^ The Equine section of YAHS has been capably run by Simone Wilson and Maryanne McRae. ^ Simone delivers the TAFE Certificate 2 in Horse Industries as well as the component on Horses in Primary Industries. ^ Simone spends many a weekend and after school training students and competing in shows and gymkhanas throughout the state. ^ The school has been awarded the Best Presented School Award at the North West Equestrian Expo 2001, 2002 and 2004

^ Maryanne McRae leads the Beef Show Stock Team along with Y.A.H.S. farm foreman Jock Hamilton. ^ Maryanne also spends many a weekend and after school training students and competing in shows and gymkhanas throughout the state. ^ Maryanne has concentrated on a Junior Horse Management course.

^ The White Suffolk Sheep are capably managed by Greg Fulljames who has provided the opportunity for students to participate in showing sheep in a competitive environment. ^ This is a relatively new enterprise at YAHS and already we have gained successes at Dubbo this year with the sheep and one of our

students won the Best Handler Award. ^ The sheep have been a great resource also for program delivery.

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^ A highlight for the Senior Students in the Horse Industries course is a week long ride and camping in the Snowy Mountains each year in November. ^ Colin Brown – the school principal – has also been involved in training students in showing Clydesdale horses. ^ This has been a very successful experience for some students. ^ Students have the responsibility placed on them for the care of their horses at school which is part of their equine courses.

^ Students last year watched first hand as a vet AI’ed some of the ewes, bringing high tech to the shearing shed. ^ Student also had first hand experience of shearing and shed work. ^ Greg Fulljames is also working hard on re-developing the school orchard which this year saw some of the fruit being picked and used in the dining room.

^ An interesting experiment this year has been with the year 10 Ag classes. ^ They “competed” in producing areas around the vegetable gardens to make them more aesthetically attractive as well as producing vegetables for ^ Students in Years 7 and 8 are consumption on the school menu. rostered on to stock duty of a ^ This was very successful and radish, snowpeas and morning and evening. lettuce were use by the whole school ands the ^ These students learn about caring Hospitality and Food Tech students were also able to for animal’s welfare by feeding, utilize fresh produce. watering and cleaning the piggery ^ The students were much more interested in the gardens and feeding the poultry. as they could see a real purpose. This will be further ^ They also learn about hard work, developed next year. early rises and dirty, smelly jobs that need doing. ^ The Farm Staff are very good in supporting this program with Mick McNabb to main assistant to the program.

^ Agriculture is why Yanco Agricultural High School is here and why it is such a great place to teach. ^ Not only do the students live their passions in agriculture, but so to do the staff. Agriculture is the central focus for students from daylight to dusk. ^ When other students across the state are going home, Yanco’s students are still “at school”, many taking the opportunity to work with beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses or sheep, and actually enjoying themselves. Ian Thompson 3/12/04 ^ I would recommend teaching here to anyone.

5.4 2005 Winter Bulletin No 26

Where is Finley? ^ Finley is located 673km south-west of Sydney, is 107m above sea level with a population of 2220. ^ The Finley district supplies wool, wheat, fat lambs, rice, dairy products, vegetables, cereals, cattle and pigs for the Sydney and markets. ^ Local industry includes a butter factory and foundry. ^ The main street of Finley bridges Mulwala Canal, at 155 km the largest irrigation channel in Australia.

^ Robyn trained at Wagga 1983 -1986 & appointed Aggie Staff: Robyn O’Leary: to Finley High in 1987. After a few breaks from teaching having our family I was granted permanent

part time of 4 days/week in 2002.

^ My family consists of Jessica(12) Daniel(9) & Robyn discussing her PI projects at a recent Ashleigh & Alex(8) along with hubbie and Ag

networking day. teacher at Finley high Micahel.

^ Robyn was PI trained in 2002.

^ My teaching experience is varied from

Year 7 to 10 Science - - 7 to 12 Agriculture

- Year 11 and 12 Biology

- Year 9 and 10 Food Technology

- D&T to Year 7 and 8

- Primary Industries

^ In 2004 I was involved in the Young Poll Dorset Ambassador competition in our region.

Aggie Staff: - Daryl Bird teaches a Year 9 Ag class - Michael O’Leary(my husband) teaches another Year 9 Ag class - Robyn O’Leary teaches 2xYear 10 Ag classes; also 11 & 12 Primary Industries. - Year 7 and 8 are timetabled for 1 x 1 hour period per fortnight in which to experience Ag with their Science teacher. This works well depending on the Science teacher however it is difficult to deal with any ongoing projects.

5.5 2005 Winter Bulletin No 26

Aggie Students at Finley:

^ 2005: - Year 9: 44 students - Year 10: 35 students (usually around 20 students) - Year 11: 11 students - Year 12: 6 students

^ Agriculture is looking very healthy at the present at Finley High

Australia Day Award:

^ The Finley High School Show Team was successful in

winning the Berrigan Shire Team of the Year at the

Australia Day Awards this year.

^ The kids and I felt very honoured.

------Ag. Resources------i. Poll Dorset Ewes: - x20 ewes - rams are sold off as flock rams - lamb ewes for replacements - usually borrow a ram locally or use AI

- Dorsets are shown at about 7 local shows/ year ii. Steers:

- students prepare steers for Melbourne Royal

- 2003-04 Yr 11 PI & Yr 10 Ag classes prepared 12 steers for Melbourne & have performed well over the years. - In 2005; 46 students will attend Melbourne so perhaps a class will prepare the steers for the Elmore Beef Expo. This alleviates the big numbers in Melbourne.

iii. Vegetable Gardens: - Year 9 students grow vegetables and are responsible for the general management decisions. - Students weigh all the produce & can decide to take it home or sell it.

iv. Floriculture: - Years 8 and 9: grow beautiful tulips and daffodils

- Last year the students planted about 600 Dutch Iris.

- African Violets are grown from leaf cuttings and sold to the public at flowering time.

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Ag. Resources

at Finley High School v. Orchard:

- FHS also have a citrus and a stone fruit orchard. - However we battle to beat the birds to a lot of the fruit

The boys hard at the picking oranges vi. Ag Farm Crops: Proud students & Dorsets! - Peas, corn and beans are grown regularly. - In 2005 we will try pumpkins, watermelons and rockmelons - The money from the sale of these items goes back into the Ag Plot.

vii. Poultry: - Poultry consists of both layer hens and a variety of purebred breeds that the students show. - Poultry is generally studied by the Year 7 students. - At the local show, last year, we had 120 junior entries of students wishing to show their poultry.

Fencing around orchard viii. Native Seed Orchard: - A native seed orchard is currently being established with the help from Sue Logie from Murray Indigenous Seed Services. - Funding was obtained from the local Service Clubs. ix. Chemical Shed: - The Community Help Group provided funds for a chemical shed to be purchased & we will construct it this year x. Primary Industries:

- Year 11 PI undertake a Basic Fire Fighters course. - A 3 days course involves a lot of practical work; the kids have a fabulous time. - Some have joined the local fire brigade upon receiving their certificate. - Students also participate in the Operate Ride-on Vehicles course at Thurgoona National Environmental Centre - All of these are great learning days for our students in the bush xi. My Opinion about Ag at Finley High:

- Students need to go on as many excursions that are possible

5.7 2005 Winter Bulletin No 26

…AGM of the Sydney Branch of the NSWAAT by: John Killeen: HT Science/Ag.

Bossley Park High School

¾ The Sydney Branch AGM was held on Wednesday 9th March. ¾ There were some 37 people in attendance. ¾ We had a tour of James Ruse’s Farm. Learnt how to use powerpoint lessons in Ag. ¾ Listened to Chris Porter outline the activities available at Newhaven Park Bathurst. ¾ Sally Bannerman gave a rundown on Animal Welfare and the Curriculum. ¾ Dave Randall went through his programming experience for the Curriculum Support Unit. ¾ We discussed the HSC marking and judging procedure.

Sydney Branch

Executive

ƒ President Lisle Brown o James Ruse Ag High Ph: 9871 7126

Lisle Brown

ƒ Secretary Karen Johnston o Pendle Hill High Ph: 96319651

ƒ Treasurer John Killeen o Bossley Park High Ph: 9823 1033

Committee

9 Karen Heap - Muirfield High Ph: 9872 2244 9 David Baker - St Gregorys College Ph: 46294222 9 Brigitte Herrman - Plumpton High Ph: 96257020 9 Kathy Breen – Oakhill College Ph: 98992288

^ Please contact any of the members if: - you wish to be involved in the dynamic Sydney Branch or - would like your students to attend the many activities that the Sydney Branch is well known for.

^ Congratulations to Lisle Brown for organising this meeting; so that the Sydney Branch of the NSWAAT is reinvigorated.

5.8 2005 Winter Bulletin No 26

^ Pennant Hills High School

^ Attends Stage 4 & 5 Technology Syllabus workshop

^ On Thursday March 3 this year, at the Technology Unit Ryde State Office; a pilot workshop was held.

^ The purpose of this workshop was to 'trial' a 1 day agenda that focused on supporting technology teachers with - issues and - processes around assessing and - reporting the new technology syllabuses.

^ The full program consists of 20 state wide workshops commencing on 10 March at Parramatta and concluding with the final workshop in Bathurst on June 8.

^ These workshops are organised by the DET Curriculum Support Unit and Graham has provided feedback on the day.

^ Graham; on behalf of the NSWAAT; participated in the workshop activities, and considered the focus and content in terms of the Technology Mandatory and or Agriculture Technology.

^ Graham reported that this workshop was primarily a collection of ‘crash test dummies’ working through the DET workshop presentation for the 7-10 Technology; Assessment & Reporting Stage 4 & 5 syllabus. Aggies at the Wagga Wagga Technology syllabus workshop…..

Lyndall Foster; Curriculum Support: in ‘full flight’

at the Wagga Technology workshop in

March 2005 Tony Butler, Ian Baird, Ian Thompson & Judy Gordon

^ The Ag Association would like to thank Graham Quintal from Pennant Hills High School who attended and participated in the ‘Technology’ pilot workshop on behalf of the NSWAAT.

^ By now you may have attended this workshop & would have obtained very useful assessment & reporting resources and methods for approaching your programs in Agriculture for stage 4 & 5.

^ Need assistance? Visit the Curriculum Support website: www.curriculumsupport.nsw.edu.au 5.9