Ag students are in double-bind, says Rotary president

Agricultural students at Brisbane Water Secondary College are doubly disadvantaged compared to students in rural areas, according to Rotary Club of Umina president Mr Bruce Croft.

He said the college did not qualify for financial support from the Education Department, because the Umina campus farm was not in a rural area.

And because of this, the students had the additional requirement of having to travel and stay on a working farm as part of their course.

Mr Croft said teachers had found some farms that were happy to assist, but suitable farms were becoming more difficult to find.

"Accommodation at working farms has now become the main issue preventing the farm stays from proceeding.

"There are more and more restrictions and red tape regarding excursions such as farm stays, including gender classifications, occupational health and safety, and working with children."

Mr Croft said one option was for the college to provide its own self-contained accommodation, including eating and dining facilities.

"Umina Rotary members have taken on the challenge to construct a pop-up camping site, for excursions to a farm stay in places such as Forbes and Parkes or when showing cattle in Scone or Singleton."

The club had presented the college with 12 tents, 24 stretchers and four tables as the first stage of the project, he said.

"Eventually it is hoped that this could include a trailer that will have male and female showers, toilets and storage for the tents and stretchers."

Mr Croft said the club had been supporting the college farm for more than 30 years.

"The Ag Farm provides students from Year 7 onwards with interaction with farm animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry as well as crops, educating on all facets of agriculture and farming." SOURCE: Newsletter, 2 Dec 2020 Bruce Croft, Rotary Umina Beach