This is an excerpt from a speech given by Tessa C and Eleni G from Yr 11 earlier this year about their experiences in two school-based programs: Bridges to Country and the Animals Food and the Outdoors elective. These programs demonstrate the variety of ways we are learning about sustainability and food security here at Kilbreda.
Hello, my name is Tessa C and this is Eleni G and we are year 11 students from Kilbreda College, Mentone. As Yr. 9 students we took part in the school’s Bridges program and the elective ‘Animals, Food and the Outdoors.’
Bridges to Country Program
For our Bridges to Country experience, we went on a two nights study tour and whilst we were there visited a piggery and a farm. Visiting the piggery was a big eye opener for most of our class. Many of us felt that the pigs were not be treated as well as they should be, even though the pigs at this particular farms had higher living conditions than most. This made us wonder about the living conditions for the other food we were eating and made us more considerate about the animals we were consuming.
At the farm Keith, the farmer, took us for an informative and very interesting tour. He talked about the four “arms” of his farm; wheat, cattle, sheep for meat and sheep for wool. He told us how every day occurrences such a climate, natural disasters and lack of rain can effect coup growth and effectively the income of his farm. We also learnt about the microfibers in sheep wool and how wool shearers can shear 130-140 sheep per day! Unfortunately, unlike the other group of girls who visited Ararat earlier in the year, we did not get to see a calf be born, but we did learn about the various way and somewhat gruesome to test if a cow is pregnant.
I asked a couple of other students from Yr. 9 who visited farms in Echuca what they took away from the tour. Keira said, “The Bridges to Country program made me value the work that the farmers do as you realise the effort put into their work and makes you appreciate the hard effort more”. Trish said she “Really enjoyed going to the alpaca farm as we were able to feed and interact them. It was a really hands on experience”.
We all took away a lot of valuable information from this study tour. It made me a lot more aware of the struggles of the farming industry and the long process that it takes to get the food the paddock to the shops and finally on to our plates. Information as valuable as what we learnt is meant to be shared with others and to be shared with family. As a family, after this study tour, we have become more conscience about the food we are eating and the treatment of the particular animals we are eating.
AFO & the Cows Create Careers project
We also took part in the elective of Animals, Food and the Outdoors (AFO). This subject mainly focused on sustainable food production and was very interesting and informative. We were encouraged to get our hands dirty by planting and watering plants in the schools vegetable garden or the local community garden and turning the compost. We also learnt valuable information about animals, food or the outdoors.
It was very exciting when we were told that we would have two Jersey calves to come and stay at the school for three weeks as part of the Cows Create Careers program. In August the calves arrived at our school for their 21 day visit. They were 3 weeks old and we named them Bambi and Daisy. As they needed to be constantly cared for, we were put into groups and as groups we were rostered either in the morning or lunchtime shift. The whole school was excited when the calves came and some lunch times the calves would be put in a pen on the oval for everyone to have a look at them or have a play.
As part of the Cows Create Careers program, we also had a set amount of work to complete. We had to draw up a report on the calves and research about careers in the dairy industry. This made us more aware the vast range of jobs in the dairy and food produce area and the opportunities that are available. After being taught about this and knowing that there are many jobs available in this industry, am I sure that many of us, including myself, will consider it as a future career opportunity.
Both the Bridges to Country project, and the AFO elective have greatly increased our knowledge of the farming industry and the effort that goes into getting the food from the farms to our plates.
By Tessa C and Eleni G (Yr. 11)
Hello, my name is Tessa C and this is Eleni G and we are year 11 students from Kilbreda College, Mentone. As Yr. 9 students we took part in the school’s Bridges program and the elective ‘Animals, Food and the Outdoors.’
Bridges to Country Program
For our Bridges to Country experience, we went on a two nights study tour and whilst we were there visited a piggery and a farm. Visiting the piggery was a big eye opener for most of our class. Many of us felt that the pigs were not be treated as well as they should be, even though the pigs at this particular farms had higher living conditions than most. This made us wonder about the living conditions for the other food we were eating and made us more considerate about the animals we were consuming.
At the farm Keith, the farmer, took us for an informative and very interesting tour. He talked about the four “arms” of his farm; wheat, cattle, sheep for meat and sheep for wool. He told us how every day occurrences such a climate, natural disasters and lack of rain can effect coup growth and effectively the income of his farm. We also learnt about the microfibers in sheep wool and how wool shearers can shear 130-140 sheep per day! Unfortunately, unlike the other group of girls who visited Ararat earlier in the year, we did not get to see a calf be born, but we did learn about the various way and somewhat gruesome to test if a cow is pregnant.
I asked a couple of other students from Yr. 9 who visited farms in Echuca what they took away from the tour. Keira said, “The Bridges to Country program made me value the work that the farmers do as you realise the effort put into their work and makes you appreciate the hard effort more”. Trish said she “Really enjoyed going to the alpaca farm as we were able to feed and interact them. It was a really hands on experience”.
We all took away a lot of valuable information from this study tour. It made me a lot more aware of the struggles of the farming industry and the long process that it takes to get the food the paddock to the shops and finally on to our plates. Information as valuable as what we learnt is meant to be shared with others and to be shared with family. As a family, after this study tour, we have become more conscience about the food we are eating and the treatment of the particular animals we are eating.
AFO & the Cows Create Careers project
We also took part in the elective of Animals, Food and the Outdoors (AFO). This subject mainly focused on sustainable food production and was very interesting and informative. We were encouraged to get our hands dirty by planting and watering plants in the schools vegetable garden or the local community garden and turning the compost. We also learnt valuable information about animals, food or the outdoors.
It was very exciting when we were told that we would have two Jersey calves to come and stay at the school for three weeks as part of the Cows Create Careers program. In August the calves arrived at our school for their 21 day visit. They were 3 weeks old and we named them Bambi and Daisy. As they needed to be constantly cared for, we were put into groups and as groups we were rostered either in the morning or lunchtime shift. The whole school was excited when the calves came and some lunch times the calves would be put in a pen on the oval for everyone to have a look at them or have a play.
As part of the Cows Create Careers program, we also had a set amount of work to complete. We had to draw up a report on the calves and research about careers in the dairy industry. This made us more aware the vast range of jobs in the dairy and food produce area and the opportunities that are available. After being taught about this and knowing that there are many jobs available in this industry, am I sure that many of us, including myself, will consider it as a future career opportunity.
Both the Bridges to Country project, and the AFO elective have greatly increased our knowledge of the farming industry and the effort that goes into getting the food from the farms to our plates.
By Tessa C and Eleni G (Yr. 11)