2005 Winter Bulletin No 26
2006
Conference
25th – 29th
April
2006
Charles Sturt
University
Wagga Wagga
5
What’s Hap’ning
in my
Paddock!
^ Deniliquin in the
Riverina is the centre for
the largest rice mill in the
southern hemisphere.
^ Deniliquin also holds
the worlds record for the
biggest ute muster.
^ 4012 utes turned out for
the muster in October
2004.
^
Yanco Agricultural
High School
• Ian Thompson
Head Teacher
^
Finley High School
• Robyn O’Leary
^
Sydney Branch of NSWAAT
• John Killeen
Section 5 supported by:
^
Ag. Technology Workshop
2005 Winter Bulletin No 26
http://www.yancoag-h.schools.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
agriculture.
^ While Yanco is a selective high school,
admission is based not only on academic results,
but factors such as a student’s isolation and interest
in agriculture.
^ The school is committed to providing a caring
residential community and promotes a variety of
cultural, sporting, leisure and academic pathways
with an emphasis on agriculture across the
curriculum.
^ Students come from all over NSW and even
interstate to pursue their passion for agriculture.
Congratulations Yanco
5.1
Sydney Royal
Y.A.H.S.
Uniqueness
^ Y.A.H.S. is set on 280ha, which was
part of Sir Samuel McCaughey’s North
Yanco property.
^ McCaughey is regarded as the father
of the modern irrigation systems in the
Riverina.
^ 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
responsibility and respect for people,
animals and their role in agriculture.
2005 Winter Bulletin No 26
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
• 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
under irrigation.
Wodonga Show
Reserve Champion Parader
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
of agricultural programs to maximize student
outcomes”.
5.2
Thommo
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.
5.3
2005 Winter Bulletin No 26
^ 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
consumption on the school menu.
^ This was very successful and radish, snowpeas and
lettuce were use by the whole school ands the
Hospitality and Food Tech students were also able to
utilize fresh produce.
^ The students were much more interested in the gardens
as they could see a real purpose. This will be further
developed next year.
^ 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.
^ I would recommend teaching here to anyone.
5.4
^ Students in Years 7 and 8 are
rostered on to stock duty of a
morning and evening.
^ These students learn about caring
for animal’s welfare by feeding,
watering and cleaning the piggery
and feeding the poultry.
^ They also learn about hard work,
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.
Ian Thompson 3/12/04
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
Melbourne 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.
Aggie Staff:
Robyn O’Leary:
Robyn discussing her
PI projects at a recent
networking day.
^ Robyn trained at Wagga 1983 -1986 & appointed
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) &
Ashleigh & Alex(8) along with hubbie and Ag
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.
5.6
2005 Winter Bulletin No 26
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:
5.9
www.curriculumsupport.nsw.edu.au