Farm
Welcome!
Last week we welcomed Mr Mark O'Driscoll to the farm team. He comes to us with years of experience in local-area farming, with both cropping and livestock production expertise. I hope all students will make him feel welcome and show him the ropes while he settles into our unique environment. It's great to have an extra staff member, especially one with so much to contribute to our students. Welcome Mr O'Driscoll!!
Butcher shop
The abattoir and processing room have been a hive of activity over the past fortnight, with various-sized sheep and pigs being slaughtered to stock our College kitchen. From hams to chops, to snags galore - the students have had plenty to do! Mr Marshall (our butcher) and Ms Marshall (from kitchen hall of fame!) have been collaborating to ensure we have a slaughter and delivery schedule that suits everyone from those making the menu, to those providing the live animals (and of course, the processing in between).
General
The general and grains groups have been busy with fencing and making bait station supports for the piggery.
Mr Fox and Mr O'Driscoll have been teaching students the useful art of fencing, including tying knots, sighting posts and installing strainers.
Closer to home, Mr West's general groups have been busy fabricating supports to be installed in the piggery to secure our bait stations for rodent control.
Sheep
Shearing continues! The last Year 11 groups have gone through the shed this week, learning the basics of setting up a handpiece and getting the belly wool off. Year 11s from earlier in the term are now shearing a full fleece and there's some promising shearers in the group! Shearing will continue for the remainder of the term, so everyone will get more chance to practice over the next few weeks and throughout their time at the College.
Year 12s undertaking Certificate II in Shearing are off and cracking and working towards their goal of 40 sheep in a day to achieve their Shear to Novice Level competency.
Thank you to all the other farm groups who are helping out at this time of the year with sheep checks, feeding, moving mobs and popping in for a chat.
Animal Welfare Course
On Friday 13 February, Year 12 students undertaking Certificate II in Shearing and Certificate III in Wool handling attended a Wool Harvesting Animal Welfare Course. This was kindly run by Mr Rob Carter and Mr Owen Snooke from South Regional TAFE.
The course involved learning about all the animal welfare issues that can be experienced (and must be considered) while working with sheep both in the shed and in the yards. Shearing has been an industry that has attracted a lot of attention in recent times, and it is up to our future shearers and farmers to ensure animal welfare becomes, and stays, a priority in our industry.
Snakes
There have been several sightings of juvenile snakes around the farm buildings in the past couple of weeks. Please keep an eye out when walking around, especially grassy areas or where there is a build-up of leaf litter. If you are picking up piles of leaves or debris around the buildings, please be extra vigilant and wear gloves.
Work ethic
Even though it is just the start of the year, we have noticed a small attitude change in a number of our Year 12 students - with work ethic declining and motivation waning. Now is a time for students to apply themselves, continue to work as a team, be motivated, and get on with the work. There are only two and a half terms left at school for most Year 12s, so they need to be full steam ahead on achieving competencies for Cert II and Cert III qualifications.
It is up to you! These 2 years at the College will seem like a fleeting moment once you are out in the workforce. This is your opportunity to get a taste of what it's like out in the world, but with a few creature comforts such as regular meal breaks, days off 'work', a myriad of people looking out for you, and being able to hang out with your mates every day. A solid work ethic will get you a long way in the workforce.
Weekend duty Upcoming rosters:
28 February and 1 March - closed long weekend
7 March - Hardi, Bridie, Amalia, Molly
8 March - Chase, Rory, Ashlee, Emma
14 March - Thomas G, Thomas H, Sam, Emily
15 March - Bronte, Tahlia, Sam, Emily
21 and 22 March - closed boarding weekend
Mrs Kylie Iles
Assistant Farm Manager