News Item

FARMING FOR BEGINNERS TAKES OFF

November 29, 2011

New hobby famers and those working in jobs where they need farm skills or to use farm equipment are being given a helping hand.

Community College Gippsland has introduced a new Farming for Beginners program to give people an opportunity to learn hands-on skills handling livestock, using tractors, learning farm fencing, whole farm planning, animal health, and more.

Manager Agriculture Programs, Dan Spencer, said the program has been well received attracting a broad range of people including hobby farmers, people who have moved onto acreage, agriculture students, as well as existing farmers who want to broaden their skills.

“The program provides 6 workshops which are run every second Saturday at the McMillan campus at Warragul. It provides an opportunity for people to learn basic farm skills from industry specialists and farmers.”

Mr Spencer said Gippsland was attracting an increasing number of people moving for lifestyle farming and this program was designed to help them improve knowledge, farm safety, and achieve their farm goals,.

“There are many accidents on farms involving tractors, quad bikes and other farm equipment so this program is a great way to introduce safety aspects and give people some good basic skills to help improve their farming.”

He said the recent fencing workshop was beneficial for many participants giving them an opportunity to learn how to install fence posts, tie relevant wire knots, hang gates and install a water trough.

Participant Julie Comrie of Warragul said she has been helping out at a family member‘s farm and wanted to extend her skills.

“The farm safety aspects have been very helpful as well as learning more about cattle management and health.”

Michael Guy who lives and work in Melbourne said he had recently purchased a hobby farm in South Gippsland and wanted to increase his knowledge with the view to eventually moving onto the land.

Warragul’s Paul Drake grew up on a farm and is upgrading his skills to do more farm work. Warragul’s Sheena Coughlan said she had an interest in sustainability and the program was a great way to gain skills that farmers use on a day to day basis.

Dan Spencer said some of the participants had expressed interest in continuing accredited programs in quad bike safety, tractors skills, safe handling of chemicals or programs in agriculture and horticulture.

“It is a great taster for people to learn hands-on and at the same time connect with farmers and others on the land to share information and skills.”

Learning fencing : From left: Michael Guy, Sheena Coughlan, Paul Drake, Community College Gippsland Ag Manager Dan Spencer, Wendy Talbot, Joshua Percival learning fencing

For further information contact:

John Brereton
General Manager Industry Development
Community College Gippsland
Tel: 03 5622 6000
Mob: 0409 226 032
Email: johnb@ccg.asn.au